Neurodevelopmental disorders begin in the developmental period of childhood and may continue through adulthood. They may range from the very specific to a general or global impairment, and often co-occur (APA, 2022). They include specific learning and language disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders, and intellectual disabilities. Neurocognitive disorders, on the other hand, represent a decline in one or more areas of prior mental function that is significant enough to impact independent functioning. They may occur at any time in life and be caused by factors such brain injury; diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or Huntington’s; infection; or stroke, among others.
For this Assignment, you will assess a patient in a case study who presents with a neurocognitive or neurodevelopmental disorder.
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
To Prepare:
Review this week’s Learning Resources and consider the insights they provide. Consider how neurocognitive impairments may have similar presentations to other psychological disorders.
Review the Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation template, which you will use to complete this Assignment.
By Day 1 of this week, select a specific video case study to use for this Assignment from the Video Case Selections choices in the Learning Resources. View your assigned video case and review the additional data for the case in the “Case History Reports” document, keeping the requirements of the evaluation template in mind.
Consider what history would be necessary to collect from this patient.
Consider what interview questions you would need to ask this patient.
Identify at least three possible differential diagnoses for the patient.
By Day 7 of Week 10
Complete and submit your Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation, including your differential diagnosis and critical-thinking process to formulate primary diagnosis.
Incorporate the following into your responses in the template:
Subjective: What details did the patient provide regarding their chief complaint and symptomology to derive your differential diagnosis? What is the duration and severity of their symptoms? How are their symptoms impacting their functioning in life?
Objective: What observations did you make during the psychiatric assessment?
Assessment: Discuss the patient’s mental status examination results. What were your differential diagnoses? Provide a minimum of three possible diagnoses with supporting evidence, listed in order from highest priority to lowest priority. Compare the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for each differential diagnosis and explain what DSM-5-TR criteria rules out the differential diagnosis to find an accurate diagnosis. Explain the critical-thinking process that led you to the primary diagnosis you selected. Include pertinent positives and pertinent negatives for the specific patient case.
Reflection notes: What would you do differently with this client if you could conduct the session over? Also include in your reflection a discussion related to legal/ethical considerations (demonstrate critical thinking beyond confidentiality and consent for treatment!), health promotion and disease prevention taking into consideration patient factors (such as age, ethnic group, etc.), PMH, and other risk factors (e.g., socioeconomic, cultural background, etc.).
submission information
This PMHNP assignment asks you to assess a case-study patient presenting with a neurocognitive or neurodevelopmental disorder and produce a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. Reason from the case through the DSM-5-TR to a diagnosis and plan, using the standard evaluation structure.
Key takeaways
- Distinguish neurodevelopmental (childhood-onset) from neurocognitive (decline) disorders.
- Build the evaluation: CC, HPI, history, MSE, differential, diagnosis, plan.
- Anchor the diagnosis in DSM-5-TR criteria and case evidence.
- Address cognitive/functional assessment and relevant workup.
- Cite the DSM-5-TR and scholarly sources in APA.
Orient to the disorder type
Clarify which you’re assessing: neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, autism, intellectual/learning disorders — onset in childhood) or neurocognitive disorders (a decline from prior function — delirium, mild/major NCD from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, etc.). The case will point you.
Build the comprehensive evaluation
Use the standard structure: chief complaint, history of present illness, psychiatric/medical/family/social history, mental status exam (including cognition), and relevant assessment tools (e.g., MMSE/MoCA for neurocognitive). Pull evidence directly from the case.
Diagnosis and plan
Develop a differential, justify your working diagnosis against DSM-5-TR criteria, rule out reversible/medical causes, and outline a management plan (workup, treatment, safety, follow-up).
Format
Use the comprehensive-evaluation template, cite the DSM-5-TR and scholarly sources, APA. Our assessment guide covers the diagnostic method.