Posted: March 31st, 2023

Hernandez Family Assessment

References
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Hernandez Family Assessment

The assessment of the Hernandez family involves a comprehensive evaluation of their health, covering demographic information, challenges they face, medical and psychiatric history, substance use, developmental history, mental status, physical assessment, and more. The assessment suggests that the couple might be dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder due to their harsh childhood punishments. A treatment plan utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy is proposed to address their behavior and parenting strategies.

Demographic Information:
The Hernandez family consists of four members: Juan Hernandez (27 years old), Elena Hernandez (25 years old), and their two sons, Jan Jr. (8 years old) and Alberto (6 years old). They live in Queens, New York. Juan works at an airport while Elena works as a babysitter. Financial concerns lead Juan to work overtime.

Presenting Problem:
The parents are excessively punishing their children, with one child reporting this to a social worker. The punishment involves kneeling while holding an encyclopedia, which the parents believe is an effective disciplinary method. This behavior stems from their own upbringing and might have underlying causes.

History or Present Illness:
The family members have not faced major physical or mental illnesses. However, their harsh punishment methods raise concerns.

Past Psychiatric History:
No previous psychiatric history exists, but a deeper assessment is needed to determine if underlying mental health issues are contributing to their extreme discipline methods.

Medical History:
The family has no significant medical history, injuries, or illnesses. They have no hereditary conditions or lifestyle diseases like diabetes. Future assessments may be necessary to ensure their ongoing health.

Substance Abuse History:
The family does not have a history of substance abuse. However, Juan and Elena occasionally consume alcohol with friends.

Developmental History:
The children and parents have met their developmental milestones without any growth abnormalities.

Family Psychiatric History:
No previous family psychiatric history is known. However, their extreme parenting style warrants further assessment.

Psychosocial History:
The family follows a heterosexual dynamic, and there is no information about their stance on supporting homosexual relationships.

History of Abuse/Trauma:
Juan’s childhood involved severe punishments, leading him to believe in its effectiveness. The children have also experienced trauma from harsh punishments, although the parents do not recognize it as abuse.

Review of Systems (ROS):
No respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, central nervous system, or musculoskeletal issues are reported.

Physical Assessment:
Given the focus on mental health assessment, a physical examination is unnecessary at this point. No physical injuries from punishment have been reported by the children.

Mental Status Exam:
Both Juan and Elena appear well-groomed and are aware of their surroundings. They exhibit normal speech patterns, memory, insight, and judgment. Their past behavior raises concern for underlying problems.

Differential Diagnosis:
Possible diagnoses include post-traumatic stress disorder, personality disorders, and psychosocial/environmental factors.

Case Formulation:
Long-term exposure to stressors, like financial constraints and their own harsh childhoods, may contribute to their extreme parenting methods. These stressors might result in underlying mental health challenges.

Treatment Plan:
Group therapy is recommended for the couple, focusing on cognitive behavioral therapy. This approach aims to change their thought patterns and behaviors. Group therapy is preferred due to both parents supporting harsh discipline. They need to agree on alternative, non-abusive disciplinary methods, promoting cohesion and minimizing conflict.

Conclusion:
The Hernandez family’s assessment highlights concerns about their disciplinary methods, potentially indicating underlying issues. The assessment covers various aspects of their health, revealing a possible diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. Treatment involving cognitive behavioral therapy is suggested, along with the need to change their parenting approach to prevent harming their children mentally. This change is crucial considering the impact of life stressors like financial struggles.