Case Study: Armella Ottinger
Armella Ottinger, a 77-year-old African American woman, was widowed almost 10 months ago. She presents with severe anxiety and panic symptoms that have persisted since the death of her husband. She also reports having some short-term memory loss and sometimes waking up at night feeling confused. Armella was married for 58 years. She is currently living alone in the four-bedroom house where she lived with her husband and raised their five children. All of her children live far away, although she has a sister who lives 20 minutes away whom she sees a few times per month. She has been attending a grief support group at her church for about a month. Her primary care provider referred her to you, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, for an evaluation and medication management. Social History Retired as a school teacher 10 years ago; taught 3rd grade for 40 years. Five adult children all live in California. Lives in Missouri and has limited contact with her childr