Question

To complete each assignment, you will need to read the case study. Assume that the client described in each case study meets criteria for a DSM-5 disorder. You will then consult the DSM-5 criteria and write 1-2 detailed paragraphs in which you assign a primary diagnosis for the client and justify that diagnosis. In this section you should reference EACH of the DSM-5 criteria for the diagnosis you are assigning and provide evidence from the case study for or against the presence of that criterion. If you have no information for a particular criterion you should specify this. For example, if the DSM-5 criteria specify that the symptoms cannot be accounted for by a medical condition and you have no evidence that the client has a medical condition that would explain their symptoms, you should state this. Next, write a paragraph in which you provide an example of at least one related diagnosis that you are ruling out based on the information you have. This is a process called “differential diagnosis.” As you know, the categories provided in the DSM-5 do not represent “true” categories in nature, and often clients will often have symptoms in multiple categories. As a clinician, you need to rule out other categories or explanations for the symptoms. For example, if someone is experiencing panic attacks in the wake of a traumatic event, you might consider the diagnoses of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder, or Panic Disorder. The DSM-5 criteria will help you figure out which is the most appropriate diagnosis, and you should specify why you are ruling out another disorder, providing specific justification for ruling it out. The best disorders to rule out are those that share features or symptoms described in the case but are not the best diagnosis for the client. Finally, you will write one paragraph in which you may specify the use of a psychosocial treatment, a psychoactive medication, or both. You must briefly describe how this treatment works and you must justify your choice of treatment based on the research evidence for the efficacy of the treatment.

Case Study #1

Linda is a 36-year old, Afro-Latina, married insurance executive living in the Northeast United States. She has been experiencing symptoms of anxiety since she was in high school, but they have recently become much worse after the birth of her second child, a son, 4 months ago, prompting her to seek treatment. She says that for the last 4 months she has felt keyed up, anxious, and “on alert” almost constantly. She has difficulty sleeping, significantly diminished concentration, and is irritable. In addition, several times a day she has “attacks” that involve involve “full terror.” The episodes last for about 10-15 minutes each, and usually involve profuse sweating, muscle tension, increased heart rate, feelings of dizziness, trembling, intense fear, and crying. When asked what triggers these episodes, Linda says that they usually occur when she is at home alone with her infant son or when she has memories of his delivery, during which she suffered a rare complication (she learned after delivering that both she and her baby could have died during the delivery). She tries very hard not to think about the delivery, but images and memories of it pop into her head frequently. In addition to these episodes of “terror,” Linda says that since her son’s birth she feels worthless, ashamed, and guilty for not “bringing him into a safe world.” She also states that she feels sad much of the time, and is detached from her son (she does not feel she has bonded well with him). Linda has started to sometimes call out sick from work when she has the sense that she is “having a bad day” and might have an episode, and she says she is increasingly withdrawing from her son because she finds that being with him triggers her anxiety. She says that she feels “utterly alone” and avoids hanging out with other mothers of infants because she finds they cannot relate to her experiences. Linda does not

Answer 1

Its not only the anxiety disorder but Linda might be suffering from frustations . The age at which she felts anxiety is the starting of ones career which might got neglected somehow and a suppressed frustation has given this anxiety especially after delivery of baby as this gives an psychological feelings to every women that additional responsibility bears from now onwards and thus it hampers the careers now. This problems happened mostly with the careeristic women only and not with the homely women whose target are getting fulfilled . Rather they feels more proud and happy and normally have gained the self confidence in themselves.

As per the case given of Linda , first of all she needs to have a talk therapy through which the reason should be known of anxiety of the childhood , which is the root cause and then from there gradually one has to follow up the matter and start treatment accordingly. Neglecting the case as it was may affect the person with border line personality disorder and severe depression.