Question:
Development of Case Studies, and Theoretical Explanation
Stress is something that’s almost inevitable in today’s society.
Stress can contribute to both psychological and physical illness.
Stress can be closely linked to anxiety, panic, fear, and panic.
Many common psychological disorders include anxiety as a central part of their symptoms.
Somatic symptom disorders are characterized by preoccupation with the body and/or a medical illness.
Dissociative disorders are characterized by a loss of consciousness or memory (amnesia) or, in extreme cases, multiple personalities.
Below is a Sample Case: Woody
Click to review the case.
Click here for a review of the case used to complete this assignment.
Woody’s mental and emotional health will be the subject of your discussion.
Click here to view the transcript
Look at the sample case.
Review the guidelines and download them.
Make a case study that represents a specific diagnosis for one of the following disorders: anxiety, dissociative, or somatic.
The case description must include all DSM criteria needed to diagnose the disorder. But, it might also include additional symptoms that aren’t included within that diagnostic category.
Please include information about the background of the fictional subject.
Mental health professionals often have to be trained in several theoretical orientations.
Each theoretical orientation gives insight to why a person behaves the way they do.
The professional’s treatment options will be guided by the theoretical orientation.
You will read about a variety of theories to explain abnormal behavior in this module.
Some of these theories include psychodynamic, biological, existential, cognitive and sociocultural.
Based on your chosen theory, determine the treatment approach that is best suited for your particular case.
Create your own theory analysis of the case in relation to the disorder.
Answer to Question: PSY 410 Abnormal Psychology
The Case Study
Problem Presentation
Anna Brown, a female attorney aged forty who is from Europe, presented to her primary care physician complaining of fatigue.
She said that this was her first complaint since last year.
Before this, she was in good physical and mental health.
In her early years, she suffered from frequent colds and sore throats.
Along with frequent infections in her respiratory tract, she experienced fatigue and malaise.
She often took time off work because of her severe fatigue.
The Problem in History
Anna indicated that she was facing the same problem in the past year.
In December 2015 she lost her husband. Since then, she has been under tremendous stress to raise her daughter.
Last February saw her daughter graduate from New York University. She comes home during holidays.
It was May last year that her first episode of fatigue-like symptoms and respiratory problems began.
She became so fatigued that she quit her highly-paid job as an advocate.
She experienced sleep disturbances, and her analysis shows that she is suffering from both primary and middle insomnia.
Additional to fatigue, she also experienced dizziness, lightheadedness, full-body ache, headaches, and difficulty reading with full concentration.
Ancestral Treatment History
The patient has been diagnosed as having hypertension since 2015.
Her husband was diagnosed in 2013 with blood cancer. She has felt extreme stress and tension since that time.
Since November 2015 she is on medication for hypertension.
She is currently taking the medication for hypertension only.
Zestril 299.9 is the only medication she takes.
Medical History
Since November 2015 her problem with high blood pressure is now a minor one.
At the time of giving birth, she was hospitalized once.
But, she is now in hospital to undergo a complete physical exam.
Over the past year, the patient saw an internist, two Rheumatologists and a Neurologist.
The patient has been through multiple tests and no one was able to give her a diagnosis.
Her neurologist told her that her physical condition was perfect and that she should consult psychiatry.
Family History
She is a single mom and was married to her childhood friend at the age 30.
She has a single daughter, now aged 16 years.
In 2015, she lost her husband to blood cancer.
Briton is where she lives, her daughter lives there.
Developmental History
She was a premature, seizure-prone child.
She was seven months old when she was born.
She was a normal child and had no difficulties in her childhood.
She was intelligent as a child and was always tops in class.
Education Qualification
She was an excellent student from childhood. After completing her Law degree at Oxford University, she is now an attorney at a respected Briton law firm.
Work history
Briton, where she was 29 years of age, was a prominent law firm. But, her health has made it difficult for her to go to work since the last six months.
Legal History
She has never been indicted or sentenced to prison.
Sexual Relationship History
She was a loving wife and had no issues with her sexual orientation.
After the death of her husband, she has never been in a relationship with a man.
The Case Study: Review
Anna has been suffering from Somatoform disorder since she complained of distress and disruption caused by a physical ailment that has been present for six months. These symptoms are not apparent in various tests (Claassenvan, et.al., 2016).
The case study reveals that Anna is depressed and is often left alone in her house.
Her daughter is also in NY.
This is why she needs to be surrounded by people she loves.
She is also suffering from grief after the sudden passing of her husband.
The professional should use the behavioral therapies in order to improve the patient’s situation.
A professional who is knowledgeable and caring will give education and counseling to the patient about the therapeutic benefits.
Refer toClaassen-van Dessel, N., van der Wouden, J. C., Dekker, J., & van der Horst, H. E. (2016).
DSM IV and DSM 5 criteria have clinical value in diagnosing the most severe somatoform conditions in patients with undiagnosed physical symptoms (MUPS).
Journal of psychosomatic studies, 82(4), 4-10.Koelen, J. A., Houtveen, J. H., Abbass, A., Luyten, P., Eurelings-Bontekoe, E. H., Van Broeckhuysen-Kloth, S. A., … & Geenen, R. (2014).
Meta-analysis to determine the effectiveness of psychotherapy treatment for severe somatoform disorder.
The British Journal of Psychiatry 204(1) 12-19Koelen, J. A., Houtveen, J. H., Abbass, A., Luyten, P., Eurelings-Bontekoe, E. H., Van Broeckhuysen-Kloth, S. A., … & Geenen, R. (2014).
Meta-analysis to determine the effectiveness of psychotherapy treatment for severe somatoform disorder.
The British Journal of Psychiatry 204(1) 12-19Lakhan, S. E., & Schofield, K. L. (2013).
A systematic review of the effectiveness of mindfulness-based treatments in treating somatization disorder: a meta-analysis.
PloS one 8, e71834.Olatunji, B. O., Kauffman, B. Y., Meltzer, S., Davis, M. L., Smits, J. A., & Powers, M. B. (2014). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for hypochondriasis/health anxiety: A meta-analysis of treatment outcome and moderators.
Behaviour therapy and research, 58.Schieber, K., Kollei, I., de Zwaan, M., & Martin, A. (2015).
The new DSM-5 criteria are a better way to classify body dysmorphic disorder.
Journal of psychosomatic studies, 78(3) 223-227.Zipfel, S., Wild, B., Gross, G., Friederich, H. C., Teufel, M., Schellberg, D., … & Burgmer, M. (2014).
Focal psychodynamic, cognitive behaviour therapy, & optimised treatment as normal in outpatients with Anorexia Nervosa (ANTOP Study): Randomised controlled trial.
The Lancet (383(9912), 127–137.