Case_Study

Buddy Jackson Case Study I Canzata Walker-Daniels Nov 10, 2011 Argosy University-Atlanta Running Head Buddy Jackson Case Study I Background Information In 1941 Mr. Jackson was stationed at Pearl Harbor. Mr. Jackson met his wife in 1945 while in the Navy. No information on mother and farther given. After being discharged from the Navy he was a bookkeeper in Philadelphia. Mr. Jackson married and produced three boys. Mr. Jackson has been married fifty years. Mr. Jackson has been isolated from the boys. Though isolated he was not abusive but had a heavy hand at times. He disappeared on weekends and consumed alcohol but no other drug use. He did not miss a lot of work. Mr. Jackson occasionally went on benders for the weekend was isolated from his son’s. Mr. Jackson did not want to go to Hawaii. Mr. Jackson did not talk about what happened at Pearl Harbor or watched documentary’s that came on television Presenting Problem Mr. Jackson was hospitalized a few months after Pearl Harbor. There is a big scrape on the side of his body. Mr. Jackson’s trip to Hawaii was also along the fifty-fifth anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Before sleeping Mr. Jackson did a lot of pacing and was restless and agitated while sleeping. Mr. Jackson was withdrawn and quiet and felt the need to take more blood pressure pills. Mr. Jackson wore his flak jacket which is a form of protective clothing to protect against shrapnel injuries. Mr. Jackson seemed unaware of his present surroundings off in his own world isolating himself from all others. He was re-living events from Pearl Harbor having flashbacks. Diagnosis/Diagnostic Impressions Utilizing the background information given and the presenting problems, Mr. Jackson presents with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Mr. Jackson meets the criteria as defined in the DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association [DSM-IV], 2000): the person’s response involved intense fear, helplessness or horror (i.e., the client experiencing the flashback from Pearl Harbor with tormented screams). The requirement stating intense psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that could represent an aspect of the traumatic event (American Psychiatric Association [DSM-IV], 2000). The client visited a memorial from Pearl Harbor. The requirement stating efforts to avoid activities, places, or people that arouse recollections of the trauma (American Psychiatric Association [DSM-IV], 2000). The client didn’t want go to Hawaii, the family was not allowed to ask him questions about Pearl Harbor, and the client didn’t watch documentaries or anything war related. The client experiences difficulty falling asleep and irritability as also required by DSM-IV. The client also presents with Acute Stress Disorder. Mr. Jackson meets the criteria as defined in the DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association [DSM-IV], 2000): the person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others. In Pearl Harbor he lost four friends. The client experiences detachment, absence of emotional responsiveness, reduction of awareness of his surroundings, and derealization. Before the trip to Hawaii and while there the client was often in his own little world, and wondered off to be alone. Mr.Jackson separated off to himself away from his wife and other couples while in Hawaii. The diagnosis given was on Axis I, 309.81 and 308.3. There is no indicated diagnosis on Axis II, Axis III, and an Axis IV diagnosis of other psychosocial and environmental problems. Mr. Jackson, like many other people serving in the military, experience PTSD after having seen combat. The PTSD, along with other anxiety disorders, is typical being that they have seen traumatic events or witnessed death. He watched four friends die. Treatment Recommendations According to Barlow and Durand (2009), victims of PTSD should face the original trauma, process the intense, emotions, and develop effective coping procedures in order to overcome the debilitating effects of the disorder. This process is called catharsis. Developing a story of what happened is broken down and reviewed in therapy. Medications are also helpful with the symptoms of PTSD. Medications can be used to treat anxiety and nervousness. There are many helpful drugs such as Prozac and Paxil according to Barlow and Durand (2009). References American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (Revised 4th ed.). Washington, DC Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. M. (2009). Abnormal psychology: An integrative approach (6th ed.). Bemont: Thomson Waldsworth