Psychological_Disorder_Analysis

The following paper will analyze the case and diagnose one specific disorder of the patient called Maria. Maria is a 42-year-old Hispanic female is complaining of trouble sleeping, feeling jumpy most the time, and the inability to concentrate. These symptoms are causing problems for her at work, in which she is an accountant. There are questions that need to be asked in order for the psychologist to get a better understanding of Maria and her background. This can be considered a case study. A case study will help the physician make a clear and precise diagnosis. Maria’s answers to the questions will help the psychologist diagnose Maria and help her find a treatment that suits her best. 1. Finding more about Maria and her day-to-day habits 2. Is there anything happening in life right now that is influencing your thoughts and/or feelings' 3. Does she have a support group at home or at work' 4. What is her current relationship status' 5. What is the most important thing in their life' 6. Have there been any major changes in their life' 7. How was your childhood growing up' 8. How is she feeling about herself' 9. What does she like to do for fun' 10. How is her relationship with her parents and/or siblings' After hearing Maria’s answers the psychologist should be able to help diagnose Maria according to the criteria set by the DSM-IV. The DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) is a manual published by the American Psychiatric Association that covers all mental health disorders for both children and adults (Heffner Media Group, 1999-2003). Psychiatrists use this manual to help understand a patients illness and to figure out a diagnosis and treatment plan. The DSM uses a multidimensional approach and contains five dimensions which are called Axis. Axis I: Clinical Syndromes Clinical syndromes are what are used as the diagnosis Axis II: Development and Personality Disorders   * Axis II is to define development and personality disorder that are more observed in childhood. This would include any form of autism or mental retardation. * Personality disorders are clinical syndromes that have a more long lasting symptom and include the individual's way of interacting with the world.  They include Paranoid, Antisocial, and Borderline Personality Disorders Developmental disorders include autism and mental retardation, disorders which are typically first evident in childhood (Heffner Media Group, 1999-2003). Axis III: Physical Symptoms An expansion to the first to Axis Axis IV: Severity of Psychosocial Stressors This would pertain to the events that happen in a person’s life that could trigger a disorder. Axis V: In this axis the clinician rates the patient’s level of functioning in everyday life both at the present time and the highest level in the past.  This helps the therapist understand how the above four axes are affecting the person and what type of changes could be expected (Heffner Media Group, 1999-2003). Looking at Maria’s profile and her symptoms, it seems that Maria is suffering from Dysthymic Disorder. By using the DSM, Maria has most of the symptoms. Although Maria does not elaborate on how long these symptoms have been going on, she does exhibit most of the other symptoms that the DSM advises. That would be another question to ask during the background exam. How long have these symptoms been going on' Maria demonstrates more than two of the major symptoms. These symptoms are; insomnia, lack of concentration, difficulty in making choices, and feelings of hopelessness. Dysthymic disorder is a condition that creates a low level of depression that reduces the patient’s inability to function on a day-to-day basis for at least two years. These patients usually experience sleep and appetite changes, feel as though they are never happy, have low self esteem, and low energy. The low energy will interfere with their jobs and their relationships. Patients may even start to neglect their personal hygiene. Maria is not exhibiting any of the hygiene issues but if the disorder is not treated soon in which hygiene could become an issue in the long run. Patients with Dysthymic disorder will tend to have problems with their short term memory because the disorder causes changes in thinking, well being, and physical well being. Maria is exhibiting the inability to concentrate, probably because of the trouble she is having with her sleeping patterns. People with this disorder have a hard time making decisions and often felt sad for no reason. Patients stop taking pleasure in new or existing things and start to withdrawal from everyone around her. Dysthymic disorder also share’s similar symptoms as major depression. Some of these include: sleep issues, social withdrawal, conflicts with friends and family, and irritability. The one difference between the two would be the intensity and time of the depressive symptoms. With Dysthymic, a person can function at a somewhat normal level and keeps her symptoms to herself. Another difference between the two disorders would be the time that the symptoms last; a person diagnosed with major depression will have episodes that last up to two weeks. A person who has Dysthymic disorder the symptoms last for at least two years. Before a person can be diagnosed with any mental disorder, a physical examination must be completed to exclude any medical conditions that the patient may have. A person must meet the certain criteria if the DSM. The DSM was put into place, due to the fact that a person can be diagnosed with other mental disorders, multiple disorders, and not receive the proper treatment. The DSM-IV describes the Dysthymic disorder in the section on mood disorders. This suggests similarities with major depressive disorder in cause, genetic bases, prognoses, and treatment responses (Geitner, 2002). Dysthymic disorder has been shadowed by a lack of agreement by psychiatrists in regard to this diagnosis, but even so it was the most common psychiatric diagnosis in the 1970s. During that period, the disease was referred to as depressive neurosis or neurotic depression (Geitner, 2002). There is no known cause for Dysthymic Disorder. Researchers believe that there is some sort of chemical disorder that is seen in major depression. Other researchers believe that it is a behavioral process that is learned from childhood. The disorder is also believed to happen when there is some sort of trigger in the patient’s life. This could include a major life event, death, abuse, drugs, and substance abuse. Researchers believe that Dysthymic disorder is based on the biological model. This disorder can be viewed as abnormal by theorists because there may be a malfunction of some organism in the body. This goes back to the chemical imbalance in the brain. This disorder also can be the result of a genetic inheritance as well. Although there is no one treatment for this disorder, medication and therapy can help aid and feel some relief in the symptoms. Anti-depressants are the best medication for disorder. Often physicians will prescribe anti-anxiety medication or some sort of mood stabilizer in addition to the anti-depressants to equal the hormones for the patient. Combining medication and psychotherapy is the best possible treatment for Dysthymic disorder. A person’s background and lifestyle will depend on the type of therapy that will be the most beneficial. Therapy should also include the education of depression and the disorder. Support groups will also help the patient with coping skills and working with others that have the same problems but different severities. After reviewing the above case of Maria, her background, and lifestyle that Maria is living, one can have a better understanding of the symptoms that Maria is exhibiting and being able to provide a good diagnosis. In using the DSM psychiatrist can eliminate other mental disorders and focus on one specific mental disorder. A clear diagnosis will help Maria get the proper treatment that is necessary for her to manage the disorder, be successful and not relapse into a different type of major depression. References:  Heffner Media Group. (1999-2003). All Psych. Retrieved from http://allpsych.com/disorders/dsm.html Hersen, M., Turner, S.M. & Beidel DC (Eds). (2007). Adult Psychopathology and Diagnosis (5th ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons Inc American Psychiatric Association, ed (June 2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR (Fourth Edition (Text Revision) ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.. p. 943 Geitner, C. (2002). Bipolar Home. Retrieved from http://www.bipolarhome.org/understanding.html Faces of Abnormal Psychology Interactive Application http://mhhe.com/socscience/psychology/faces/