Case History for Chapter 5 Application Response

Chapter 5 Application Response

(25 Points)

Make sure that you read the \”Case History Application Response CH 5 PSY 281 Online\” also attached to this assignment. As you read about Consuela make sure that you are noting any evidence/symptoms that would lead you to suspect a specific disorder.

Tell me the specific disorder that you would diagnose given the evidence from the case history. Use the ACTUAL DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DSM-5.
Next, you are going to explain your rationale for giving the diagnosis you have decided best represents Consuela’s experiences. This is the part of your paper where you will be VERY SPECIFIC in taking evidence from the case history and applying it to the actual criteria of your diagnosis. This will show me that you understand how the criteria for the disorder were met, and subsequently could actually then make the diagnosis. Even if you think you are being too redundant, or too specific, or too boring, explain your rationale for each criterion being met. Go into great depth proving each criterion with as much evidence as you have noted from the case history.
Write this paper as if your audience is someone who has never even heard of the disorder you are writing about. Many students tend to leave out important detail because they believe I (Mr. Schulte a trained counselor) am their audience. Sometimes thinking, “oh, well that is obvious to Mr. Schulte, I don’t need to go into that much detail. Don’t do that in your paper. Go step by step explaining your reasons/evidence for why each criterion has been met.
Make sure you are covering all aspects of the disorder’s diagnostic criteria, if there are other criteria from other parts of the DSM that are necessary, you should add those.

As always, be sure to type this assignment, double space, using 12 point normal font and 1 inch margins. Upload your completed assignment as an attachment in \”Assignments\”.

Case History for Chapter 5 Application Response
Mrs. Consuela Rader is a 42 year old Nicaraguan female, married without any children. Consuela is currently seeking psychological assessment to help in her primary physical care of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and insomnia. Mrs. Rader has complained of having sleep difficulties and having unexpected and uncontrollable crying spells.
Mrs. Rader came to the U.S. from Nicaragua due to political and economic concerns about 15 years ago. Prior to her immigration to the U.S. she was living in extreme poverty with her family. They often did not have enough food for everyone in the family, nor did they have enough water. Although she was never harmed herself, she often saw friends, family, and members of her community killed. This was extremely troubling to Consuela and she dropped out of school at that time. She believed that it was unsafe to go to school because of the escalating violence in her community. She migrated to the U.S. shortly thereafter as many in her small village did.
While en route to the United States she was raped but never reported this assault because of her fear of being deported back to Nicaragua. She reported living with other Nicaraguan immigrants until she was able to afford to get her own residence. It was around this time she began her relationship with her current husband Bob Rader. Bob was, and still is, emotionally, verbally, and physically abusive toward Consuela. She reports staying in the relationship so she could stay in the U.S. and to be able to maintain the economic support necessary to live.
Mrs. Rader states she has experienced difficulty sleeping for “a long time.” She reports that she has disturbing nightmares regarding her experiences in Nicaragua and her sexual assault. She also states that she feels disconnected and detached from everyone around her. She used to enjoy playing bingo at her church, but no longer finds this to be enjoyable. Consuela also says she has trouble expressing her emotions. She says it is hard to relate to anyone, but also that she often just feels “numb.” She reports that she often cries, which comes in extreme waves of sadness, and states that she does not understand why this occurs. She reports that she feels restless, irritable, and angry all the time. Her heart races and she is easily startled at the smallest of sounds. When she is startled she starts to tremble, feel dizzy and has some numbness in her fingers and toes. She also reports having a hard time concentrating when these symptoms occur. This happens especially when she thinks about her rape and the violence in her home village. Consuela reports that she typically doesn’t talk about her experiences with family and friends because she starts to have the previously listed symptoms as well as intense feelings of shame and guilt. She also reports that she avoids engaging in behaviors that remind her of her rape, including responding when intimately involved with her husband.

SAMPLE SOLUTION

Chapter 5 Application Response

Disorder

From the case history, it is evident that Consuela is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is a mental health condition that is triggered by a horrifying event – either witnessing it or experiencing it.

Rationale

The case study outlines terrifying events experienced by the patient. Many individuals who undergo traumatic events have challenges coping and adjusting for a sometime, but they do not have PTSD problem – with good self-care and time, they often improve. However, if the symptoms worsen or last for several months or even years, one is considered a PTSD patient. The case history shows that Consuela moved to the United States (U.S) from Nicaragua due to economic and political problems roughly 15 years ago. In her homeland, she was living in abject poverty with her entire family. They often lacked sufficient food and water and although she never physically harmed herself, she regularly saw family, friends, and community members killed in cold blood. The experience was extremely troubling to her to the extent that she had to drop school and embarked on a journey to the U.S. On her way, she was sexually assaulted. All these horrible experience must have caused her a lot of stress. The situation was worsened by the fact that she did not have any professional support all through leading…