Discussion Question
Discussion Question
Based on the case presented in DQ 1, the following is a clinical impression of the client (Holly) using the 5 Axis techniques.
Axis 2 ---No condition or diagnosis
Axis 3---The client reports that often, she experiences anxiety when she thinks about her former husband and their daughter. She reports that when this happens, she cannot sleep adequately and losses appetite and this causes her to feel sick, forcing her to skip work. The client says that when she is not thinking about her ex-husband and daughter, she is well and relaxed. The client adds that she has been struggling financially, because she is a low-income earner and has no healthcare cover.
Axis 4---Holly states that her family meant everything to her, and that after the divorce, everything has fallen into pieces. She reports that she feels lost and prefers keeping things to herself. The client states that the meager earnings she gets from her minimum wage job is barely enough to give her daughter a good life. She reports that the hardships in her life are stressing her, and she increasingly misses work and feels ill. The client states that she lacks health insurance and sick leave which adds to her stress.
Axis 5---50 GAF This result is based on the client’s symptoms. Despite the drastic change in her life and the stressors, Holly has been able to sustain her job, although she misses work.
The rationale behind this diagnosis is the fact that from the limited information available, the symptoms Holly exhibits fit in the said diagnosis. Carta et al. (2009) notes that emotional distress caused by a changes in normal life can lead to diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder.
Supervision is necessary throughout the case management process, because although she is coping, without close monitoring Holly’s symptoms may worsen, leading to a more serious mental condition. Close supervision ensures that the client’s situation is monitored with appropriate actions to prevent or manage unwanted outcomes.
References
Carta, G. M., Balestrieri, M., Murru, A., & Hardoy, M. C. (2009). Adjustment Disorder:
Epidemiology, Diagnosis & Treatment. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health, 5: 15. doi: 10.1186/1745-0179-5-15
