1a.DSM-IV refers to the 4th edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental Disorders. It is authored by the American Psychological Association and provides several psychiatric diagnoses for mental disorders. It shows all the medical disorders encountered by children and adults and gives relevant statistics in terms of gender and age. DSM-IV also provides details of various studies conducted on providing optimal treatment to patients. The manual includes 297 disorders, grouped into 15 categories. DSM-IV uses multiaxial approach to provide an assessment. There are five axes with each providing a different angle regarding mental disorders. This is designed to give a complete diagnosis that includes all the mental health factors.
1b.DSM-IV is prepared with the input of psychologists and psychiatrists. This ensures that the treatment plan for a specific diagnosis is consistent. It also enables psychologists to make valid diagnosis hence the appropriate treatment can be administered.
DSM-IV also reduces the chances of making extremely opposing diagnosis. Without such a reference, it could be possible for psychologists to offer varying diagnosis.
Critics of the DSM-IV argue that it is dehumanizing. Use of the DSM-IV makes psychologists focus on diagnosis and symptoms of a disorder. This makes psychologists lose track on the client as a human being with a set of problems.
2a.Sharon wants to share with someone about her life. She also needs to understand how she can move on with her life because lately, she has been acting out of control and cannot move away from her past.
Sharon is stuck with sad memories that she cannot go away from. Sharon often experiences tragic flashbacks and has a sleeping disorder. For instance, after September 11th, 2001, she would have nightmares and would wake up soaked in sweat due the events of that day.
Sharon’s life has changed drastically, and she has become so much withdrawn, started to smoke heavily and stopped exercising. Apart from this, Sharon feels confused and embarrassed. She also has uncontrollable anger.
2b.Sharon suffers from major depressive disorder. The stressful events in Sharon’s life seem to have played a key role in the development of this disorder. Sharon lost her close friends during the terrorist attack of September, 11th. She also has bitter memories of being left behind by her father. Major depressive disorder is caused stressful events (such as a break up), and use of medications such as steroids. Childhood neglect, divorce and death of close people also play a role.
Major depressive disorder makes people change the way they view life, think of themselves and the people around them. This may be accompanied by irritation, and change in appetite that could result into weight loss or gain. It is also characterized by helplessness, loss of self-worth, and being isolated. Psychotherapy and use of antidepressants could help in the treatment.
3a.Sharon could also be suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is triggered by events such as war, terrorism, domestic assault and rape. Sharon lost close friends after the September 11th attacks. She was also affected by the death of her father in war. Sharon also exhibits other symptoms of PTSD such as being disengaged from day to day activities, a sense of living without a future and feeling lonely. She also experiences outbursts of anger and develops strong emotions after remembering tragic events.
3b.The treatment regime is likely to change, although the symptoms appear similar. Use of the related symptoms can lead to different diagnosis from different psychologists. This is one of the criticisms of the DSM-IV. Use of the DSM-IV to diagnose a client may lead to varying diagnosis.
4a.A psychoanalyst would focus on negative thoughts Sharon developed after her father’s departure, the divorce, and memory of September 11th.
The use of psychotherapy would be crucial to treat major depressive disorder. Psychotherapy involves talking about the problems that the client faces in order to help them deal with the feelings and thoughts. The therapist can also recommend a support group for the client to join. Use of cognitive therapy helps to fight off negative thoughts. Problems solving skills in the patient are also developed.
4b.A treatment plan would involve setting up the treatment sessions. The sessions may take from five to fifteen weeks depending on how the client responds treatment. A standard session would take about 50 minutes and may be done once in a week. Initial sessions should focus on the family history, medical history and relationships.
Maladaptive cognitions lead to emotional behaviors in clients. Focusing on the family background, medical history, and relationships helps to uncover the maladaptive cognitions.
Therapeutic change would be brought about by helping the client to relieve their symptoms as well as resolve their issues. Acquiring skills to cope and prevent fall back would be essential at this stage.
4c.Exercising genuineness helps the client to understand how to express this vital skill which is vital for sharing honest feelings and thoughts. By expressing unconditional positive regard, the client shows that they care and support the client no matter what they are going through. This relives the burden of conditional support. It also makes the client express their emotions without having to worry about rejection.
Empathy is crucial as it enables clients to understand their inner thoughts, emotions and perceptions. This helps the client to grow psychologically and become mores elf ware and change their behavior through self-direction. The client would feel safe because they would not be judged.
Use of client-centered therapy would be appropriate as it will have a long lasting effect on the client. Apart from achieving therapeutic change in a client, the therapy would also prevent a relapse of the situation. The therapy may be accompanied by medication. Sharon’s condition is deteriorating fast hence there is a need to use a combination of drugs and therapy. This would help to create a long lasting effect on the client.
Reference
Myers, D. G. (2009). Psychology. New York: Worth Publishers.
