CNDV 5350 Abnormal Human Behavior
Week 1 Application Assignment: Using the DSM
Overview
Learning to use the DSM can seem a bit like learning a foreign language. This week, you have learned about the DSM and comprehensive diagnostic assessment. This assignment will allow you to apply that knowledge by developing some initial diagnoses and justifications.
Assignment 1 will help you to clarify your understanding of the DSM. You should also listen to the lecture, review supplemental materials, and use the rubrics as guides to help you complete the assignment. This assignment will count toward your final grade and is due by Day 7, and is worth 75 points.
Directions
Below are five short case vignettes. For this assignment, respond to the questions that follow. Each case is worth 15 points with the total being 75 points for the assignment. You may use this template to complete your work. Save the file as FirstInitial_LastName_COUN5350_Week1
Case I
Cindy is a 27 year old Caucasian female seeking mental health treatment because her mother has noticed her withdrawing from social activities. Cindy indicates that she has felt sad more days than not for the last couple of months. She has lost about 15 pounds and has difficulty sleeping. Cindy no longer enjoys her work and states she feels incompetent on the job. She cites lack of energy and difficulty concentrating as reasons she is not performing well at work. She is not suicidal.
Cindy does not drink or use drugs, takes no medications, has no major medical conditions, and has no previous history of mental health treatment. Neither she nor her mother indicates any major life changes in the last few months that would precipitate the change in Cindy’s functioning.
1. Using the table of contents in the DSM, identity the section/chapter that this disorder is likely to fall under?
2. Name two symptoms that you see presenting in this case.
3. What symptoms or other factors are NOT present that would change the diagnosis?
4. From the following, select the most appropriate diagnosis for this case
a. Alcohol Dependence
b. Conduct Disorder
c. Major Depressive Episode
d. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
e. Schizophrenia, Paranoid Type
5. Up to what percentage of people with this disorder die by suicide?
Case II
Rico is a 43 year old Hispanic male who lives with his wife of 14 years and their two daughters. After being laid off in 2003, Rico began using alcohol. At first he would drink a beer or two at night to help him sleep but he gradually realized that beer made him feel so much better about life and made being laid off much more tolerable. On the weekends, he would gather with friends and drink more heavily. Sometimes he will smoke marijuana if it is available but does not buy marijuana for himself. He last smoked cannabis in December. He currently drinks a 12 pack of beer or pint of vodka most days which interferes with his ability to go out on interviews for another job. Rico received a DUI last April and is on probation. Rico’s wife has asked him to stop drinking and he has tried with limited success. He once went 3 weeks without a drink but said because of the sweating, shaking, and sleeplessness that he experienced he has been unable to stop using for any longer than that. His wife is threatening to leave if he does not get some help.
1. Using the table of contents in the DSM, identity the section/chapter that this disorder is likely to fall under?
2. Name two symptoms that you see presenting in this case.
3. Name one symptoms or other factor that is NOT present that would change the diagnosis .
4. From the following, select the most appropriate diagnosis for this case
a. Alcohol Use Disorder
b. Conduct Disorder
c. Major Depressive Episode
d. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
e. Schizophrenia, Paranoid Type
5. During what length of time are symptoms of this disorder measured?
a. 24 hours
b. 3 months
c. 6 months
d. 12 months
Case III
Marcus is a 19 year old African American male who is a sophomore at the local university. His residence hall director notices him acting peculiar. Marcus has been neglecting his hygiene and has been seen wandering the halls at night muttering to himself about “the government”. While Marcus has done this ever since he arrived at the university, he has gotten worse in the last semester and he has not been attending classes regularly.
Marcus does not drink, use drugs, or have any other conditions that might cause such erratic behavior. The residence hall director is concerned and refers him to the health center for an evaluation. Marcus has recently telling other students that the FBI has hacked into his computer in order to spy on the activities of college students. He believes that the government has implanted a chip in his brain that records all of his thoughts. Marcus tells the counselor doing his evaluation that the men who are watching him are in the lobby and that they follow him to class.
The clinic staff talks to Marcus about seeing a doctor but he yells “No! All doctors work for the government!”
1. Using the table of contents in the DSM, identity the section that this disorder is likely to fall under?
2. Name two symptoms that you see presenting in this case.
3. Name one symptoms or other factor that is NOT present that would change the diagnosis .
4. From the following, select the most appropriate diagnosis for this case
a. Alcohol Dependence
b. Conduct Disorder
c. Major Depressive Episode
d. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
e. Schizophrenia, Paranoid Type
5. Symptoms that represent and excess or distortion of normal functions (such as delusions and hallucinations) are referred to as what type of symptom?
a. Positive
b. Negative
Case IV
Candace is a 14 year old Asian American female who lives with her adoptive parents. They are bringing her in for services at the request of Youth Court after Candace’s latest encounter with the law. Candace was first began acting out and became involved with Youth Court at age 12 after she skipped school and shoplifted from a local department store. More recently, Candace has been fighting at school and the community. She was picked up last month after breaking the windows out of a car belonging to the girl Candace suspected of dating her ex-boyfriend. When confronted by the girl, Candace shoved her then pulled a knife.
Candace has destroyed property at home and at school, stolen money from her parents, and stayed out all night despite curfew. Her parents are at their wit’s end and are afraid Candace will be sent to reform school.
1. Using the table of contents in the DSM, identity the section that this disorder is likely to fall under?
2. Name two symptoms that you see presenting in this case. Legal consequences since age 12, truant from school, shoplifting, fighting, vandalism, fighting with a weapon
3. Name one symptoms or other factor that is NOT present that would change the diagnosis.
4. From the following, select the most appropriate diagnosis for this case
a. Alcohol Dependence
b. Conduct Disorder
c. Major Depressive Episode
d. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
e. Schizophrenia, Paranoid Type
5. Based on the information provided in the case, what specifier would be added to this diagnosis?
a. Childhood on-set type
b. Adolescent onset type
Case V
Broderick is 39 now but was just 20 when he joined the army. He has served through multiple conflicts and was most recently deployed to Afghanistan. Upon his return, his wife noticed that his re-entry into their home and community was very different. She says “I know this was tough for Broderick. He watched his best friend die after an air attack. He won’t talk about it. I think he has nightmares and I know he can’t sleep. I often find him in the living room watching tv in the middle of the night.” Broderick tells you that he has survived a lot of deployments and he is not going to let what he saw get to him. He admits to disruptive thoughts and dreams about the attack that killed his friend. Broderick says he watches tv to de-stress but avoids watching any war movies or military related shows. He admits to being short with his wife and others and having hard time concentrating. This has been going on since Broderick returned home two months ago. He keeps thinking it will get better but agreed to talk to you at the request of his wife.
1. Using the table of contents in the DSM, identity the section that this disorder is likely to fall under?
2. Name two symptoms that you see presenting in this case.
3. Name one symptoms or other factor that is NOT present that would change the diagnosis.
4. From the following, select the most appropriate diagnosis for this case
a. Alcohol Use Disorder
b. Conduct Disorder
c. Major Depressive Episode
d. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
e. Schizophrenia, Paranoid Type
5. What diagnostic code number indicated this diagnosis?
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