Running head: PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER ANALYSIS

Psychological Disorder Analysis Laura Baker Psy/270 February 18, 2012 Monica Mauri

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Psychological Disorder Analysis Maria is a 42-year-old Hispanic female who came to the clinic ascribing of having trouble sleeping, feeling jumpy all of the time, and experiencing difficulty concentrating. She further said, That these symptoms are causing problems for her at work, where she is an accountant. She perceived these symptoms to be her cause of declined performance at her job. So she is very concerned about this, and has come in to seek our help. Upon intake Marias symptoms stand in need for analysis to come to a diagnosis. As Marias symptoms meet various criteria for Bipolar disorder, Dysthmic disorder, and Major Depression must be eliminated or ruled out. The suspected diagnosis upon her intake is Bipolar disorder or Major Depression. A complete assessment will be done on Maria, and a diagnosis will be determined. After a diagnosis has been established, a brief overview will be explained and possible causes will be explained also, and then followed by an ongoing effective plan of treatment to return the patient to a level of functioning with reduced symptoms. Maria participated in an in-depth interview process. The first questions initially posed to Maria a starting point for further analysis included in the following: 1. Did you remember any significant problems in your childhood? Yes. I was abused at age eight through twelve by a family member, but I do not remember too much about those years. I can remember bits and pieces of those years. 2. Tell me about your time in high school. What was it like? What do you remember?

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I can remember that I was sociable, but my grades were inconsistent. One report card my grades would be great, but then the next grading period I would be barely passing. 3. Has anyone been diagnosed in your family with a mental illness? If so, who? What was their diagnosis? My mother was diagnosed with Major Depression in her twenties. 4. With regard to trouble sleeping what specific problems are you having? There are days I do not sleep at all, and while other days I can sleep all day. 5. Do you find that your symptoms to be constant, or do they come and go? They come and go. 6. Maria, when did you start having emotional problems? I can say that the problems started in my sophomore year. I noticed my emotional state to be on a rollercoaster ride. 7. Are you a generally anxious person, or would you consider yourself to be a worrier? In my childhood and early adulthood, I considered myself to be a worrier, but in my thirties I have noticed myself to be more anxious. 8. Are you currently taking any prescription medications? If so what medications, and how long have you been taking them? Have you recently stopped any of these medications? No prescription medications. 9. How would you define happiness?

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I would define happiness as taking care of my family, days without going through emotional ups and downs, and just being on an even keel. 10. Maria, if I was to ask you to rate the grimness of your symptoms on your daily life from one being least grim to ten being the grimmest, what would you rate them? Right now I would say a nine to a ten. Marias answers to the initial interview assessment allows for a better target on numerous issues. Most importantly, is the emotional ups and downs of Bipolar disorder that Maria is experiencing is to be the main focus. Maria described symptoms of depression, and had a family history of depression, but the severity of the depression does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis for Major Depression. However, there was a history of trauma, so it does not rule out Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. After extensive assessment this clinician is secured that Maria is capable to be diagnosed, given by the DSM-IV, with a 296.80 Bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a state of abnormality elevated mood, arousal, and/or energy levels. Mania is often related with bipolar disorder, where episodes of mania may rotate with episodes of depression. Mania varies in strength, from mild mania to full-blown mania with psychotic features, including hallucinations, aggression, and a distraction of thoughts, and an outline that may lead to self-neglect (www.medicinenet.com, 2012). Scientists are learning about the possible causes of mania, and most scientists agree with that there is no single cause, but rather many factors that act together to produce this disorder (www.medicinenet.com, 2012). Bipolar disorder does run in families, so researchers are looking for genes that may give a person a likely hood of developing this

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disorder. Genes are not the only factor; studies of identical twins have shown that the twin of a person with bipolar illness does not always develop the disorder (www.medicinenet.com, 2012). Some brain-imaging studies show how the brains of individuals with bipolar disorder may differ from the brains of healthy individuals (www.medicinenet.com, 2012). To date, there is no cure for mania, but treatment helps most individuals with the disorder to gain control of their mood swings, and other symptoms (www.medicinenet.com, 2012). Individuals with this disorder need long-term treatment, and an effective one including medication, and psychotherapy for preventing and reducing symptoms in severity. Bipolar is a treatable and often misunderstood disease, but with treatment and continue monitoring the patient, the person with this disorder can be successful. When properly diagnosed, the individual is often a chance for recovery increases greatly.

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Reference Bipolar Disorder. (February, 2012). Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com