PSY 645 Week 2 Reply to Erika’s Post Initial Assessment
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Question
Topic: PSY 645 Week 2 Reply to Erika’s Post Initial Assessment
Details: Examine your colleague’s transcript, and write an evaluation of the prospective patient’s apparent symptoms and presenting problem(s) within the context of at least one theoretical orientation. Theoretical orientations are based on the personality theories you learned about in PSY615 (Personality Theories), and are referred to as “approaches” in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology: An Introductory Textbook (e.g., cognitive, behavioral, humanistic, biological, sociocultural, evolutionary, psychoanalytic, integrative, etc.). NOTE: Be clear that you are writing about a theoretical orientation and using the theoretical orientation to explain the client’s symptoms and presenting problems. Do not use the theoretical orientation to discuss any therapy or treatment approaches. Your application of the theoretical orientation should answer the question: How did this client develop the symptoms and current presenting problems? For example, “Based on the cognitive perspective, how did this client develop the symptoms and current presenting problem?” “Based on the humanistic perspective, how did this client develop the symptoms and current presenting problem?” Etc.
Remember that symptoms may not be explicitly mentioned by the patient, but they may be inferred by the patient’s presenting problem(s). Finally, suggest assessment tools and strategies such as those you learned about in PSY 640 (Psychological Testing and Assessment) that might be used to evaluate this patient. (SEE Ericka’s POST BELOW)
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Erika Rosales Post
Case 6: Bipolar Disorder
three (3) questions to would ask the patient in order to determine a diagnosis and three (3) additional questions that will help determine a treatment plan.
1.Has your sleeping pattern increased or decreased? Are you sleeping regularly?
2.Do you find yourself more irritated or agitated than usual? Has your mood changed?
3.How is your appetite? Any significant changes?
4.Do your emotional state changes go along with detectable changes in thinking, perception, sleeping and/or energy or activity levels?
5.Does your fluctuating mood cause issues in your social and family life?
6.How is the medication working for you? Are you Taking the medication as prescribed?
Answers I anticipate the patient providing to the questions listed above
1. I sleep but sometimes I don’t feel the need to sleep regularly because I have tons of energy and I have to get projects done with all the stuff that I buy. I have a lot of ideas and goals that I want to carry out in that moment and find myself getting lost in time. Sometimes I can go days without sleeping and then other times I want to stay in bed all day and find myself sleeping my life away. My sleeping habits fluctuate.
2. My mood changes all the time, especially when I don’t take my medication regularly, which I find hard to do because it makes me lack emotions, rather feeling restricted in the emotions I am able to express or unable to express. Sometimes I am okay, other days it is a struggle to get through the day without beating myself up about how I am living my life and the actions I take or rather how I react to the life situations that are thrown at me.
3. Sometimes I don’t feel the need to eat because I am so on the go and have massive amounts of energy but I do eat, just not regularly or consistently as I previously did before I was diagnosed with this condition that has hijacked my life.
4. Now that the question has been posed to me, I do notice a difference in my emotional state that coincides with my current thoughts. I don’t sleep for days when I have tons of energy because I feel the need to get stuff done and also because I have trouble sleeping because of my racing thoughts that seem to be going a hundred miles per hour, sometimes feeling that I am not in control of them, making it difficult to calm myself and becoming restless.
5. I have a lot of issues with my social and family life, especially with my parents who are still trying to control my life and dictate decisions for me. My personal life is suffering because I have a hard time controlling myself when I get in a mood. I am promiscuous and have a hard time keeping a serious or steady relationship because the urge to seek sexual satisfaction is strong and comes to me often, resulting in me seeking out men to have sex with.
6. No. I don’t take the medication regularly because I miss the emotional high that I get when I am not on the medication so I intentionally don’t take it sometimes so I can express myself how I see fit. The medication makes me feel different, not myself if that makes sense. I think it works for me sometimes and then at other times, I don’t feel the need to be taking it. Maybe I need a different medication or need to find an alternative to treating this condition that will still allow me to “feel” the way I did before
During the brief initial assessment, the client provided information on social and family background, when she believed the issue began, symptoms she is currently having and issues she is facing with these symptoms. She also expressed her concern with medications and relationships. The rationale for the questions posed involves narrowing down the options of a diagnosis and determining whether the diagnosis is appropriate for the symptoms being mentioned. The interview process is a fundamentally important aspect of concluding a diagnosis and treatment plan, making these questions an important element in the process. As stated by Cerimele (2019), “undetected bipolar disorder is associated with functional impairment, reduced quality of life and premature mortality from injuries and chronic medical illness, highlighting the need for accurate diagnosis and high quality of care for individuals with bipolar disorder” (pg33). By asking questions related to the current symptoms the patient is experiencing, a clinician can better understand how to treat the issues faced. With manic and depressive episodes being apparent, it is important to note the duration and frequency of the events. The questions will allow a mental health professional to gather more information about the patient and the symptoms experienced. While asking these questions, direct observation is also taking place that will allow me to gain more information on the patient’s social and personal history, creating a more comprehensive approach for a treatment plan. Through asking these questions, a client’s current state of mind is expressed, along with their mood, attitude, and perception of the situation.
Cerimele, J. M., Fortney, J. C., Pyne, J. M., & Curran, G. M. (2019). Bipolar disorder in primary care: A qualitative study of clinician and patient experiences with diagnosis and treatment. Family Practice, 36(1), 32–37. https://doi-org.proxy-
Gorenstein, E., & Comer, J. (2015). Case studies in abnormal psychology (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers. ISBN: 9780716772736. Retrieved from https://redshelf.com (
Morrison, J. (2014). DSM-5 made easy: The clinician’s guide to diagnosis. New York, NY: The Guilford Press. Retrieved from https://redshelf.com
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