Question

1.     Select BOTH a Personality Disorder AND another psychological disorder of your choosing (any we have covered or any we have not covered).

2.     Locate reputable sources of information for each disorder, and read about the history and symptoms of the both disorders you choose.

3.     Create a case study similar in format to the assignment of “The Electrician”. Create a fictitious character; describe any relevant history, some personal attributes, relationships, what the individual is currently experiencing in daily life, in a manner that exemplifies the composite of both disorders you have selected (without directly stating what the disorder is—reveal your working understanding of the symptoms through your writing). Some questions to consider: What job might this person blend in with? What job might be difficult for the person or where they’d stand out? How is this person’s style of interpersonal relationships? How does the person view the world? How is the person’s life affected by these disorders? A case study is a portrayal through examples. This should express both disorders – again, one must be a personality disorder.

4.     On a separate page, construct and complete a diagnosis via the format of DSM-5.

5.     Complete a multi-axial diagnosis (again similar to what you did for The Electrician assignment) as per DSM-IV. Complete all 5 axes with what you feel would be the person’s diagnosis based you’re your case study description, including your reasoning for the selection for each axis.

6.     Discuss the history and etiology for each of the disorders you selected.

7.     Discuss why you chose to portray the disorders you did, and any specific details necessary to elaborate upon your selection of diagnosis.

8.     Discuss what assessment methods you might use in diagnosing this client; and

9.     Discuss a specific treatment plan and prognosis.

10.  Including all necessary details, this will likely be 4-5 double spaced pages in length (including references page).

Answer 1

1, 2;

Personality disorders According to the International Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders (ICD-10) as ‘deeply ingrained and enduring behavior patterns, that manifest themselves as; inflexible responses to a broad range of personal and social situations’; they are extreme or significant deviations from the average individual response in a given culture and the way people perceive, think, feel, and relate to others’ and are ‘developmental conditions, appearing in childhood or adolescence and continuing into adulthood’ (World Health Organization, 1992a). They are distinguished from mental illness by their; lifelong nature and extremes of normal variation rather than morbid processes. Example of a personality disorder is; Paranoid personality disorder

• Finding it hard to confide in people, even your friends
• Difficulty to trust other people
• Watching others closely, looking for signs of betrayal or hostility
• Reading threats and danger – which others don’t see – into everyday situations.

An example of the psychological disorder is; the Bipolar disorder is characterized by shifts in mood and changes in activity and energy levels. The disorder often involves swings of elevated moods and periods of depression