Discussion - Anxiety and Adjustment Disorders

Stress and adjustment issues can vary from person to person, based not only on the cause of the distress, but also on the unique characterological and cultural elements that define the person. This week, you looked at anxiety and adjustment disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is the response a person can have to acute stress or traumas, such as rape, the extremes of war, disasters, or even child abuse. Some of these experiences are part of many inmates' life history.

To prepare:

• Review this week's Learning Resources.

• Focus on the cases of PTSD on pages 137, 152, 158, and 161.

• Consider why PTSD is characterized as a stress disorder instead of an adjustment disorder.

• Choose a case of PTSD from Chapter 5.

• Consider what you could do to assist the client in reducing or removing the stressors.

• Put the name of the case you chose in the subject line of your post.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 4 your understanding of why PTSD is classified as an anxiety disorder, not an adjustment disorder. Briefly describe the factors that contributed to the overall stress in the case you chose, including psychosocial and cultural factors, temperament, etc. Be sure to include your thoughts on how you could assist this client to remove the stressors or cope with them differently.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references from the Learning Resources.

Application: Diagnosis of an Anxiety or an Adjustment Disorder

People's reactions to severely stressful situations can be influenced by their own cultural beliefs about the causes and implications of those situations. One culture might recommend meditation, and another medication. In this Application, you will examine the role culture might play in a diagnosis of an anxiety or adjustment disorder.

To prepare:

• Review the case studies in Chapters 5 and 6 of Abnormal Psychology.

• Select a case (other than a case of PTSD) from one of those chapters.

• Consider how culture or ethnicity could influence the diagnosis or treatment planning.

The Assignment: (1-2 pages)

• Compare an anxiety disorder with an adjustment disorder (similarities and differences).

• Explain factors that complicate a diagnosis of anxiety versus an adjustment disorder.

• Using the case you selected, explain how ethnicity and background may affect the diagnosis.

Support your Application Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list only for those resources not included in the Learning Resources for this course.

Attachment:- Stress and Physical and Mental Health.rar