Read the case study given by the professor based on a fictional patient describing the medical history.
1. Assess symptoms.
2. Assess other potential problematic areas of the person's life.
3. Diagnostic criteria based on DSM-5.
4. Identify any stressors.
5. Recommendations for treatment.
6. Assessment of prognosis.
7. Summarize results in a written statement.
Format Outline: Written statement, 2-3 typed pages, double-spaced, no larger than 12-point font Times New Roman. Points will be taken off if you DO NOT meet the minimum page requirements.
Case Study
Angel is a 28 year-old married female. She has a very demanding, high stress job as a second year medical resident in a large hospital. Angel has always been a high achiever. She graduated with top honors in both college and medical school. She has very high standards for herself and can be very self-critical when she fails to meet them. Lately, she has struggled with significant feelings of worthlessness and shame due to her inability to perform as well as she always has in the past.
For the past few weeks Angel has felt unusually fatigued and found it increasingly difficult to concentrate at work. Her coworkers have noticed that she is often irritable and withdrawn, which is quite different from her typically upbeat and friendly disposition.
She has called in sick on several occasions, which is completely unlike her. On those days she stays in bed all day, watching TV or sleeping.
At home, Angel's husband has noticed changes as well. She's shown little interest in sex and has had difficulties falling asleep at night. Her insomnia has been keeping him awake as she tosses and turns for an hour or two after they go to bed. He's overheard her having frequent tearful phone conversations with her closest friend, which have him worried. When he tries to get her to open up about what's bothering her, she pushes him away with an abrupt "everything's fine".
Although she hasn't ever considered suicide, Angel has found herself increasingly dissatisfied with her life. She's been having frequent thoughts of wishing she was dead. She gets frustrated with herself because she feels like she has every reason to be happy, yet can't seem to shake the sense of doom and gloom that has been clouding each day as of late. When asked is she has mood swings, Angel reported only feeling flat.