Advanced Psychopathology – Vig 2

Please keep your responses focused on what is presented in the vignettes. Do not add information but use your creativity to support what you see in the vignettes as written. Avoid elaborations and assumptions. This assignment MUST be typed, double-spaced, in APA style, and must be written at graduate-level English.

Use the reading assignments thoroughly in an integrative discussion. Remember to reference all work cited or quoted by the text author. You should be doing this often in your responses. If you use outside resources, they should support the text information, but not replace the text.

You are encouraged to use the DSM-5 Level 2 Assessment Measure(s) to formulate your diagnosis:

http://www.psychiatry.org/practice/dsm/dsm5/online-assessment-measures#Level2

All discussions must take into account the legal and ethical considerations, as well as issues of culture and human diversity that may pertain to the vignettes below. Legal and Ethical information is in Chapter 16 of the course text. Cultural information is covered throughout the course text and DSM 5. You may use alternative cultural resources to enhance your work.

Your assignment should be 3-4 pages plus a title and reference page.

Sara is a 38 year old woman who was referred by her employer for mandatory counseling. She presents as markedly underweight, in baggy clothing. She tested positive for amphetamine on a recent random test at work and is on suspension. It is obvious that Sara does not want to be there, but knows she must cooperate to get her job back. Sara is currently taking anti-psychotic medication and mood stabilizers. When you ask her why, she tells you that “my shrink thinks I’m nuts. OK, I admit that sometimes I think the devil is telling me to kill myself, but I never do it. I just cut myself instead. Nothing serious, just a scratch here and there”. She admits that, “a couple of drinks or a line, calms the beast and the voices stop”. She also admits to loving excitement and risk taking. “I love it when my mind races and I just hop in the car and go. Messes with my job sometimes, but who cares”.

During your psychosocial assessment, you learn that Sara was born in Japan. Her father was a Native-American spirit-seeker. He came to Japan to study Eastern Religions where he met her mother, who she describes as, “a meek and quiet little Japanese woman”. When Sara was 8 years old, they left Japan and moved to the United States, living with her father’s family. She appears nervous talking about this time of her life, but does admit it was a dark and fearful time, except for her grandmother, who she loved deeply, but died when Sara was age 14.