Case Study on Panic Disorder

Case:

Dave is a 41-year-old male who was referred by his primary care physician after presenting to the ER with difficulty breathing. Dave’s physician was unable to find a medical explanation for his symptoms, which left Dave feeling confused, stressed, and angry. Over the last 6 months, Dave has had several instances where he felt an intense fear that would reach a peak within a few minutes. During these instances, he would also experience sweating, heart palpitations, chest pain and discomfort, and shortness of breath. At times, Dave worried that might die. As a result, Dave has persistent worry about having another attack. In addition, he has begun to avoid unfamiliar places and people where it may be difficult to get help in the event of another panic attack. The panic and associated avoidance are significantly impacting Dave’s life as he has been turning down social invitations, making excuses to stay at home whenever possible, and relying on his wife to drive their children to their various activities. Although she was understanding at first, Dave’s wife has grown frustrated with what she perceives as his irrational fear of panic attacks.

Symptoms

• Agoraphobia
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Panic
• Suicidal thoughts
• Worry

Diagnoses and Related Treatments

Panic Disorder

The following treatments have empirical support for individuals with Panic Disorder:

• Applied Relaxation for Panic Disorder
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Panic Disorder
• Psychoanalytic Treatment for Panic Disorder

Case Study on Schizophrenia

Case:

Chris is a 20-year-old Caucasian male who is in his second year of college. He is seeking treatment due to persistent fears that campus security and the local police are tracking and surveilling him. He cites occasional lags in his internet speed as evidence that surveillance devices are interfering with his electronics. His intense anxiety about this has begun getting in the way of his ability to complete schoolwork, and his friends are concerned – he says they have told him, “you’re not making sense.”
Chris occasionally laughs abruptly and inappropriately and sometimes stops speaking mid-sentence, looking off in the distance as though he sees or hears something. He expresses concern about electronics in the room (phone, computer) potentially being monitored and asks repeatedly about patient confidentiality, stating that he wants to be sure the police won’t be informed about his treatment. His beliefs are fixed, and if they are challenged, his tone becomes hostile.

Symptoms

• Anxiety
• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Psychosis

Diagnoses and Related Treatments

Schizophrenia

The following treatments have empirical support for individuals with Schizophrenia and Other Severe Mental Illnesses:

• Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) for Schizophrenia
• Cognitive Adaptation Training (CAT) for Schizophrenia
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Schizophrenia
• Cognitive Remediation for Schizophrenia
• Family Psychoeducation for Schizophrenia
• Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) for Schizophrenia
• Social Learning/Token Economy Programs for Schizophrenia
• Social Skills Training (SST) for Schizophrenia
• Supported Employment for Schizophrenia
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Psychosis

For more information,

Visit:  https://mtlhealth.blogspot.com/2019/04/schizophrenia.html

Case Study on Pain Disorder

Case:
Bob is a 50-year old male on disability support. In your intake, he tells you that he was “just fine” until he got injured on the job, which led to a series of acute medical procedures, physical therapy, and major stress from filing disability paperwork. Disability was recently awarded. He tells you that he sits at home most days, despite his wife’s attempts to get him out of the house with her. He dislikes leaving the house because he never knows when his pain will flare up and therefore feel the immediate need to lay down and take his pain medication. He feels very guilty for not being a better partner to his wife and tries to make up for this by taking care of long-standing home repairs. Bob recognizes that he often overdoes it when he takes on one of these projects, which exacerbates his pain and leads him to feel hopeless. He starts to focus on all that he has lost and imagines a future in which he is weak and house-bound. He also acknowledges that, when he is in this physical and emotional state, he is likely to snap at his wife and say things he later regrets.

Symptoms

Chronic Pain

Diagnoses and Related Treatments

Chronic or Persistent Pain

The following treatments have empirical support for individuals with Chronic or Persistent Pain:

• Multi-Component Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Fibromyalgia
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain
• Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Headache
• Multi-Component Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Rheumatologic Pain

For more information,

Visit: https://mtlhealth.blogspot.com/2019/04/pain-disorder.html