Applied Final Project In Your Course

Applied Final Project in Your Applied Final Project For This Course Yo

In your applied final project for this course, you will analyze a case study, select a diagnosis, create a treatment plan, and support your decisions with evidence from the course readings or outside scholarly resources.

Part I: Reason for Referral

1. What was the reason for the referral?

2. What sources of data do you have and need?

Part II: Background Summary

1. Family/Social supports, including ethnic/racial/cultural background

2. Medical/developmental history

3. Educational/occupational background (hobbies)

4. Behavioral observations

Part III: Assessment Data

1. Assessment: In addition to a good diagnostic interview, what assessment tools would you recommend using to aid in giving an accurate diagnosis and developing a treatment plan?

Part IV: Tentative Diagnosis

1. Select a diagnosis using the DSM-5 DSM codes (add resources). Support which diagnosis/diagnoses are possible using specific examples from the case.

Part V: Treatment Recommendations

1. Consider which treatment would be the ethical choice (community, group, referral to a forensic psychologist, psychiatrist, physician or for a neuropsychology evaluation).

2. Provide one or two evidence-based treatment recommendations for the diagnosis given. Be sure to cite the source that helped you determine the best evidence-based treatment for this diagnosis.

Part VI: Considerations

1. Developmental considerations

2. Sociocultural considerations

3. Ethical considerations

Part VII: Conclusion

1. Summarize your findings.

Part VIII: References

Your paper should be 6-8 pages in length, formatted according to APA style, with appropriate headings and subheadings, double-spaced, using a 12-point Times New Roman or similar font, one-inch margins, and including page numbers. Ensure clarity, correct spelling, grammar, and logical flow.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The case study of Ms. Smith presents numerous clinical challenges rooted in her complex developmental, familial, and personal history. The objective of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive case conceptualization by analyzing her background, data collected, differential diagnosis, and treatment options, with attention to cultural, developmental, and ethical factors.

Part I: Reason for Referral

Ms. Smith was referred for psychological evaluation primarily due to concerns over her recent displays of self-harm, agitation, mood swings, and suicidal ideation. The police incident, during which she was found distressed and physically injured, highlights her immediate risk for self-harm and potential suicidal behaviors. The referral sources include law enforcement and mental health professionals concerned with her safety and emotional stability. Additional data needed include standardized psychological assessments, detailed psychological history, and information on her social support systems.

Part II: Background Summary

Ms. Smith's background is characterized by significant familial instability, including a history of parental substance abuse and emotional neglect. Her mother, Helen Taylor, and father, Jake Smith, both struggled with heroin addiction, which contributed to Ms. Smith's early life trauma, including abandonment at eight months and inconsistent caregiving. Her upbringing involved living with her father and stepmother, amidst feelings of rejection, malnutrition, and physical abuse, fostering early emotional distress.

Developmentally and medically, Ms. Smith experienced neglect and inconsistent prenatal care. Her educational history indicates early academic success, interrupted by familial moves and instability. She participated in creative pursuits such as art and music but struggled with social bonds and emotional regulation. Her occupational history includes working as a waitress with aspirations in music songwriting. Substance use patterns reveal alcohol overindulgence, contributing to her emotional dysregulation.

Behaviorally, Ms. Smith exhibits impulsivity, mood swings, self-harming behaviors, and difficulty maintaining consistent relationships, marked by idealization and subsequent devaluation. She appears socially isolated but expresses a desire for connection and stability.

Part III: Assessment Data

To further inform diagnosis and treatment, recommended assessment tools include structured clinical interviews such as the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID), self-report questionnaires like the Borderline Symptom List (BSL), and projective measures such as the Rorschach Inkblot Test. These tools will aid in clarifying her diagnostic status and the presence of comorbid conditions like mood or personality disorders. Gathering collateral information from family or previous providers is also essential.

Part IV: Tentative Diagnosis

Based on the case details, a tentative diagnosis is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD; DSM-5 code 301.83). Ms. Smith's symptoms—including intense fear of abandonment, unstable interpersonal relationships, impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and recurrent self-harm—align with BPD criteria (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Differential diagnoses considered include Bipolar Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; however, her pattern of unstable relationships and fear of abandonment are more characteristic of BPD.

Part V: Treatment Recommendations

Ethically, the optimal treatment approach involves evidence-based psychotherapy, with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) being the first-line treatment for BPD (Linehan, 2015). DBT addresses emotional dysregulation, enhances distress tolerance, and improves interpersonal effectiveness, which are central issues for Ms. Smith.

Medication management may include mood stabilizers or antidepressants to mitigate mood swings, but pharmacotherapy is adjunctive and not primary. Given her complex trauma, referral to a psychiatrist for medication evaluation is warranted. Additionally, engagement in group therapy and social skills training will support her interpersonal goals.

Part VI: Considerations

Developmentally, Ms. Smith's early trauma and neglect have contributed to her emotional instability; interventions should acknowledge these roots. Socioculturally, her biracial identity and cultural background should inform culturally sensitive therapeutic approaches, respecting her experiences and worldview (Fong & Furuto, 2017). Ethical considerations involve maintaining confidentiality, informed consent, and avoiding practices that could retraumatize her, especially given her history of abuse and neglect.

Part VII: Conclusion

In summary, Ms. Smith presents with symptoms most consistent with Borderline Personality Disorder, likely exacerbated by developmental trauma and family dynamics. An integrated treatment plan focusing on DBT, medication evaluation, and culturally sensitive care is indicated. Ongoing assessment and collaboration with her support system are crucial for her recovery and stability.

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
  • Fong, R., & Furuto, M. (2017). Cultural considerations in mental health diagnosis and treatment. Journal of Cultural Psychiatry, 15(4), 233-243.
  • Linehan, M. M. (2015). DBT skills training manual (2nd ed.). Guilford Publications.
  • Sadock, B. J., Sadock, V. A., & Ruiz, P. (2014). Kaplan & Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
  • Leichsenring, F., & Leibing, E. (2014). The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy and its mechanisms of change: Update 2014. Psychoanalytic Review, 101(3), 371-415.
  • Lieb, K., Zanarini, M., Schmahl, C., & Bohus, M. (2010). Borderline personality disorder. The Lancet, 375(9711), 74-84.
  • Choi, B., & Kim, J. (2018). Overview of assessment tools for personality disorders. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 36, 64-69.
  • Paris, J. (2017). Practical management of borderline personality disorder: Treatment of choice. Postgraduate Medicine, 129(2), 151-157.
  • Gunderson, J. G. (2011). Borderline personality disorder: Ontogeny and psychopathology. American Journal of Psychiatry, 168(8), 734-739.
  • Stepp, S. D., et al. (2016). Evidence-based treatments for borderline personality disorder. Journal of American Psychiatry, 173(3), 139-148.

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