Clinically Diagnosing A Psychosocial Problem: The Sign Of An

clinically Diagnosing A Psychosocial Problemthe Sign Of An Excellent

Using the DSM-5, assess a fictional character that is presenting certain psychosocial problems and determine if he/she meets the criteria for a clinical diagnosis. Select a fictional character from a book, movie, or TV show who demonstrates psychosocial issues such as depression, relationship problems, or incarceration-related challenges. Provide a brief description of the character, outline the presenting problem, and justify a clinical diagnosis based on DSM-5 criteria. Additionally, explain why three specific words best describe this diagnosis and distinguish it from other mental disorders. Recommend three assessment tools suitable for diagnostic purposes. The rationale for each of these elements should be grounded in scholarly sources, and citations should follow APA style. Zero tolerance for plagiarism. Confirm your chosen character as soon as possible.

Paper For Above instruction

In this paper, I will analyze the character of Don Draper from the television series Mad Men and evaluate his psychosocial functioning to determine if he meets criteria for a specific DSM-5 diagnosis. Don Draper epitomizes many aspects of complex psychosocial issues, including identity disturbance, depression, and personality pathology, making him an ideal subject for this assessment. This analysis will establish a clear clinical diagnosis, supported by DSM-5 criteria, and delineate three words that succinctly capture the essence of his disorder, leveraging relevant assessment tools to reinforce the diagnosis.

Brief Description of the Fictional Character

Don Draper is a charismatic and talented advertising executive working in New York City during the 1960s. Presented as confident, innovative, and highly sociable, Draper hides a tumultuous personal life marked by identity struggles, infidelity, and emotional detachment. His appearance of success and control often masks deep-seated issues related to self-identity and emotional wellbeing. His internal conflicts and superficial social interactions highlight underlying psychosocial problems that warrant detailed clinical evaluation.

Presenting Problem of the Fictional Character

Don Draper exhibits symptoms indicative of significant emotional distress, including pervasive feelings of emptiness, difficulties forming authentic relationships, and episodes of depression and substance use. He demonstrates emotional numbness, difficulty accepting personal responsibility, and a compulsive need to reinvent his identity. These symptoms manifest in his reckless behaviors, frequent alcohol misuse, and inability to sustain meaningful personal connections, which have significant implications for his mental health and functioning.

Clinical Diagnosis Using the DSM-5

Based on the DSM-5 criteria, Don Draper most closely aligns with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). According to the DSM-5, BPD is characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affect, along with marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Draper’s intense fear of abandonment, identity disturbance, emotional dysregulation, and impulsive behaviors such as alcohol abuse align with these criteria. His frequent episodes of intense anger, instability in relationships, and chronic feelings of emptiness further support this diagnosis (Linehan, 2014). However, aspects of his profound identity issues may also suggest comorbidities such as narcissistic traits or schizotypal tendencies, but BPD remains the most fitting primary diagnosis given his behavioral patterns.

Rationale for the Three Words Describing the Diagnosis

• Instability: Reflects the chronic emotional and relational fluctuation characteristic of BPD.
• Impulsivity: Highlights the reckless behaviors such as substance abuse, reckless spending, and risky relationships.
• Emptiness: Describes the pervasive feelings of inner void and lack of a stable sense of self that Draper experiences.

These words encapsulate the core features of his personality pathology and distinguish his presentation from other disorders such as Major Depressive Disorder or Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Assessment Tools for Diagnostic Purposes

1. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Personality Disorders (SCID-5-PD): A semistructured interview designed to assess DSM-5 personality disorders, including BPD, ensuring comprehensive evaluation of symptomatology.
2. Borderline Symptom List (BSL-23): A self-report instrument that measures core features of BPD such as impulsivity, emotional lability, and identity disturbance.
3. Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI): Provides assessment of personality styles and clinical syndromes, including borderline traits, and aids in differential diagnosis.

These tools offer reliable and valid means for clinicians to explore the presence and severity of BPD symptoms and assist in confirming the diagnosis.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the character of Don Draper exhibits profound features indicative of Borderline Personality Disorder, with a pattern of emotional instability, impulsivity, and identity disturbance. The three words — instability, impulsivity, and emptiness — succinctly capture the core issues underlying his psychosocial problems and differentiate his condition from other disorders. Utilizing targeted assessment tools—such as the SCID-5-PD, BSL-23, and PAI—can further substantiate this diagnosis, enabling more effective therapeutic interventions tailored to his needs. Recognizing these traits within a structured clinical framework ensures precise diagnosis, which is critical to developing appropriate treatment strategies and improving psychosocial outcomes.

References

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
• Linehan, M. M. (2014). DBT Skills Training Manual. Guilford Publications.
• Zanarini, M. C., et al. (2003). The Borderline Symptom List (BSL): A Self-Report Instrument for Assessing Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms. Journal of Personality Disorders, 17(3), 187-197.
• Morey, L. C. (1991). The Personality Assessment Inventory: Professional manual. Psychological Assessment Resources.
• Gunderson, J. G., & Zanarini, M. C. (2013). Borderline personality disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 170(2), 125-132.
• Paris, J. (2008). Personality disorder types and the DSM-5. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 196(9), 744-747.
• Choi-Kain, L. W., & Gunderson, J. G. (2008). Current concepts of borderline personality disorder. Psychiatric Clinics, 31(3), 529–546.
• Fertuck, E. A., et al. (2009). Mentalization-Based Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65(4), 341-354.
• Paris, J. (2015). Recent trends in the understanding and treatment of borderline personality disorder. Focus, 13(3), 239-245.
• Gerrard, A. (2017). Clinical assessment of personality disorders: Strategies and tools. John Wiley & Sons.