Abnormal Psychological Case Study Examples

CASE STUDIES CLASSIFYING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR Descriptions of individuals displaying various kinds of abnormal behavior are given below. Remember that the anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety, panic and obsessive compulsive disorders. The affective disorder includes depression, manic episodes, and a cyclical alternation between the two moods known as a manic-depressive disorder. Most people who have manic episodes also experience periods of depression, so they are usually diagnosed as suffering from a manic-depressive disorder. Antisocial personality is a personality disorder. When appropriate, give the major diagnostic category followed by the subcategory: for example anxiety disorder-phobic disorder. It is important to remember that clinical cases in real life show a wide variety of symptoms and seldom fit as neatly into categories as do our hypothetical cases. CASE 1 Margate has become increasingly fearful of leaving the house by herself. She insists that her mother or sister accompany her when she goes to the store or even walks as far as the corner mailbox. The thought of being in a crowd so terrifies her that she no longer attends concerts or church (activities she once enjoyed) regardless of whether someone accompanies her. Her life is confined within the walls of her home. CASE 2 Jane has been referred to a psychiatrist by her local physician, who can find nothing physically wrong with her. She complains, however, of feeling tense and apprehensive most of the time: she has difÏculty sleeping and experiences frequent headaches. Minor stresses that she once handled with ease, such as driving in trafÏc or presenting a paper in class, now make her extremely nervous. In addition, she has moments of terror during which she feels that something dreadful is about to happen to her. Jane has no clear idea of the source of her fears. CASE 3 Bill is an extremely orderly, clean and stubborn person. He expects everything in the house to be spotless at all times. He insists that every chair, napkin, ashtray and book be in its proper place. His wife loves him but finds it very difÏcult to keep the house in the rigid order he demands. He tends to have some time-consuming rituals connected with dressing and personal care, such as arranging his toilet articles in a particular order, rinsing his face exactly five times after shaving, laying out all of his clothes in a fixed sequence and making sure that he puts them on in that order. CASE 4 Page 1 Following the breakup of her engagement to Fred, Martha has become very despondent. She shows little interest in her job (which previously she found stimulating and exciting) and often calls in sick. She spends a great deal of time alone in her room, sitÝng idly by the window or listening to the radio. When friends call to invite her out she usually refuses, pleading illness or fatigue. She complains that she feels continually tired, has to force herself to undertake such simple tasks as getÝng dressed or fixing a meal and cannot concentrate enough to read a newspaper or magazine. Tears flow at the slightest provocation and she feels worthless and inadequate. Her condition does not improve after several months have passed. CASE 5 Jack has been hearing the same voice for several months which makes derogatory accusations about his being a sexual pervert. This same voice often commands him to do such things as throw furniture out of the window. His speech is monotonous expect when he is talking about his troubles at which time it becomes quite animated and vehement. His sentence structure is often shattered and his statements are usually incoherent, because they consist of a sequence of apparently unconnected words. An example of his “word-salad” is “This pipe tail on the bed, the TV said, a brown come out of the lawn, the flowers are boardwalk.” He also coins new words such as “lapicator”. Which he said was an important chemical that will be used to purify the world. CASE 6 John, a patient at the state mental hospital appears to be happy and elated. He frequently makes humorous remarks, laughs at them himself and is successful making others laugh too. In expressing his thoughts he jumps from one topic to another without following any particular course. If, while he is talking about his family, the psychologist suddenly interjects a comment about weather, John immediately switches his conversation to the weather or any other topic the psychological introduces. Furthermore, he is hyperactive. He is drumming with his fingers, playing with a pencil or engaging others with his rapid talk. There is no deterioration of intellectual and emotional faculties; however His present state will probably be followed by a period of depression. CASE 7 Ralph is a highly impulsive person who has difÏculty making plans or sticking to a job for any length of time. He has been fired from several jobs because he was caught stealing or because of frequent absences due to periodic drinking and gambling sprees. He always blames his employer for his dismissal and will not admit that his own behavior is responsible for his poor job history. Women tend to find him charming and personable, but they soon tire of his irresponsible behavior, frequent financial sponging and general lack of consideration. His quick temper and disregard for social regulations have brought him into frequent brushes with the law, but he usually manages to charm his way out and has never been convicted of a crime. He appears to feel little guilt or anxiety regarding his behavior. Page 2