Generalized Anxiety Disorders Case Study
Chandra is a 40 years old African American female from an impoverished upbringing background. She is single, has never been married, and reported that the last time she had a romantic relationship was approximately 12 years ago. Chandra has been struggling at her workplaces and she was not able to work constantly due to episodes of “stressing out really bad and just shutting down”. Chandra has been diagnosed with type II diabetes and high cholesterol. She also has symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Chandra has been struggling with difficult life circumstances and depression by a habitual cycle of overeating and overweight.
Chandra meets some of the diagnostic criteria with Major Depressive Disorder because of her depressed mood, lack of interest or pleasure in her life, increasing lethargy and low energy, and feelings of worthlessness. However, it was ruled out from her diagnoses because it was insufficient to meet at least five of the symptoms of MDD. For example, it was not reported that her ability to think or concentrate is diminished and she also denied any suicide attempt or self-harm. …show more content…
Chandra’s disturbance is not better explained by Generalized Anxiety disorder because Chandra’s excessive fear and anxiety were focused on negative evaluation and social performance rather than on the nature of ongoing relationships and nonsocial performance.
Avoidant personality disorder was also ruled out because Chandra showed extreme avoidances of any social situations while individuals with avoidant personality disorder have a broader avoidance pattern. For example, she takes her lunch break much later than everyone else to avoid eating with others or being observed by others, she stays longer to avoid the time when most employees are leaving the building, and she takes longer routes on the outside to avoid running into
coworkers.
Chandra does not meet the diagnostic criteria of neither Substance/Medication-Induced Depressive Disorder nor Depressive Disorders due to Another Medical Condition because Chandra has no medical history reported and has no evidence that her disturbances occur due to use of substance or medication. She has not reported any about medication she takes and also does not show any history that the disturbance is the direct pathophysiological consequence of medial condition.
Chandra meets some of the diagnostic criteria with Major Depressive Disorder because of her depressed mood, lack of interest or pleasure in her life, increasing lethargy and low energy, and feelings of worthlessness. However, it was ruled out from her diagnoses because it was insufficient to meet at least five of the symptoms of MDD. For example, it was not reported that her ability to think or concentrate is diminished and she also denied any suicide attempt or self-harm. …show more content…
Chandra’s disturbance is not better explained by Generalized Anxiety disorder because Chandra’s excessive fear and anxiety were focused on negative evaluation and social performance rather than on the nature of ongoing relationships and nonsocial performance.
Avoidant personality disorder was also ruled out because Chandra showed extreme avoidances of any social situations while individuals with avoidant personality disorder have a broader avoidance pattern. For example, she takes her lunch break much later than everyone else to avoid eating with others or being observed by others, she stays longer to avoid the time when most employees are leaving the building, and she takes longer routes on the outside to avoid running into
coworkers.
Chandra does not meet the diagnostic criteria of neither Substance/Medication-Induced Depressive Disorder nor Depressive Disorders due to Another Medical Condition because Chandra has no medical history reported and has no evidence that her disturbances occur due to use of substance or medication. She has not reported any about medication she takes and also does not show any history that the disturbance is the direct pathophysiological consequence of medial condition.