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Mental Health Case Studies

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Cassie presents with multidimensional and complex problems. The problems are inter related and need to be addressed concurrently. This client presents with a history of anxiety and childhood sexual abuse which manifests as post traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], social phobia (social anxiety disorder) and depression. Wagner (2008) reports a strong association between social anxiety disorder and depression. Post traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DMS-5; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013) specifically includes sexual violation as one of the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Consequentially, co-morbid symptoms create dis-regulated behaviours which may have long …show more content…

If there is risk of harm to self and others than it is the clinician’s duty of care to disclose it. Thorough and systematic evaluation of risk for suicide and self harm is imperative for safety planning and decision making for treatment. Harm minimisation responses must be specific to the client’s unmet needs. It is important to educate the client about online help forums in case of emergency and for later support. Liaison with other health practitioners and follow-up are part of management plans. If the clinician sees the need for referral than that must be addressed with the client’s consent. Assessment of the core emotional needs underpinning complex behaviour is paramount for intervention to be effective (Cairns, 2002). An immense challenge for client’s who have experienced abuse is that their developmental growth is affected and they struggle for autonomy, independence and identity without a secure base (Daniel, Wassail, & Gilligan, 2002). They are struggling to execute developmental tasks with abilities and skills that have been damaged by …show more content…

Anxiety disorders may be assessed using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders [SCARED-C] (Birmaher et al., 2003). PTSD may be assessed using a variety of methods such as Structured Clinical Interview [SCI], the Diagnostic Interview Schedule [DIS], and the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale [CAPS] (cited in DeNigris, 2008). PTSD is a debilitating state that can develop from traumatic events (Marsh, 2008) . In a recent study conducted by Madigan and colleagues (2015) they state that Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy [TF-CBT] is

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