2a. Describe Magenta C.’s presenting problem (reason for seeing the therapist).

Question

2a. Describe Magenta C.’s presenting problem (reason for seeing the therapist). Now, consider the symptoms that Magenta C. presents. Identify and describe the three symptoms (underline each symptom) that you consider to be the most important in reaching a diagnosis of Magenta C.’s disorder (5 points each = 15 points total).

2b. Make a diagnosis of Magenta C.’s disorder using one of the disorders listed in Chapter 16 of the textbook. Describe several facts known about this disorder. (Note: Magenta C.’s disorder may not be one that was described by Carlito in lecture). (6 points)

The Case of Magenta C Magenta C. is a 21-year-old college student studying art history at a college in a major U.S. city She had maintained an almost perfect GPA up until about 3 months ago, at which point she started to lose focus and neglect her responsibilities as a student. She sought the help of a therapist after realizing that she could no longer keep up with the demands of her schedule and, consequently, was unable to "do hat needed to be done for peace of mind. Magenta C. lived at home with her mother, and was employed at her university's bookstore as a part-time cashier. She came from a working-class family. Her parents separated when she was a child. leaving. She last saw her father at her sister's funeral. He has made little effort to contact her or her mother, and has only spoken with her once since leaving-which was on her 16th birthday. She remembers as a child how she used to convince herself that her father would return by the time she counted to 20. She used to wake up every morning and count to twenty to see if he would then return. If she didn't count in the morning, she would feel anxious and uneasy that day at school, wondering if he would have come back that day had she remembered to count. Magenta C.'s only sibling, Maria, died 5 years ago at the age of 14 after being hit by a drunk driver while riding her bike with Magenta C. on the side of the road. Magenta C. describes this incident ividly, and recalls her most recent flashback of the event with great detail and emotion. She expresses a feeling of guilt for having survived rather than her sister. Today, Magenta C. is no longer able to ride a bike anymore, and says that the flashbacks are a constant reminder that "her life could be taken at any moment" Magenta C. was extremely thin. During her intake interview she sat rigidly in her chair with her hands tightly folded, and she maintained an expressionless gaze and tone of voice. She had stated that he and her boyfriend, Kevin, had just terminated their relationship after several years of being together. The relationship was described as one with extreme emotional turmoil. Magenta C.'s mother did not seem to like Kevin, and was very cold and aloof whenever he came to the house. Whenever Magenta C. had talked about the possibility of marrying Kevin, her mother responded by saying how tired she was and how Magenta C. needed to stay at home so she could take care of her mother. Magenta C. felt torn between her mother and Kevin. She has had frequent crying spells over the last few months and has had great difficulty falling asleep at night. She feels that her lack of general interests may be contributing to her poor performance in school

Explanation / Answer

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. Also, I recommend that you add a little content from your textbook or class work if necessary.

(Answer)

(2a) Magenta C’s Symptoms:

(2b) Magenta C’s diagnosis: The symptoms concur with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or like it was known a few decades ago - "shell-shock."

About PTSD:

Anxiety and flashbacks triggered by memories of past events.

Failure to recover after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.

PTSD can last months or even years if left unchecked.

PTSD alters emotional and physical reactions to great extents.

PTSD can make a patient feel depressed and hence withdrawn from general events. Also, patients tend to avoid the circumstance that may remind them of the event that caused the pain.

PTSD patients can also feel a sense of chronic despair. This, in turn, leads them to neglect their health and daily activities in life.

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