The psychologist is asked to observe three children in Mrs.Skill’s fourth grade
ID: 3499224 • Letter: T
Question
The psychologist is asked to observe three children in Mrs.Skill’s fourth grade classroom: Jason, Winnie, and Brian. All three children have been rated as demonstrating the following behaviors: has problems sustaining attention, loses things necessary for tasks, is easily distracted, is forgetful, is restless, doesn’t seem to listen, is disorganized, doesn’t complete assignments, and demonstrates poor follow through. The psychologist’s observations of the children verify information obtained from the teacher rating scales. Are view of the children’s cumulative folders reveals that all three children scored within the average range on the Otis-Lennon group intellectual screening test given during the previous third-grade school year.
The Case of Jason
Jason’s foster mother arrives at the interview with her social worker. This is Jason’ fourth foster placement in the past 2 years. Jason has been in his current foster placement for the past 6months. According to the social worker, Jason was a witness to family violence from an early age. Jason’s family was well known to Social Services, and Jason has been in care several times in the past for reported neglect and possible abuse. Shortly after Jason and his brother re joined their parents 2 years ago, Jason’s father shot his mother and then himself, while Jason and his younger brother slept in an adjoining bedroom. Jason has been receiving play therapy for the past 2years. Jason continues to have trouble sleeping and is often agitated and restless. In relationships, his behavior vacillates between being overly inhibited (shy and withdrawn) or disinhibited (socially precocious). His ability to sustain his attention and concentration is impaired, and he is often forgetful and appears disorganized.
Jason’s provisional diagnosis is chronic post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but an attachment disorder(reactive attachment disorder [RAD] or disinhibited social engagement disorder[DSED]) and ADHD also needs to be ruled out.
In a minimum of 200 words or more:
Describe the dimensional approach and identify where Jason may be on the continuum of adaptive to maladaptive behavior patterns and include the diagnostic criteria.
Please include references
Explanation / Answer
As opposed to categorical approach where either disorder is present or absent , dimensional approach is a quantitative approach which suggests the severity of disorder based in symptoms and character. It us based on two criteria .
a) level of personality functioning
b) pathological traits
Jason case appears to be serious one and he comes on severe position on continuum from very mild , mild severe and extreme.
At the level if personality functioning , he is shy , disinhibited .
At pathological traits, sleeplessness, attentiinaand concentration impairment suggest severe disorder of ptsd and possibility if adhd and rad.
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