Mental Health Assessment: Case 5 – Frank

Posted: April 4th, 2019

Create a mental health assessment for your chosen case

Instructions Within Unit VIII, Choose ONE of the cases listed below and create a mental health assessment for your chosen case. In the assessment, you should address the following:

1. Why is your client coming for treatment?

2. What are his or her current symptoms?

3. Does he or she have a history with this problem? If so, please describe it.

4. How could the issue affect his or her daily life functions? 5. What is your client’s specific diagnosis?

6. What is the general class(es) of disorders to which this disorder belongs?

7. What are your recommendations? What specific treatment plan will you prescribe for this patient? You should use your textbook as a reference to substantiate your plan.

8. How could you get his or her family involved?

Chose ONE of these cases to analyze. 1.Tony sometimes seems very wound up. At those times, he seems full of energy, talks very rapidly, and makes very grandiose plans. Once, he gave away all of his belongings and was planning to move to Washington, D.C., so that he could advise the President. At these times, he also seems to need almost no sleep. During other periods of time Tony seems very down. During these times, he does not take care of himself. He seems to want to sleep all the time, and he often makes thinly veiled references to wanting to commit suicide. 2.Paula has not left her house for several months. When she tries to go out, she experiences great anxiety. She says she is afraid that if she leaves her house to go somewhere, she will not be able to get back. Before all this started, Paula seemed fairly normal except for having several episodes where, for no apparent reason, her heart started pounding, she started to sweat profusely, and she experienced all the symptoms of fear and terror. One of the reasons she is afraid to leave the house is because she is afraid she will have one of these episodes again. Hint: there are two specific diagnoses here. 3.Horace sleeps a lot, has great difficulty getting out of bed in the morning, and generally does not want to do anything. He has stopped seeing friends whom he used to see often and declines all invitations to do things socially. His most common response is “I just do not feel like it.” He looks sad all the time and does not seem to take pleasure in everyday activities. This has been going on for the past two months. 4.Patricia is a 44-year-old female who reports that she has periods of time where she cannot remember what she has done. She reports that after one such period, she received a telephone call from a man who claimed to have met her in a bar where she was “the life of the party.” She had also told the man her name was Priscilla. Patricia thinks that this is odd because she does not drink, and she is a rather shy and retiring person. However, the man had her correct telephone number and was able to give a good physical description of her. 5.Frank was attending college in San Francisco during a recent earthquake. He lived in the area that was hardest hit by the quake. Frank was not home when the earthquake hit and was not injured in any way, but when he returned home, he found his building demolished and his two roommates crushed to death. Frank immediately drove himself to the airport, bought a ticket to Boston, and got on the plane. His parents found him on their doorstep in Boston the next morning. Frank remembers nothing about the earthquake and nothing about going to college in San Francisco. The last thing he remembers is being a high school student and living with his parents in Boston

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Mental Health Assessment: Case 5 – Frank

Reason for Seeking Treatment:
Frank is seeking treatment due to a significant change in his memory and identity after experiencing a traumatic event, the San Francisco earthquake. He is concerned about his inability to recall the earthquake and subsequent events, such as going to college in San Francisco.

Current Symptoms:
a. Memory Loss: Frank has no recollection of the earthquake or his time spent in San Francisco. His memory is limited to his high school years and living with his parents in Boston.
b. Dissociative Amnesia: Frank’s memory loss is selective and related to a specific traumatic event.
c. Fragmented Identity: Frank’s identity appears altered as he refers to himself as a high school student and exhibits confusion about his current circumstances.
d. Emotional Distress: The loss of memory and identity is distressing for Frank, causing significant psychological and emotional distress.

History with the Problem:
Frank’s memory loss and altered identity began after the traumatic experience of the San Francisco earthquake. He has no history of similar symptoms or memory difficulties before this event.

Impact on Daily Life Functions:
Frank’s memory loss and altered identity can significantly impact his daily life functions and overall functioning. He may struggle with personal relationships, academic or occupational performance, and overall psychological well-being due to the confusion and distress caused by his condition.

Specific Diagnosis:
Frank’s specific diagnosis is Dissociative Amnesia with dissociative fugue features. Dissociative amnesia involves the inability to recall important personal information, often related to a traumatic event. The presence of dissociative fugue suggests a sudden, unexpected travel away from home, with memory loss of one’s past and confusion about personal identity.

General Class(es) of Disorders:
The specific disorder, Dissociative Amnesia with dissociative fugue features, falls under the category of Dissociative Disorders, as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Recommendations and Treatment Plan:
a. Psychotherapy: Frank would benefit from psychotherapy, specifically trauma-focused therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). These therapeutic approaches can help him process the traumatic event, work through the associated emotions, and regain lost memories.
b. Medication: Depending on the severity of Frank’s symptoms and associated distress, a psychiatric evaluation may be recommended to determine the potential need for medication to manage any comorbid conditions such as anxiety or depression.
c. Supportive Interventions: Providing Frank with a supportive environment, including access to a reliable support system, can aid in his recovery and adjustment to his changed circumstances.

Involvement of Family:
Involving Frank’s family in the treatment process can provide crucial support and understanding. They can participate in family therapy sessions to gain knowledge about dissociative disorders, learn ways to support Frank during his recovery, and promote a healthy and stable environment for his treatment. Family members can also help identify and provide additional information about Frank’s pre-earthquake identity and experiences to aid in his therapy.

It is important to note that this mental health assessment is a hypothetical scenario created based on the given case, and it is always recommended to consult with a qualified mental health professional for an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.