psychology

PCN-529: Meredith Case Study

Directions: This case study contains two parts. First, read the following information below about Meredith. After reading the case study, answer each of the questions listed beginning on page 2 by inserting your answers right below the questions. You are required to use the latest version of the DSM and include properly formatted in-text citations and references.

Part 1: Case Study

Meredith is a 24-year-old female who comes to the community counseling office where you work as a newly hired mental health counselor. On her intake form, she provided the following information, which is based on her answers to the questions on this form.

Birthdate: 1/22/1980

Home: Whiting, MA

Race: Caucasian

Current job: Assistant to the activities director at a nursing home

Parents: Married, both living, Leek, MA

Father: Works full-time as a business manager

Mother: Works part-time as an office clerk

Parents’ histories: Father - heavy use of alcohol, two heart attacks; mother - use of prescription opiates for back pain.

Medical history: Migraines? [she writes a question mark after migraines], menstrual problems [she writes in “serious cramps”]

Mental health history of patient: Meredith states she was hospitalized six weeks ago because she was unable to sleep for four days due to an abnormally increased energy level. During this period, Meredith was driven to start various new projects but could not seem to complete them. This led Meredith to seek medical help because she could no longer function and was at risk of losing her job.

Substance use history of patient: First use of alcohol during first year of college; drinks during celebrations and weekend parties, uses alcohol to help with sleep. Medications: None, “but I think I need sleep medication” [client’s words].

Sexual history: [client left questions related to sexual activity blank]

What prompted you to make this appointment? Meredith writes: “I’m depressed at times and other times I experience extreme changes in my mood and energy level. When this happens, I can’t sleep, eat, and my work is suffering because I can’t think…. I am stressed out…feeling out of control. People have commented about my extreme changes in mood.

Part 2: Questions

1. Based on what the clinician has learned during the intake, what are some of the symptoms a clinician should look for, or ask about when working with this client during the initial sessions? Explain each symptom.

2. What other historical information might a counselor want to ask about?

3. What might a clinician want to know about Meredith’s alcohol use and why? Having this knowledge what might this tell the clinician about Meredith’s motivation for treatment?

4. What might a clinician want to know about her eating, sleeping, and stress, and why?

5. How would the clinician determine if Meredith was experiencing a co-occurring disorder or a single diagnosis?

6. What is Meredith’s diagnosis? Please list the diagnostic criteria according to the most recent version of the DSM.

7. What are the treatment strategies and counseling techniques that you might employ with Meredith? Why?

© 2022. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.

© 2022. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.