SAM 1
Case study: Sam
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Author Note
SAM 2
CASE S : STUDY AM
Client Concerns
Symptoms Behaviors Stressors
Sadness Trouble sleeping Education/failure to
perform
Lethargy Excessive sleeping Transition from education
to workforce
Loss of appetite Suicidal ideations Potential loss of
community
Difficulty concentrating Not meeting deadlines
Mood swings Unusual productivity
Halluciations
Hysteria
Assessment
As part of the client’s intake, I would recommend using the Structured Clinical Interview
for DSM-5 (SCID-5). This tool is commonly used to diagnose a variety of disorders according to
the criteria found in the DSM-5 (Miller et al., 2009). It is able to aid in assessing the severity of
symptoms and exclusionary criteria for multiple disorders. In addition to being thorough, it is a
structured interview comprised of modules that make it easy to tailor for the client (Miller et al.,
2009). Although it can be lengthy, the reliability and validity data for the SCID-5 is positive
(Miller et al., 2009). Administering this tool would help assess the client’s bipolar disorder as it
relates specifically to them and aid in the formulation of a treatment plan. I chose this method
SAM 3
over other methods like the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS) and the
Composite Interview Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) because the SCID diagnoses of bipolar
disorder show higher reliability (Miller et al., 2009). Additionally, I chose a structured interview
method over a self report assessment like the General Behavior Inventory because, although the
latter is easily and quickly taken, it allows for variances that compromise its reliability and
