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Running head: CASE PRESENTATION PAPER ASSIGNMENT
Cierra Hill
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
CEFS 546: Psychopathology (B02)
Kathy Crockett
June 25, 2022
Case Presentation Paper Assignment: Bipolar Disorder
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Running head: CASE PRESENTATION PAPER ASSIGNMENT
Identifying Information
Maddie is 22 years old and almost done finishing college at Hampton University. She is
getting her degree in nursing. She is the only African American student in her nursing classes and
feels very like everyone is always staring at her but also doesn’t realize her continuing to be nice
one day and rude the other is an issue for her not having any friends. She has been dating her
girlfriend for about 2 years now and feels like she madly in love. Wants her to purpose to her but
also doesn’t think her parents are going to be able to handle her relationship choice. Maddie
expressed her true passion to be a writer and her going to nursing school because her parents
made her go. States she has always felt like she was into girls but never came out until freshman
year in college. Her current girlfriend now makes her feel wanted and always knows how to calm
her down. Maddie shared with me that at times she can be very happy, then feel nervous or
anxious, have many different mood swings, at times feel a little nauseous or get a headache when
she has been really worked up about something. Maddie states she has been trying to take
sleeping medications to help her get some sleep at night because she is having a hard time to get
rest. Really can’t keep a friend long because always feel nervous or don’t have anything in
common with others.
Presenting Concerns
Like discussed above, Maddie is in a same sex relationship with another girl and she is
hasn’t come out to her parents yet either. Very stressed because she is going to school for nursing
but that’s not what she wanted to study in the first place. Feels sad, worried and angry at herself
for allowing her parents to treat her the way they have. Also, Maddie is a little overweight and so
she is very self-conscious about herself and doesn’t like going out to places at times. Feel like
she is always judged, or nobody wants to be friends with her because of her weight. Even though
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Running head: CASE PRESENTATION PAPER ASSIGNMENT
she is dating someone and her she has a great relationship with her girlfriend, she feels like she is
always sad, not knowing her worth or purpose in life and just feeling unsure about her life. She
was feeling fine but for the past year, she has been overwhelmed because of her studies and just
not able to balance work, school, her girlfriend and lying to her parents. As a child, her parents
have always been very strict in the household and it was always a high standard for her and her
sister and two brothers. But Maddie just always felt she never fit in the family because her life
was just always different. She did always remember and kept the special words that her
grandmother uses to tell her when she was little, “your life matter, you’re my beautiful little
butterfly”. Her grandmother passed away 2 years ago, and they really were close, so Maddie
shared it was hard for her to get through the grieving stage and handle the different things that
were happening in her life. The job that Maddie had, she has been working as an CNA at her
local hospital and does evening shifts to be able to do go to class in the morning and then work a
few nights throughout the week. The ICD-10 Code for Bipolar disorder is F31. The disorder is
focused on one’s mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorder. The symptom for bipolar
disorder is decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, change in appetite and sleep, withdrawal
from family, friends and particular activities that a person would like to do.
History
Family
Maddie has a girlfriend named Jessica. They have been together for roughly two years
now. She doesn’t have any kids of her own yet since she is still young. Jessica and Maddie live
together and seem to have a good relationship with each other except for when Maddie is having
bad days. Expressed of no arguing much and always loving and supporting each other. The two
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Running head: CASE PRESENTATION PAPER ASSIGNMENT
share a 3-story townhouse and Maddie loves the area because it’s convenient for her to get to
school and work.
Client’s Physical Health
Maddie had a pretty good childhood, was never sick. She had some hard times in high
school once her parents got a divorce and then she went off to school. She was seeking
counseling to help her with her parents’ divorce but then she felt like she didn’t need it anymore.
Maddie stopped attending her counseling sessions. Experiencing some hardship with the bipolar
disorder and Maddie needs treatment right away. Currently not taking any medications right now
but is doing some heavy drinking at times.
Occupational History
Before Maddie went off to school, she worked at McDonalds as a Cashier for like 2
years. She enjoyed it because it was easy money but also, she saved up money to buy her own
new first car. Once she got to college, she worked on campus at Starbucks, and she works during
the day and evenings to coordinate with her school schedule. So far, have no issues at Starbucks
currently now. Maddie is not a big fan of change, the anxiety she has with change, stems from
her parent’s divorce.
Substance Use History
Maddie has used Marijuana consistently within the last year and half. She only really
participates in this when she is really stressed or at parties. She has a habit of not being able to
sleep or feel like she is very anxious, so she will smoke some to help calm her down. She doesn’t
let her girlfriend know she does it because her girlfriend wouldn’t be happy. But she smokes
about half of a blunt every 2 days. Maddie has a good stash of marijuana, she has enough that
typically holds her for a month because she gets so much when she buys from her connect.
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Running head: CASE PRESENTATION PAPER ASSIGNMENT
Spiritual Information
Maddie grew up in a Baptist household, she does believe in God. At times she feels like
she is letting God down because of her sexuality. Her girlfriend and her do attend church nearby
their house every Sunday. Maddie feels like she needs to have a better relationship with God
because just attending church and classifying her religion background, doesn’t mean doing
everything correctly. Maddie does pull out her Bible at times and read it, her girlfriend Jessica
tries to get them to pray together. Maddie feels like God is our savior and protector. He is very
powerful, and she is aware of him. There is still more for Maddie to learn and get better at when it
comes to a spiritual standpoint.
Cultural/ Social Treatment Success
Maddie feels that being an African American female that there is so much limitation in
life. She feels like black individual will be discriminated in the world all the time; it will never end.
She does overwork herself up at times and so worried what he or she will think, say, feel, do if
they know her background growing up as a child and who she is becoming. Think people will judge
her. At times feel like violence isn’t the answer and don’t need to be heard by others to present
how things are in the world.
Barriers to Treatment/Success
Maddie is chill; she can get very anxious and frustrated on the smallest things that bother
her. She takes a while to calm down. Has a good support system and feels like she can strive on
success based on the treatment plans.
Family of Origin
Maddie had her mother and father growing up. Had 2 brothers and 3 sisters. Her siblings
and her are like best friends and very close. Still have relationships with her parents, she just
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rekindles her relationship with her dad about 3 years ago since he’s the reason their parents split.
She was very frustrated and sad when her parents split and wished they both fought harder to
stay together. Her household was big, her parents had a big house; three story, 3 car garages, a
pool, basketball court, playground area as well. She loved her home and always wanted that type
of upbringing. There was one time that Maddie saw her dad smack her mother and he beat her
until she bleeds and had marks all over her face. Maddie was traumatized by him since that
moment.
Educational History
Maddie was an A/B honor roll student and always did great in school. She is doing pretty
good in her classes currently while in college also. Maddie always hard on herself and feel like
she need to work harder, or she work hard and don’t get the recognition she deserves.
Sexual Adjustment
Maddie is currently sexually active with her girlfriend. At the beginning of her
relationship, she had a hard time committing and felt like she had a hard time with staying
faithful and wanted to be sexually active with more than one partner. But she got herself together
and don’t think about that anymore.
Other Pertinent Data
There are 4 different types of bipolar disorders. Some of the symptoms that Maddie
experienced was increased activity or energy, depressed, sleep a lot, mood swings, etc. (Mayo
Clinic, (2021). Maddie expressed she she has and does sometimes think about suicide but
nobody in her family; not even her girlfriend knows about this. Maddie only presents these
symptoms when she is very busy or stressed in life. Need to strive on a good plan to help her
along the way and handle hard times better in life.
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Running head: CASE PRESENTATION PAPER ASSIGNMENT
Mental Status Exam
There has been a lot of topics that Maddie and I have talked about during our sessions.
She would make eye contact with me periodically but for the tough questions, Maddie wouldn’t
look at me to really give me a true answer. Her mood has been up and down she has been
aggressive at times and lashing out that she can be at times very angry that she starts to drink,
smoke weed, and start fights with people to just either get removed from others. Maddie didn’t
share any thoughts on harming herself or having any risk of violence. Maddie did express that
she wanted to end her life at one point before leaving for freshman year of college. Maddie did
show true vulnerable moments throughout the session because some of the things we discussed,
she didn’t want to go in full details.
Answer Key
DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria: disorder name and code number: Bipolar Disorder
Symptoms: Mood Swings, suicidal thoughts, sleeping too much, depressed, increased activity
Two treatment recommendations
Good treatment recommendations that will be beneficial for Maddie would be
medications, day treatment, psychotherapy (Mayo Clinic, (2021). She can discuss with the
counselor to see what the best way and thing would be good to help her along the way and work
on her life for the future. She needs to have self-control and work on striving for change and
taking her time when she feels overwhelm. Get her girlfriend to help her hold herself accountable
and be supportive of Maddie during this hard time in her life.
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Running head: CASE PRESENTATION PAPER ASSIGNMENT
References
Patient Care & Health Information. Diseases and Conditions. Mayo Clinic. (2021). Bipolar
Disorder.
www.mayoclinic.org/bipolardisorder
