Terran Brodie
PSYC 430
AUTISM C SASE TUDY
DSM Application: (8 points): List the DSM criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Next to each
criterion, detail the specific symptoms that match Daniel’s symptoms. The DSM application
should be thoughtful, thorough and detailed. If no symptoms match a particular criterion, write
N/A next to that criterion.
The criteria’s for Autism Spectrum Disorder according to the DSM-5 are as followed
Having deficits in social-emotional reciprocity ranging from abnormal social approach and
failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or
affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions. N/A
Deficits in nonverbal communication behaviors used for social interaction such as poorly
integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body
language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and
nonverbal communication. Daniel was not comfortable in the room and would avoid eye contact
however was able to give nonverbal responses. Daniel also spent a lot of time fidgeting with his
hands, and even fidgeting with his toy when he was asked about it.
Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, such as difficulties
adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in
making friends; to absence of interest in peers. Daniel lacked social awareness, threw a tantrum,
and became aggressive when he was mad at his classmate in school. However, he was able to
identify that his classmate was conducting the act on purpose.
Terran Brodie
PSYC 430
Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, as manifested by at least two of
the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text):
Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech (e.g., simple motor
stereotypies, lining up toys or flipping objects, echolalia, idiosyncratic phrases). Daniel was
fidgeting with his hands the entire interview, but other than that N/a.
Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns of verbal or
nonverbal behavior (e.g., extreme distress at small changes, difficulties with transitions, rigid
thinking patterns, greeting rituals, need to take same route or eat same food every day). When
Daniel was asked about his friend, he stated that he had one friend with the name Justin. Then he
was asked do you like Justin, and he responded, “I have one friend with the name Justin.” Other
than that, N/a.
Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus (e.g., strong
attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or
perseverative interests). Daniel showed extreme interest in trains and specifically could
name the one train he was carrying around with him.
Hyper- or hyperactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the
environment (e.g., apparent indifference to pain/temperature, adverse response to specific
sounds or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects, visual fascination with
lights or movement). N/A
Terran Brodie
PSYC 430
Daniel had an extremely moderate case of Autism Spectrum Disorder, so he did not display
many of the criteria listed for the disorder.
Assessment Questions: (15 points): Answer the following assessment questions thoroughly.
Answer should demonstrate critical thinking, provide examples, and address each part of the
assessment question. Utilize information from the case study video and textbook as needed. 200
words minimum is required.
What would you consider to be the clinical skills or attributes most essential to successful
therapy for this patient? What would be your therapeutic goals for this patient? What further
information would you want to have to assist in structuring this patient’s treatment? Are there
specific assessment tools you would use? What would be the rationale for the use of these tools?
What is your conceptualization of this patient’s personality, behavior, affective state, and
cognitions?
Daniel was able to explain his situation thoroughly and was able to express his emotions
clearly to the expert, so because of that – I believe Applied Behavior Analyses therapy would be
useful to reduce his behavior. Specifically, the operant conditioning strategies because they will
assist him with his tantrums when being in a public setting and will assist him with expressing
his emotions in a healthy manner in the future. I believe a great skill that I will need to have
when working with Daniel is the ability to ask closed ended questions that will require Daniel to
either say Yes or No, with open ended questions that lead him to sharing more details. My
therapeutic goal for Daniel would be for me to assist him with developing healthy
communication skills with his peers (verbal and nonverbal). By working on this, I believe Daniel
would have the ability to communicate his frustrations properly to his peers without being a
distraction to his class. The further information I would desire to have while assisting in Daniels
treatment is how did he know that his classmate was acting out towards him purposely and why
did he not like his classmate whispering in his ear.
Terran Brodie
PSYC 430
I believe If I was to get to the root of these issues, I would be able to create a plan that
best suits Daniel and his needs. As for the specific assessment tools I would use, for Daniels case
– I would utilize observation. I would observe him while he is in class, and how he interacts with
his classmates and even his friend Justin on a regular basis. I would observe to see if he gets
agitated with his friend and what causes him to percieve Justin as a friend and not Ryan - What
do they do differently, that is more information I would love to know as well. The rationale for
this assessment would be that we would need to be in a public setting where Daniel feels
comfortable and not pressured. I would suggest school because it is a familiar place for Daniel.
In closing, my conceptualization of Daniels personality is that he is well aware of his
emotions, who his friends are, and who he does not get along with. He can provide one with non-
verbal responses to their questions, and he is not impaired intellectually as much. However, he
lacks social awareness, eye contact, and becomes uncomfortable when individuals seem to be in
his personal space. He does not mind it being silent in a room when speaking to other individuals
or being asked a question by someone, so that indicates that he lacks social awareness. Though
Daniel was able to recount the interaction he had with his peer Ryan and was able to share how it
made him feel – he also showed that he was not able to control his anger -which also would need
to be addressed in his treatment plan. Other than lacking in social awareness, eye contact, and
anger management – Daniels Autistic behaviors are moderate and can definitely be regulated.
Bible Application Question: (5 points): Discuss this case and disorder from a Biblical
perspective using at least 1 Scripture reference cited in APA format (direct quotes from the Bible
do not count towards length requirement). 75 words minimum is required.
As believers of Jesus Christ, I believe it is imperative that we have a heart full of
compassion for individuals who were born with disabilities no matter the severity of their
Terran Brodie
PSYC 430
disability. With Daniels' case, he is considered to be one who displays moderate autistic
behaviors, however; as Christians, we should still lend a helping hand, and be thoughtful,
compassionate, caring, and respectful to those who have the disability as well as their families. In
Galatians 6:2 NLT it says, “share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ”
(NLT, 2001, Galatians 6:2). By caring for the families who have children with disabilities and
lending a helping hand to them – we can see Christ in those who have Autism. This also allows
us to demonstrate the love that Jesus had for us by helping those who are affected by this
disorder. “If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and
possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love
others, I would be nothing” (NLT, 2001, 1 Corinthians 13:2).
Use of correct spelling, grammar, and APA format: (12pts)
References
Neurodevelopmental disorders. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.dsm01
New Living Translation. (2001). Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?
search=1+Corinthians+13%3A2&version=NLT https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?
search=Galatians+6%3A2&version=NLT
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Moderate with Expert Analysis (2018). [Video/DVD] Santa Monica,.
CA: Symptom Media. https://search.alexanderstreet.com/view/work/bibliographic_entity
%7Cvideo_work%7C3895730
