1
Week 2 Assignment: Case Study
Samantha Hall
DPSY8719: Developmental Psychopathology
Dr. Shlomo Hollander
Sunday, December 8, 2024
2
Week 2 Assignment: Case Study
Jane, a 9-year-old female, was recommended to a clinical psychologist because of her
extreme shyness, difficulties falling asleep, and inability to be alone in the house. Jane has
experienced significant life changes in her short life, including her mother's recent discharge
from a three-month mental hospitalization owing to severe depression, and her father's move out
to live with another lady, whom he intends to marry. Jane has just begun to worry about the
family dog being ill and dying, so she is reluctant to attend school.
Jane sleeps in her mother's bed, and her symptoms have been worse over the past two
years. Jane will pretend to be ill to avoid attending school. Her academic performance has
deteriorated; she has reading issues, has begun tutoring, and is now repeating third grade. This
has made Jane upset because she has no pals. She remains concerned about her puppy and
refuses to sleep in the same bed as her mother. Jane confesses that if her older sister, cleaner, or
neighbor stays with her, she can stay home alone. However, she cannot stay in the house alone
for more than 10 minutes. She wants to make new acquaintances but is hesitant to leave the
house.
Separation anxiety is defined as developmentally inappropriate and excessive fear or
anxiety about separation from individuals to whom the individual is bonded (Mash & Wolfe,
2019). My reasoning. Jane does not exhibit the conventional signs of separation anxiety in this
case, but she does exhibit four of the eight symptoms. Jane does not like being at home alone
(persistent and excessive fear of being alone), does not like the idea of leaving home (persistent
reluctance to or refusal to go out), cannot sleep unless she is in the same bed with her mom
(persistent reluctance to or refusal to sleep away from home or without an attachment figure
3
nearby), and is constantly worried about the family dog dying (constant, intense worry about
losing a loved one to an illness, death, or disaster).
If detected in time, potential therapies for separation anxiety disorder can begin as soon
as possible, especially since the best therapy for anxiety disorders is confronting those anxieties
full-on, with a constant support system. Counseling and treatment are some of the benefits. A
consistent morning routine should be established to encourage and support Jane's school
attendance. (Watkins and Brynes, 2003). Some drugs, such as imipramine (Tofranil) and SSRIs
(Prozac, Zoloft, etc.), have been shown to aid with separation anxiety disorder (Watkins &
Brynes, 2003).
4
References
Mash, E. J., & Wolfe, D. A. (2019).=Abnormal child psychology=(7th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage
Learning.
Mental Health America. (n.d.).=Generalized anxiety disorderLinks to an external site.=(GAD).
Retrieved March 6, 2014, from=http://www.nmha.org/conditions/generalized-anxiety-
disorder-gad#.Uxjcu4Xa2KI
Watkins, C. E., & Brynes, G. (2003).=Anxiety disorders in children and adults Links to an
external site.. Retrieved from=http://www.baltimorepsych.com/anxiety.htm
