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Francia Rajkoummale, Larissa Vasquez

Period 4
9 December 2015
Case Studies 3, 30, 34
Case Study #3 The patient was hospitalized at the age of 18. During the preceding year there
had been a gradual disintegration of personality, evidenced by inappropriate laughing and
giggling, bizarre conversations, and failure in school. The patients illness began soon after her
father departed from home. As described by the patients mother, She started to worry about a
year ago. My husband left and she began to think about him all the time. She used to talk funnyfunny things all the time. She used to hear an airplane and stand on the kitchen table looking at
the ceiling. She would look out of the kitchen window at children who were playing at school
about a mile away and asked if the other children could see her. She helped with the
housework, but often stood outside staring at nothing. She would say. I dont know whether I
am a boy or a girl. Do you think I will ever get married and have a baby? And she would say,
you are staying young and I am growing old.

Diagnosis and Explanation


The this case, the patient began showing signs of odd behavior after her parents had separated. It
is very common for children whose parents divorce to go through stages of anger, sadness, and
anxiety (Divorce and Children). It is most likely that this patient developed some form of
depression.
Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
In this case, after the parents were divorced, the patient began to say and do abnormal things.
When she would hear an airplane, she would stand on the kitchen table and stare at the ceiling.
She would stare out of her window and watch children. In order to help this patient, it would be

best to work with the patient and change their way of thinking. The patient has to know that it is
not her fault that her parents got a divorce. Once you change the patient's way of thinking, they
will overcome their obstacle and begin to participate in more activities.
Group Therapies
In group therapies, the most effective thing is to focus on the direct problem. In a group therapy
you can identify the problem and work with others who are dealing with the same thing, and help
one another overcome obstacles.
Biological Therapies
Because this patient has developed some form of depression, it would be best to prescribe her
with an antidepressant. This would help her to overcome the numb feeling and help her interact
more than just her mother.
Case Study #30
Brian appears to be a mild-mannered 20-something, but he sometimes believes he is a teenage
female named Suzy who is a member of a high school dance team. At these times, he dresses
in various matching outfits, carries pom-poms, and practices various dance routines. Brian is
confused about why he sometimes awakens dressed in strange clothing.
Diagnosis and Explanation
I have diagnosed my patient with DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) which is also known as
multiple personality disorder. I have diagnosed my patient with this disorder because he
describes that he would wake up and find that he is dressed in strange clothing. Dissociative
identity disorder is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct or split identities or
personality states that continually have power over the person's behavior (Dissociative Identity
Disorder). What my patient is experiencing is different alters. Alters is a state in which a person
goes into where they become who whole different person with completely different
characteristics such as their sex, age, race, way they talk, posture, gestures, etc. Because of these

alters my patients is experiencing, he is going into a different alter where he becomes a teenage
girl named Suzy and even dresses like a female also.
Behavioral Therapies
A behavioral therapy approach will be recommended for this patient. I recommend this treatment
for this patient because they can teach the patient relaxation exercises, modeling an appropriate
relationship so they can feel in control of their self and their alters. Another way is to find an
outlet where the patient can focus on.
Cognitive Therapies
A cognitive approach would also be an effective way to help this patient with his personality
disorder because this incorporates communicating with the different alters the patient is
experiencing. Also this can help the patient feel in control over their own self. During this
therapy it is important to not have the patient believe they are at wrong because of their alter. The
object is to not make the patient feel like the therapist is trying to get rid of their alter.
Group Therapies
Many therapists believe that it could be helpful for a patient to talk to other patients experiencing
DID but this is also not the most effective way because the disorder is that one has multiple
personalities that can over take their own at any time. Many therapist also try to help develop the
patient's relationships with others so they feel comfortable being in touch with their inner self.
By doing this, it helps prevent the patient from feeling overwhelmed with anxiety.
Biological Therapies

Drugs in this case are not strongly recommended for patients suffering from this disorder
because it can make the patient feel like they are being controlled and can be traumatized again.

Drugs are commonly given to patients with DID when they are experiencing other symptoms
that come along with DID such as severe depression, anxiety and even anger.
Case Study #34
Driving back from a concert, Gerri fell asleep at the wheel and crashed her Jaguar convertible.
Her best friend perished in the crash. Ever since, although doctors can find nothing physically
wrong, Gerri has been paralyzed in the arm with which she was steering.
Diagnosis and Explanation
I diagnose this patient with Briquets Disease of conversion disorder. I diagnosed my patient with
this disorder because Gerri is not physically hurt but her brain is telling her that she cannot move
her arm after the car crash. This is also very common amongst young females.
Behavioral Therapies
Best recommended for patients suffering from this mental disorder because this targets getting
back to the activities they were able to do without fearing they are going to worsen their disorder.
Electroconvulsive Shock Therapy is also a way to treat patients but over time that has not been
used much because of the side effects that can occur.
Cognitive Therapies
This type of therapy can also be effective to the patient because consultation and collaboration
with the physician has shown to be effective. This also allows the patient to address their own
emotions.
Group Therapies
For this case, it may be helpful to have a family therapy with the patient. It is possible that the
patients family will know about her emotions the most because they are around her most often.
Family therapy may be able to uncover the hidden emotions the patient has.

Biological Therapies
People suffering from this mental disorder are not given medication for this because there is not
anything actually wrong with them but they are given drugs for the symptoms that follow up
with this mental disorder such as depression, anxiety, antisocial behavior, hallucinations and
many more.

Works Cited
Blatt, Steven D. "Divorce and Children." MSD Manuals. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec.
2015.
"Dissociative Identity Disorder." Web MD. Web MD, 2005. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.
Dryden-Edwards, Roxanne. "Dissociative Identity Disorder." MedicineNet. Ed.
Melissa Conrad Stoppler. MedicineNet, 1996. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
"Doctors and Medical Specialists for Briquet Syndrome." McAfee WebAdvisor.
Helath Grades, 2014. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.

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