Initial Assessment
Prior to beginning work on this discussion, please read Chapters 2, 6, and 7 in DSM-5 Made Easy: The Clinician’s Guide to Diagnosis. Additionally, please watch the video Beer Is Cheaper than Therapy: Fort Hood’s PTSD Problem . (Links to an external site.)
For this discussion, the patient for whom you wrote your transcript in the Week One Initial Call discussion has come to your office for a 15-minute initial assessment. As part of the intake process, you have asked the patient to fill out a biographical form that contains the same information included in the case study. Based on this information, propose three questions you would ask the patient to determine a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Provide a transcript of this brief initial session including your three questions and the answers you would expect the prospective patient to give. Beneath the transcript, provide a rationale for each of the three questions you proposed. Include the case study title you chose for your Week One Initial Call discussion post.
Case 18 You Decide: The Case of Julia
Hello, my name is Julia Smith. I was referred for an evaluation by the dean of student life at my university. People seem to think I have a problem, but I say I am fine. They say I am too skinny and that I spend too much time by myself, but I think I could be skinnier, and I don’t want to hear their criticism. I am in college on a scholarship which is based on grades and track and field. I had to lose weight to keep up on my times which meant I had to eat less and work out more. I also have to study, a lot! It is stressful, yes there is a lot of pressure, but I’m handling it! I probably could eat more but I don’t want to gain back what I lost. I really don’t sleep very much but I think it’s enough. I don’t know how people can say I’m too skinny, how can they tell that when my clothes are so baggy? My lowest weight has been 103 lbs. but I still looked chubby, so I stuck with my diet. Shouldn’t I be able to make my own decisions about my life?! I had to stop hanging out with my friends to study. i don’t see my roommate much at all but that’s just because we are both so busy. So now because of my mom I have to take more time out of my schedule for an evaluation. If you could get back to me to set it up that would be great. My number is 555-1234. You can reach me there any time unless I’m in class in which case I will get back to you as soon as i can.
