Acute Social Anxiety Disorder

Introduction

The patient was brought to the facility for counseling because of her anxiety-filled blips by the mother. I was able to observe that the patient has difficulties in relating to people. Significantly she is detached, and she does not communicate with the mother or any of her siblings. Her detachment has highly affected her relationships with outsiders not only family members.

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The patient is able to hold a conversation for more than five minutes. She prefers a life of solitude and silence hence affecting her relationship people at the cafe where she works as a waiter. Her anxiety leads her to take a defensive position whenever someone approaches or reproaches her. She is unable to work in a team and cooperate with other people to attain certain goals. It is important to address this kind of behavior from a professional psychology position, this is ia a bid to help the patient lead a better life in the future (Uher, Payne, Pavlova, & Perlis, 2013).

Assessment Methods and Preliminary Diagnosis

Based on the above information divulged by the patient's mother, it is imperative that a solution is needed. Operating from a professional standpoint, I believe it is important that I should first have an interview with the patient's mother. The interview insights will be helpful in understanding the background of the patient; childhood, personality and perceptions to life which would be followedby an interview with the patient. This will involve questioning her about the ordeals she has been through, how she perceives it and what she thinks of the future. The best diagnostic tool for this case study would be more than a simple symptoms checklist. This case scenario would require that I use published assessments in order to get related cases, in order to gain a clear understanding the sensitivity of the case from a broad perspective.

The patient suffers from Acute Social Anxiety Disorder. The patient's condition can be described as social anxiety, the inability to communicate, face people during communication and a constant fear of abuse from all and sundry. The code for this disorder Acute Social Anxiety Disorder is 300.23/F40.10 ("Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder Causes and Effects", 2016).

Socio-Cultural Factors that Impact Diagnostic Process

The patient has been significantly been affected by the situations in her earlier life. A childhood with an abusive father, kidnapping and servitude in forced prostitution significantly altered the growth and childhood of the patient.

All the situations the patient underwent in her earlier life have led to the patients shutting people out in her life. Her inability to face and communicate her mind can be attributed with iron fist life she was raised into, the patient takes it as if her opinions are not important, or they wont be heard at all. Based on the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, an individual suffering from a social anxiety disorder is unable to talk for fear of being judged, they prefer to stay alone, always living in fear to relate and talk to people, they can also show signs of paranoia.

Personally, I have been raised in a typical stable family, I have a history of a mildly abusive parent. I have been able to empathize with people in need of love and care. Offering a helping hand in life considering the situations I went through personally. My background would be instrumental in handling the situation of the patient; the reason is that I have had a small bit of what the patient has gone through in her life.

Limitations of Diagnostic Systems and Ethical Issues

DSM-5 is the latest and considerably the latest release of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders. Taking the case of a multicultural society, the use of DSM-5 could lead to underutilization of the diagnosis options that were initially available; this can be attributed to the removal of the multiaxial system. Another limitation is that DSM-5 regards diagnostic assessments a medical classification, as David Kupfer, Chair of DSM-5 puts it psychiatric disorders are practically medical disorders. All these limitations would significantly affect the client in a significant way as the socio-cultural background of the patient is incompatible with the procedures that were undertaken in the formulation of DSM-5 ("The new DSM-5: Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders - DSM-5", 2016).

Diagnostic labels would definitely affect the patient this would lead to a more detached disposition by the patient. Placing labels on the client would lead to a higher level of detachment, the patient would not be comfortable to talk about her experiences, fears, and reasons for her behavior. In order to foster an open and communicative environment, it is important to avoid labelling at all.

Ethical issues might arise in forcing or coercing the patient into divulging information she is not comfortable with. According to ethical standards from the American Counselling Association, the patient is at liberty to reveal any information. It would be unethical to talk to the patient without the parents discretion.

Conclusion

The case study developed above is one of a patient suffering from acute social anxiety disorder. Taking the patients, family, development and social history is instrumental to the study. Formulation of the method of conducting diagnosis and the preliminary diagnosis of the patient is important in the development of a case and cause for action. It is imperative to factor in the socio-cultural factors that would impact on the diagnostic process. As a psychiatrist it is important to consider the limitation of the DSM-5 diagnostic procedures and how it will affect the case study. Ethical considerations in the case study will be upheld to avoid any punitive measures and abuse of the patient. After factoring all the above consideration, I hope to have a successful case study.

References

Anxiety Disorders | Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. (2016). Dsm.psychiatryonline.org. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from http://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.dsm05

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder a Causes and Effects. (2016). Psychguides.com. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from http://www.psychguides.com/guides/anxiety-disorder-symptoms-causes-and-effects/

The new DSM-5: Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders - DSM-5. (2016). Amhc.org. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from http://www.amhc.org/1418-dsm-5/article/52863-the-new-dsm-5-anxiety-disorders-and-obsessive-compulsive-disorders

Uher, R., Payne, J., Pavlova, B., & Perlis, R. (2013). MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER IN DSM-5: IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE AND RESEARCH OF CHANGES FROM DSM-IV. Depression And Anxiety, 31(6), 459-471. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/da.22217