Psychopathology Diagnostic Reasoning
Age: 33 years old
T- 100.0 P- 108 R 20 180/110 Ht 5’6 Wt 146lbs
Background: Lisa is in a Naples, FL detox facility thinking about long term rehab. She is
considering treatment for her Hep C+ but needs to get clean first. She has been abusing opiates,
approximately $100 daily. She admits to cannabis 1-2 times weekly (“I have a medical card”),
and 1/2 gallon of vodka daily. She has past drug paraphernalia possession arrest. Her admission
labs. abnormal for ALT 168 AST 200 ALK 250; bilirubin 2.5, albumin 3.0; her GGT is 59; UDS
positive for opiates, THC. Positive for alcohol or other drugs. BAL .308; other labs within
normal ranges. She reports sexual abuse as child ages 6-9 perpetrator being her father who went
to prison for the abuse and drug charges. She is estranged from him. Mother lives in Maine, hx
of agoraphobia and benzodiazepine abuse. Older brother has not contact with family in last 10
years, hx of opioid use. Sleeps 5-6 hrs., appetite decreased, prefers to get high instead of eating.
Allergies: azithromycin
Complete and submit your Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation, including your differential diagnosis and critical-thinking process to formulate primary diagnosis.
Incorporate the following into your responses in the template:
Subjective: What details did the patient provide regarding their chief complaint and symptomology to derive your differential diagnosis? What is the duration and severity of their symptoms? How are their symptoms impacting their functioning in life?
Objective: What observations did you make during the psychiatric assessment?
Assessment: Discuss the patient’s mental status examination results. What were your differential diagnoses? Provide a minimum of three possible diagnoses with supporting evidence, listed in order from highest priority to lowest priority. Compare the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for each differential diagnosis and explain what DSM-5-TR criteria rules out the differential diagnosis to find an accurate diagnosis. Explain the critical-thinking process that led you to the primary diagnosis you selected. Include pertinent positives and pertinent negatives for the specific patient case.
Reflection notes: What would you do differently with this client if you could conduct the session over? Also include in your reflection a discussion related to legal/ethical considerations (demonstrate critical thinking beyond confidentiality and consent for treatment!), health promotion and disease prevention taking into consideration patient factors (such as age, ethnic group, etc.), PMH, and other risk factors (e.g., socioeconomic, cultural background, etc.)
