Question

1. Diagnosis. Provide at least 1 paragraph justification.
2. Describe how 2 therapy orientations would view and treat the disorder.
3. Describe which therapy would have the most effective approach (and why).

Case #1.

Daniel felt his life was complex. He would often complain and had an irritable mood most of the time. He even suffered from occasional attacks in which his heart pounds with irregular beats; he felt as if he couldn’t catch his breath when this would happen. He always felt like his mouth was dry after an ‘attack’, despite drinking a lot of water. Even worse, because of this anxiety, he couldn’t get any sleep, which put him in a cycle of always being tired and anxious.

Answer 1

Diagnosis - Anxiety disorder.

Daniel seems to be in a constant worry and stress all the time. He is stressed about his life and keeps complaining. His daily functioning is affected, making him difficult to fall asleep. He also experiences physical symptoms due to this. These are all signs and symtpoms of anxiety disorder.

Treatment -

cognitive behavioral therapy- In this therapy, anxiety is a result of dysfunctional thinking, which when challenged and replaced by healthy ones can alleviate the symptoms. This is highly effective for anxiety disorder.

Biological approach - People are predisposed or have genetic component which makes them more prone to anxiety disorders. Along with therapies, this approach suggests medications such as antidepressant, sedatives etc.