Case Studies in Psychopathology

Bipolar and Mood Disorders

• Jill displays symptoms of Bipolar 1 disorder, characterized by energetic behavior, rapid speech, and decreased need for sleep.
• Morris, referred after a suicide attempt, shows signs of major depressive disorder, including anhedonia, weight loss, and suicidal ideation.
• Elise has symptoms of persistent depressive disorder, showing low self-esteem and hopelessness impacting her daily function.
• Criteria A hypomanic episode observed in Andrea includes irritability, increased productivity, and sleeplessness following a depressive episode.

Anxiety Disorders

• Amy exhibits generalized anxiety disorder, marked by excessive worry about her children's safety and her husband's job security.
• Leslie experiences agoraphobia, leading to immense fear of leaving home following her anxiety attacks.
• Mary suffers from social anxiety disorder, feeling intense fear of public speaking scrutinized by peers, causing anticipatory anxiety.

Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

• Bert shows classic signs of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) with compulsive handwashing due to fear of germs.
• A couple's differing parenting styles reflects Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, emphasizing order and control over flexibility.
• Julia's distress over her appearance after surgery points to body dysmorphic disorder, leading her to constantly check mirrors despite successful interventions.

Psychotic Disorders

• Jack exhibits signs of paranoid schizophrenia, presenting delusional thoughts about his boss and auditory hallucinations.
• Maria's history of hypomania and aggression suggests Bipolar 2 disorder.

Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders

• Leila's avoidance of driving on highways post-accident indicates Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), characterized by intrusive memories and avoidance behaviors.
• James experiences PTSD symptoms after a traumatic car accident, including irritability and recurrent distressing images of the event.

Eating Disorders

• Jane struggles with a combination of binge eating and purging behaviors linked to her intense fear of gaining weight.

Conduct Disorders

• Jeremy's behaviors, such as stealing and aggression towards family pets, are indicative of conduct disorder, showing a lack of remorse and empathy.

Phobias

• Thomas displays a specific phobia related to needles, evidenced by severe anxiety and physical reactions at the sight of them.

Developmental and Neurocognitive Disorders

• Hannah's temper outbursts align with symptoms of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder.
• Joshua's distractibility and excessive talking indicate ADHD with hyperactivity.

Relational Dynamics and Treatment Approaches

• Play therapy helps children express and work through their difficulties, utilizing creative methods.
• The LEAP program incorporates typical children as models to aid social learning in kids with autism spectrum disorder.

Dyslexia and Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Dyslexia is characterized by difficulties in word recognition and reading comprehension.
• Pronominal reversal and perseveration of sameness are common language and behavior patterns observed in children with autism.

Aggression Patterns

• Relational aggression is often seen in girls with conduct disorder, involving manipulative behaviors rather than physical aggression.
• Conduct disorder can manifest in covert-destructive behaviors, such as sneaking out and vandalism, as well as overt-nondestructive actions, like chronic lying.