Application: Case Study – Personality Disorders

Application: Case Study – Personality Disorders

Chaotic lifestyles, chronic life interruptions, fractured support systems, and frayed identities collectively describe some of the characteristics of individuals who suffer with personality disorders. Individuals with personality disorders are similar to children navigating through life confused and unsure. Even when surrounded by family and friends, individuals who suffer with personality disorders may feel isolated and alone. As a future professional in the field of psychology, assigning a diagnosis of personality disorder may be very complex.

For this Application, review the case study in the Learning Resources. Consider important client characteristics for developing a personality disorder diagnosis. Think about your rationale for assigning a particular diagnosis on the basis of the DSM.

The Assignment (3–4 pages)

·         A DSM diagnosis of the client in the case study

·         An explanation of your rationale for assigning the diagnosis on the basis of the DSM

·         An explanation of what other information you may need about the client to make an accurate diagnosis based on the DSM diagnostic criteria

Support your Application Assignment with specific references to all resources and current literature used in its preparation. You are to provide a reference list for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course.

·         American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

o    Personality Disorders

·         Paris, J. (2015). The intelligent clinician’s guide to the DSM-5 (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from the Walden Library.

o    Chapter 14, Personality Disorders

·         Crosby, J. P., & Sprock, J. (2004). Effect of patient sex, clinician sex, and sex role on the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder: Models of underpathologizing and overpathologizing biases. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 60(6), 583–604. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

·         Jovev, M., McKenzie, T., Whittle, S., Simmons, J. G., Allen, N. B., & Chanen, A. M. (2013). Temperament and maltreatment in the emergence of borderline and antisocial personality pathology during early adolescence. Journal Of The Canadian Academy Of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 22(3), 220–229. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

  • Millon, T. (2000). Reflections on the future of DSM Axis II. Journal of Personality Disorders, 14(1), 30–41. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
  • Morey, L. C., Krueger, R. F., & Skodol, A. E. (2013). The hierarchical structure of clinician ratings of proposed DSM–5 pathological personality traits. Journal Of Abnormal Psychology, 122(3), 836–841. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
  • Neumann, C., Schmitt, D., Carter, R., Embley, I., & Hare, R. (2012). Psychopathic traits in females and males across the globe. Behavioral Sciences & The Law, 30(5), 557–574. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
  • Wastell, C. A. (1996). Feminist developmental theory: Implications for counseling. Journal of Counseling & Development, 74(6), 575–581. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.