DSM-5. Mr. Science Case Study. Psychology Case Study

Assignments will require you to make differential diagnoses based on case studies and justify those diagnoses using the DSM-5.  In each case read the case carefully and note the patient's symptoms, their signs (observable behavior) and their history.  Then align each symptom, behavior, etc. with the actual criteria in the DSM.  Make sure you indicate in your write-up how each piece of information in the case is an example of the criteria in the DSM so that you can justify your diagnosis.  The next section will require you to offer "rule out" diagnoses.  These are possible diagnoses that "could" be true, but after careful analysis do not meet ALL OF THE CRITERIA necessary to make that diagnosis.  A medical example:  a patient complains of a severe headache, stiff neck and a high temperature.  You may suspect meningitis....that would be a "rule out" that requires further investigation.  Clearly, it is a possible diagnosis, but when a spinal tap is done, it is negative, and meningitis is "ruled out."  It was the flu!  When you give me two rule outs for the case make sure each one is plausible.  For instance, if your final diagnosis turns out to be schizophrenia, a rule out of a phobia for elevators is not even close to the symptoms of schizophrenia and would never be a possibility. You must describe why each of your rule outs DO NOT describe the patient by noting the DSM criteria that are not met.  As you read about disorders you will see that there are clusters of somewhat similar disorders that can be differentiated from one another.  Finally, you will be asked to discuss treatment options for your diagnoses and the prognosis for the patient, that is what is the likely outcome and possibility for improvement or deterioration.
Scenario:Mr. Science is a 61 year old science teacher who became very fearful during the first semester of the new academic year.  Over the next few months he lost interest in his hobbies, stopped reading and had difficulty doing computations or taking care of his finances.  He even got lost driving to his school one morning.  He began writing notes to himself to avoid forgetting things.  Abruptly he retired from work and did not even consult his wife.  He became stubborn and irritable and needed help in shaving and dressing.When he was examined 6 years after the first symptoms developed, he was alert, cooperative, but disoriented to time.  He could not recall the names of 4 or 5 objects after 5 minutes and was unable to remember his college, his major and thought that Kennedy was president in 1978.  His speech was fluent, but he had word finding problems.  He called a cup a vase and the rims of glasses as “holders.”  He did math poorly and could not copy a cube or draw a house.  His interpretations of proverbs were concrete and had no insight into his problems.  Lab tests were all negative.  CAT scan showed cortical atrophy.Questions:    What is his diagnosis?    What are the symptoms that helped you make this diagnosis?  What diagnostic criteria do they relate to?    What are two other possible diagnoses and why did you not choose them?    What kinds of psychological interventions would be appropriate in this case?    What is his prognosis?