Diagnosis of Charles’ сase
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As a clinical psychologist, I intend to use client records and interviews to diagnose my client called Charles. The client records will be essential in highlighting nay past cases of suicidal ideation, depression diagnosis, and familial suicide (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2012). Acquiring more information will be essential to ascertain how long the client’s suicidal ideation, sadness, anger, agitation, and stress started. Afterward, I will proceed to use interview assessment to determine the suicide risk and protective factors of Charles. In this manner, I will also learn about suicidal thoughts, suicidal plans, self-control and agitation, and the client’s reasons to live. I will complete the suicide assessment by considering the client’s scores in risk and protective factors, suicide ideation, suicide plan, client self-control and agitation, suicide intent and reasons for living and safety planning.
I will strive to get more information about Charles’ attitude towards aspects that surround him by finding out what motivates him and what weighs him down. The first approach in this direction will be to create a collaborative mood with Charles (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2012). Therefore I will first ask him: Will you be comfortable if I ask questions about your mood?
If the client gives me a go ahead, I will ask him to rate his mood. Then I will inquire about his worst and lowest mood rating, what situations led to such a score and what helped him get out of such a case (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2012). I will then ask about his highest ratings of mood and its causes. Afterward, I will inquire about situations that scaled him down from that mood. Such questions will reveal for how long Charles has been in his position and his coping mechanisms.
The collaborative theoretical approach will be appropriate in the assessment process of Charles. The collaboration will enable the client to trust me and relax during the session (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2012). The situation arises since I will assure him that given his divorce it was normal for him to feel angry, stressed and agitated. However, with my professional help, we will get over the problem. Therefore, the client will be free to talk about his suicide ideation and the stressors in his life. Consequently, I will find out the frequency, triggers, duration, and intensity of such suicidal thoughts and the frustrations. Such information will guide me towards giving the right diagnosis.
According to the DSM-5 manual, Charles has Major Depressive Disorder. It is undeniable that Charles has depressed mood due to the fear of losing his marriage and job. The situation may give him a diminished interest in activities surrounding him since work and family are essential components in a person’s life. Furthermore, psychomotor agitation may come due to the restlessness that the client is going through as he attempts to fit within the current situation. The client develops thoughts of death through suicidal ideation but does not try it. According to the American Psychological Association (2013), individuals with Major Depressive Disorder have depression, diminished interest in life, agitation, feeling of worthlessness and suicidal ideation just like in the case of Charles.
It is ethical to render a diagnosis for Charles within 48 hours since his condition is likely to escalate. Therapy will come in handy to keep Charles in control of his affairs by enabling him to continue with his job despite the depression and frustrations that the divorce proceedings pose (Pomerants & Regrist, 2006). However, it is justifiable to render a diagnosis and get third-party payment since the session will help Charles get back on track (Kilebasa et al., 2004). Therefore, it is ethical and necessary to request payment for Charles’ therapy sessions since he is likely to ruin his life if he misses them.
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5®). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Pub.
- Kielbasa, A. M., Pomerantz, A. M., Krohn, E. J., & Sullivan, B. F. (2004). How does clients’ method of payment influence psychologists’ diagnostic decisions?. Ethics & behavior, 14(2), 187-195.
- Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2012). Clinical Interviewing: 2012-2013 Update. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
- Pomerantz, A. M., & Segrist, D. J. (2006). The influence of payment method on psychologists’ diagnostic decisions regarding minimally impaired clients. Ethics & Behavior, 16(3), 253-263.
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