Diagnosing Anxiety Disorder and Dysthymia

Psychology -- Tests and Assessments

The subject is Jane Doe, Case #1234, DOB 02/05/1955. She is a 60-year-old, single white female seeking treatment for chronic anxiety disorder and chronic dysthymia.

Appearance

The subject is clean and neatly dressed, though in clothing that might not be deemed age appropriate, as she is a 60-year-old woman wearing a t-shirt, cargo shorts and sneakers.

Behavior

The subject's posture is appropriate, leaning toward casual and relaxed. Her body movements are expressive, though appropriate. Her attitude is appropriate in that it is friendly, assertive and cooperative. Her gait is unremarkable. She maintains eye contact that is appropriate, though leaning toward intermittent. Her speech is appropriate, well-modulated and articulate

Affect/Mood Projected

The subject projects a somewhat anxious and depressed mood, which she pointedly articulates.

Intellectual Status

The subject is clearly highly intelligent, with appropriate attention span, abstract thinking, concrete thinking and adequacy in all areas.

5. Orientation

The subject is oriented to time, place and person.

6. Judgment

The subject appears to have adequate decision-making skills, though she admits to compulsive gambling, indicative of inadequate impulse control.

7. Memory

Her memory is adequate in immediate recall, recent memory and remote memory, and otherwise WNL in all areas.

8. Insight

Her insight is exceptionally honed, readily acknowledging problems, accepting responsibility and indicating some experience with cognitive therapy.

9. Thought Process

A Obsessions - Gambling

B. Compulsions - Gambling

C. Phobias - Deep water; flying insects

D. Inordinate fears - Deep water, flying insects

E. Depersonalization - None

F. Suicidal ideation, gestures - Occasional ideation without gestures

G. Homicidal ideation, gestures - None

H. Delusions - None

I. Hallucinations -- auditory, visual - None

10. Mental Status within normal limits - No

11. Developmental History

The subject reports normal prenatal and early childhood maturation, development and no notable injuries.

12. Medical and Psychiatric History

The subject reports being anxious (Craske, Rauch, Ursano, Pine, & Zinbarg, 2009, p. 1067) and dysthymic (Cuijpers, et al., 2010, p. 52) for as long as she can remember. Both maladies were diagnosed in 1993, at which time the subject was treated with cognitive therapy and Zoloft. After approximately 18 months of treatment, the subject relocated from the northeastern United States to the southwestern United States, whereupon she stopped both forms of treatment. The subject reports that the brilliant sunshine of the southwest compensated for her lack of therapy and medication. She reports various periods of "ups and downs," as well as free-floating anxiety approximately once per week, though she copes with both conditions through cognitive therapeutic skills and a sense of humor, performing well socially and at work. She reports that anxiety and dysthymia "run" in her family (Cuijpers, et al., 2010, p. 53), including her mother, maternal grandmother and maternal aunt. Though the subject has coped with anxiety disorder and dysthymia for years, she reports that within the past six months, she has grown "tired of trying not to be sad" and strongly believes that she could benefit from SSRI. Her bouts with anxiety are weekly (Craske, Rauch, Ursano, Pine, & Zinbarg, 2009, p. 1070) while her dysthymia is a daily struggle (Cuijpers, et al., 2010, p. 53), to the point of moderately reducing her socialization and effectiveness at work. While she is well-socialized and behaves appropriately, the subject does appear to be moderately anxious and depressed. She reports no triggering event for either malady. She has never been hospitalized for any mental or physical condition, reports no history of drug or alcohol abuse and the client's health history is reported to be otherwise unremarkable.

13. Academic and Employment History

The client reports completing grade school, high school, college and law school, and earning high marks at every level. She despised school and attempted to drop out in the 3rd Grade but was taught by her blue collar parents that education was her "ticket" to a better life, so she complied with it. She reports no problems in school. She is currently employed as a legal researcher and writer, a position she has held for 7 years. The client reports that she has always easily obtains jobs since her teens and is quickly approached for promotions by her bosses, though some promotions are undesirable and are declined by her.

C. Conclusion