The Clinical Case Study of Lenny; a Teen in Crises
Lenny, a 17-year-old Caucasian male, with a presenting diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); to date the patient receives no treatment for this diagnosis. Patient reports, quitting high school the previous year, due to what he describes as depression. He recently reentered, with hopes of completing high school. Although the patient reported depression, as the reason for his departure from school, he has never received a diagnosis of this disorder. When questioned, patient denied symptomology, which indicates depressive mood. Additional reporting by patient’s mother, “Lenny generally appears fine, and does not give the impression of irritability nor moodiness”. The patient …show more content…
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders 5th edition 2013, (DSM-5). Panic Disorder (PD) falls under the heading of Anxiety Disorders. PD is described by the DSM-5 is an unforeseen outpouring of extreme fear, or penetrating distress that peaks within moments, at which four or more of the following symptoms occur: “ palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate, trembling or shaking, chest pain or discomfort, nausea, and feeling dizzy or faint” ( American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p.208). The aforementioned symptoms appear to be the exact symptomology that the patient, by self-report, is experiencing. According to Mash & Barkley (2014), Panic Disorders have a strong correlation with both suicidal ideations, as well as actual attempts; this could possibly explain Lenny’s thoughts of suicide. Panic Disorders often co-occur with depression (Mash & Barkley, 2014). According to the patient, although he is currently not experiencing any depressive moods, admittedly his feelings of depression led to his dropping out of school. Although psychological disorders can be classified, with the assistance of the DSM-5, considerably, the need for further investigation is required to understand the possible affects that each disorder can have on an …show more content…
Various factors are associated with Panic Disorders, as well as momentous individual, societal and pecuniary cost as established by Mano, Dinger, Milrod, Kunik, McCarthy, Chambless and Barber (2015). The researcher’s concede that little is known concerning precise interpersonal dysfunctions that depict this population of individuals with Panic Disorders (PD) (Mano et al., 2015). Reflecting back, on the case of Lenny, several possible factors that may be occurring simultaneously. According to Mash and Barkley (2014), Children and teens that are undergoing panic indicators, or who suffer from PD, may also exhibit affiliated agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is described as the distress of being placed in a situation, in which one may find it hard to escape from, there is also the fear that if a panic attack occurs that the individual may suffer humiliation, and find little or no help while these symptoms are occurring (Mash & Barkley, 2014). This is a possible explanation of the anxiety and panic attacks occurring while Lenny is walking to and from school. Mash and Barkley (2014) point out that in a study, of teens and children school is one of the situations that is found to be the most awkward along with school related activities. ADHD has also been found to be comorbid with PD’s (Mash & Barkley, 2014). In the case of Lenny, he has the
Lenny, a 17-year-old Caucasian male, with a presenting diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); to date the patient receives no treatment for this diagnosis. Patient reports, quitting high school the previous year, due to what he describes as depression. He recently reentered, with hopes of completing high school. Although the patient reported depression, as the reason for his departure from school, he has never received a diagnosis of this disorder. When questioned, patient denied symptomology, which indicates depressive mood. Additional reporting by patient’s mother, “Lenny generally appears fine, and does not give the impression of irritability nor moodiness”. The patient …show more content…
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders 5th edition 2013, (DSM-5). Panic Disorder (PD) falls under the heading of Anxiety Disorders. PD is described by the DSM-5 is an unforeseen outpouring of extreme fear, or penetrating distress that peaks within moments, at which four or more of the following symptoms occur: “ palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate, trembling or shaking, chest pain or discomfort, nausea, and feeling dizzy or faint” ( American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p.208). The aforementioned symptoms appear to be the exact symptomology that the patient, by self-report, is experiencing. According to Mash & Barkley (2014), Panic Disorders have a strong correlation with both suicidal ideations, as well as actual attempts; this could possibly explain Lenny’s thoughts of suicide. Panic Disorders often co-occur with depression (Mash & Barkley, 2014). According to the patient, although he is currently not experiencing any depressive moods, admittedly his feelings of depression led to his dropping out of school. Although psychological disorders can be classified, with the assistance of the DSM-5, considerably, the need for further investigation is required to understand the possible affects that each disorder can have on an …show more content…
Various factors are associated with Panic Disorders, as well as momentous individual, societal and pecuniary cost as established by Mano, Dinger, Milrod, Kunik, McCarthy, Chambless and Barber (2015). The researcher’s concede that little is known concerning precise interpersonal dysfunctions that depict this population of individuals with Panic Disorders (PD) (Mano et al., 2015). Reflecting back, on the case of Lenny, several possible factors that may be occurring simultaneously. According to Mash and Barkley (2014), Children and teens that are undergoing panic indicators, or who suffer from PD, may also exhibit affiliated agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is described as the distress of being placed in a situation, in which one may find it hard to escape from, there is also the fear that if a panic attack occurs that the individual may suffer humiliation, and find little or no help while these symptoms are occurring (Mash & Barkley, 2014). This is a possible explanation of the anxiety and panic attacks occurring while Lenny is walking to and from school. Mash and Barkley (2014) point out that in a study, of teens and children school is one of the situations that is found to be the most awkward along with school related activities. ADHD has also been found to be comorbid with PD’s (Mash & Barkley, 2014). In the case of Lenny, he has the