Differential Diagnoses
Pat does not meet the criteria for the other disorders listed in differential diagnosis. He does not meet the criteria for Bipolar II. For a diagnosis of Bipolar II, a past or current hypomanic episode and a past or current major depressive episode are necessary. Pat does not meet the criteria for a hypomanic episode because his episodes cause impairment in social or occupational functioning. Criterion E for Bipolar II is that the episodes are “not severe enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning or to necessitate hospitalization,” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 133). Pat also does not present enough of symptoms of a major depressive episode. The few depressive symptoms …show more content…
Family-focused therapy consists of three major components: psychoeducation, communication enhancement training, and problem-solving skills. Practitioners allow the patient to educate the family and the practitioner about their symptoms through recollections of first symptoms. After this stage, the role of stress in inducing symptoms is introduced. By learning what kind of stressors elicit symptoms from the client, the practitioner can work with the client and family to understand what experiences are stressors and ways to build resilience to them, as most stress is unavoidable. It is also at this stage of psychoeducation that biological predisposition is explained. The end stages of psychoeducation include making a relapse prevention plan with the client and family. Through communication enhancement training, practitioners teach families how to improve expression of positive and negative feelings, active listening, communicating clearly, and making positive requests for change in behavior. The problem-solving component identifies specific family conflicts that the client and their family brainstorm possible solutions and then deciding on the best solutions to design a plan. Some of Pat’s symptoms are worsened by stress caused by family members so family-focused therapy could be very beneficial to Pat and his family. It would also be helpful as his parents do not fully understand his symptoms and do not know how to handle his behaviors and actions which are related to his
Pat does not meet the criteria for the other disorders listed in differential diagnosis. He does not meet the criteria for Bipolar II. For a diagnosis of Bipolar II, a past or current hypomanic episode and a past or current major depressive episode are necessary. Pat does not meet the criteria for a hypomanic episode because his episodes cause impairment in social or occupational functioning. Criterion E for Bipolar II is that the episodes are “not severe enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning or to necessitate hospitalization,” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 133). Pat also does not present enough of symptoms of a major depressive episode. The few depressive symptoms …show more content…
Family-focused therapy consists of three major components: psychoeducation, communication enhancement training, and problem-solving skills. Practitioners allow the patient to educate the family and the practitioner about their symptoms through recollections of first symptoms. After this stage, the role of stress in inducing symptoms is introduced. By learning what kind of stressors elicit symptoms from the client, the practitioner can work with the client and family to understand what experiences are stressors and ways to build resilience to them, as most stress is unavoidable. It is also at this stage of psychoeducation that biological predisposition is explained. The end stages of psychoeducation include making a relapse prevention plan with the client and family. Through communication enhancement training, practitioners teach families how to improve expression of positive and negative feelings, active listening, communicating clearly, and making positive requests for change in behavior. The problem-solving component identifies specific family conflicts that the client and their family brainstorm possible solutions and then deciding on the best solutions to design a plan. Some of Pat’s symptoms are worsened by stress caused by family members so family-focused therapy could be very beneficial to Pat and his family. It would also be helpful as his parents do not fully understand his symptoms and do not know how to handle his behaviors and actions which are related to his