Mr Shackgleford Case Summary

I would diagnose Mr. Schackleford with PTSD, depression, and specific phobia of germs. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) requires that a trauma must be experienced, witnesses, or heard about in order for a patient to be diagnosed. Mr. Schackleford served in the Operation Iraqi Freedom conflict and experienced many traumatic situations including IEDs. The specific event that he believes to have had the greatest impression on him as a time with their troop was cleaning up after an event and all of the sudden rapid gunfire began towards them and he witness several friends and strangers fall to the ground. He does not understand how he made it out alive. This is the event that most likely triggered PTSD when he returned from service. Additionally, to diagnose a patient with PTSD they must have all four symptom clusters: re-experiencing, avoidance, alteration of mood/cognitions, and hyperarousal. Mr. Schackleford displays all above symptoms. The case study includes significant evidence that he re-experiences the events of his trauma on a daily basis. He reported …show more content…
Shackelford’s diagnosis, I also considered Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Initially, I thought that his hand washing would place him in this category but after further examination I concluded that it didn’t quite match the symptoms. I believe that his hand washing was less of a necessary, repetitive behavior or compulsion and more of a fear of contamination. I also found difficulty determining if he was suffering from generalized anxiety disorder because he showed symptoms of worry. The number one factor that I used to rule this out was Mr. Shackelford’s fear. In cases of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, the patient has uncontrollable worry but does not suffer from fear. This is not the case of Mr. Shackelford. He reports feeling fearful on a daily basis. Also, his worries are more focused on the events of his trauma rather than general, every day