Question

Mr. Smith reports that he is a 59-year-old cisgender widower, who had been living alone for the last year. His wife had been diagnosed with brain cancer three years prior and died approximately one year ago. He has two grown unmarried children (29 and 25 years old) who are pursuing careers in other parts of the country. Mr. Smith has an undergraduate degree and had worked as an independent contractor for two Fortune 500 businesses in Charlotte but has been out of work since April 2020 (due to the pandemic). Mr. Smith described his major problems as depression (over the last year and a half), difficulty coping with daily life, and loneliness. He reported one prior episode of major depression around age 25, following the death of his father. Mr. Smith said he had become increasingly socially isolated with the onset of his wife’s illness (brain cancer) and that this loneliness had intensified with the pandemic. He also reported having had normal friendships as a child, teenager, and young adult. He and his wife had led a relatively quiet life together, mostly focused on raising their children and respective work. When they had free time, they had enjoyed intellectual and cultural activities together (museums, lectures, concerts, and fine restaurants). They had a few close friends with whom they socialized but those friends had retired in Florida and Arizona during the time of his wife’s illness.
Make a differential diagnosis of "Mr. Smith" using the criteria below. Explain why you diagnosed Mr. Smith with the specific diagnosis you chose (100 words).
What other information would you want to know from Mr. Smith to help you make a diagnosis? (50 words)
Specify one alternative diagnosis you considered before arriving at your final diagnosis. Indicate why you considered each and, ultimately why you did not make that diagnosis (100 words).

Answer 1

Answer:

Make a differential diagnosis of "Mr. Smith" using the criteria below.

Depression

Explain why you diagnosed Mr. Smith with the specific diagnosis you chose (100 words).

• Depression history at 25.
• Typical depression symptomslike:

1. long-term jobless
2. Having an uncaring relationship,
3. isolation or loneliness for long time
4. daily life activities dealing difficulties
5. partner death

What other information would you want to know from Mr. Smith to help you make a diagnosis? (50 words)

If you are suffering from depression, you have problems coping with daily life for quite a long time. Doctors usually name this condition “depressive disorder” or “clinical depression.” In the above mentioned case, Mr. Smith requires a proper treatment to alleviate his situation. He must try to live a socially healthy life and must spend time with the children of his choice.

The mortalities of his loved one, his retirement, or his wofe being ill requiring all of his attention and care, all pushed him to sadness or anxiety. Hence It is important to gather more information about his daily life, whether he feels tired, have trouble sleeping, or seem grumpy and irritable etc.

During his previous years he may have endured an Acute Stress issue following his dad's demise. For this situation the manifestations he encountered before are not given. So we can't unmistakably state whether he oulived a depression or a stress disorder. From the case, it is exceptionally clear that he with his life drove an extremely ordinary existence with no complexities.  

Acute stress disorder is an exceptional, upsetting, and useless response starting not long after a staggering traumatic accident and enduring not exactly a month. In the event that side effects continue longer than a month, individuals are analyzed as having posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).