Using information from your text, videos, and learning activities (and

your own thoughts) addressing the following scenario in words

(4-5 pages): IMAGINE THAT your best friend comes to you for an
informal opinion
about some unusual symptoms he/she has been experiencing. 
Choose a disorder for
him/her to experience that we have covered in the course.  Describe
the symptoms of
the disorder and the treatment advice you believe is most valid,
including the theoretical
model.  Better papers will include a thorough description of (a)
relevant diagnostic
criteria, (b) your friend’s human experience with the disorder, (c) the
theoretical model
recommended (the one you think is best and why – e.g., cognitive-
behavioral,
psychodynamic, biological, a combination of models you think are
appropriate), and (d)
a reflection of your changing views of mental health function and
dysfunction as a result
of what you have learned in the course.  Grading criteria for this option
are as follows:
Describe your friend’s human experience with the disorder.  How does
it manifest itself
in their life? What effects does it have on their life?
25 points
Incorporate the relevant diagnostic criteria of the particular disorder
chosen and be sure
to tie it into the friend’s personal experience you describe. 
25 points
Treatment advice you would suggest to your friend and the theoretical
model that is tied
to this treatment.  Why do you think this is the best treatment/model? 
20 points
Reflect on your changing views of mental health function and
dysfunction as a result of
course material.  Have your views changed or not?  What has
changed and why? 
20 points

I am no stranger to behavioral health systems, and neither are my closest friends. The
differences between our experience with mental illness is that I have been fortunate enough to
receive treatment when it is highly stigmatized in our community.  One friend of mine-- here on
out known as “K”-- has been struggling for years undiagnosed, with clear symptoms of
depression, anxiety, and PTSD,  only formally diagnosed with ADHD. In this paper I will explore
symptoms of OCD that they express, separating them from other symptoms, and exploring a
holistic view of comorbidity. 

The DSM-5 describes 4 criteria for OCD- Obsessions and compulsions, which are
“recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or impulses that are experienced as intrusive
and unwanted, and that in most individuals cause marked anxiety or distress.” As
compensation, the individual will perform behaviors and mental acts “aimed at
preventing or reducing anxiety or distress, or preventing some dreaded event or
situation.” These behaviors are normally irrational and cause significant distress in
functioning. They are not attributable to the effects of medication, and are not better
explained by the symptoms of another disorder. 

K experiences several textbook compulsions. The dreaded ‘event or situation’ in

question is a sense of impending doom or severe anxiety that can lead to panic attacks.
They believe they must close the door door in every room that they are in. Before bed,
they go and close every door in their house just to ensure that they all have been
closed. They need to place their backpack in the same spot in their room, and brush
their teeth for an excessive amount of time, up to ten or fifteen minutes.  

By far the most severe obsession that K experiences is one with routine. If something
unexpected happens during their day that does not follow their routine, they break
down, exhibit anxiety, or are left completely unable to function. They believe that their
day ‘needs’ to go a certain way, or that it is not ‘right’. They describe it as a ‘fear of
time’- that they will eventually run out of time, so they are afraid of anything
unscheduled or unplanned. They adhere to a strict daily schedule, avoiding planning
social events, and if they attempted to attend them, they often reported high levels of
stress. As we were friends in high school, if we were let out early for snow or an
emergency, they were dazed and performed a self-soothing arm scratching behavior.
This inhibited social functioning as well as their ability to adapt to working life, leaving
them extremely anxious and fatigued at all moments. 

OCD symptoms are not the only symptoms that they experience. They have problems
sleeping and are excessively fatigued. They often report feeling numb, hopeless, or
worthless with periods of suicidal ideation. They were exposed to trauma as a child and
teenager--witnessing the arrest of their mother while experiencing emotional, physical,
and sexual abuse. They experience flashbacks and nightmares, so they avoid thinking
about these traumas, and in day-to-day life are unable to recall the details. They often
feel out of body, reporting that they ‘black out’ for large periods of time while being
physically there, or feeling like they are watching themselves. They have frequent panic
attacks. These symptoms have persisted for the four years I have known them; possibly
longer. 

The experience of these symptoms validate two more diagnoses: that of PTSD with
dissociative specification, and