PSYC 430

CASE STUDY: ANXIETY ANSWER SHEET

Diagnosing Tina
Student Name:

Diagnosing Generalized Anxiety Disorder:

1a. Refer to the DSM-IV checklist for generalized anxiety disorder. Which of
Tina's symptoms meet any of the criteria? (Be sure to match specific symptoms
with specific criteria.)

As we observe Tina’s behaviors, we see she has excessive or ongoing anxiety and worry by
thinking that something unexpectly will happen to her twin daughters. Tina thinks
something might happen to her as she drives on the bridge. We can see that she has difficulty
controlling the worry. She hates driving on the bridge and gets sweaty hands. She is also
smoking excessively. She is easy fatigue and is unable to sleep at night.
1b. Based upon your review of Tina's symptoms and the diagnostic criteria,
could Tina be diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder or not (and if not,
why not)?

Tina’s symptoms can prove for her to be diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder.

Diagnosing Specific Phobia:

2a. Refer to the DSM-IV checklist for specific phobia. Which of Tina’s
symptoms meet any of the criteria? (Be sure to match specific symptoms with
specific criteria.)

Tina is afraid to travel on bridges. She has immediate anciety produced by exposure to the
object. Her palms get sweaty so she avoids the feared situation.
2b. Does Tina have a specific phobia and if yes, what is the feared object?

Tina has a specific phobia for bridges.

Diagnosing Panic Disorder:

3a. Refer to the DSM-IV checklist for panic disorder with agoraphobia and the
checklist for panic disorder without agoraphobia. Which of Tina’s symptoms
meet any of the criteria? (Be sure to match any specific symptoms with
specific criteria.)

Tina has panic disorder with aporaphobia. She fears going out of her house and hates to
drive. The last time she had attempted to drive, she was grasping for air and her palms were
sweaty these are symptoms of panic disorder. She has anxiety about places such as when she
approached the bridges, she felt panic but she could do nothing to avoid them. The doctor
believes she might be suffering from anxiety disorder. Tina has endore the fear of the
bridges but feels tension everytime she has to cross one of the large bridges.
3b. Does Tina meet the diagnostic criteria for panic disorder with agoraphobia
or panic disorder without agoraphobia or neither? Explain why you believe your
choice is the most appropriate diagnosis.

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Tina meets the diagnostic criteria for panic disorder with agoraphobia. The doctor she is
seeing also believes Tina might be suffering from anxiety disorder.

Understanding Tina’s Disorders:

1. How would the Socio-Cultural Perspective explain Tina's GAD?

Tina had centered her whole time and efforts around her husband. He did not see anything
wrong with this because he had seen his own mother very dependent on his father. Tina’s
husband showed to be very controlling and authoritarian even with his daughters. He was
the every thought for Tina. Now that he is not no longer around, she is lost in her own
world. She is not sure of the abilities she has to control and make a difference in her world.
2. Explain Tina's GAD from the Existential Perspective.

Tina should understand that it is up to her to give meaning to her life. Now she has the
opportunity to personal freedom of choice and the ability to live lives’ opportunities.
Existential encourage people to accept responsibility for their lives and for their problems.
3. Explain Tina’s GAD from the Cognitive Perspective (please identify any
basic irrational assumptions that Tina is making, even if they may be
unspoken).

Tina believes that because her husband has passed away she has no reason for living. She is
acting as if her world has ended. Tina had lived her life being needed all of the time. With
her husband not around to need she is also seeing that the twins do not need her either. This
thought is bringing her to the bottom of her emotional state.
4. Explain Tina’s Phobia from a Behavioral Perspective (please use classical
conditioning as a possible example).

Tina did not have control over the lost of her husband. When she has to go through the
bridge, a place where she has no control of, she is frighten. She has no control and can’t
avoid the bridges which are located all around the city.
5. Explain Tina’s Phobia from a Psychodynamic Perspective.

Tina’s rage reactions are rooted in feelings of insecurity. Tina knows that the thought of the
bridge callasping is ridiculous but she has a conflict between the id and ego.
6. Considering the biological correlates or causes of Tina's panic disorder,
what role does the neurotransmitter norepinephrine play in her panic disorder?

She is probably having increases in norepinephrine activity in the locus ceruleus. When
scientists have injected paticents with chemicals known to increase the activity of
norepinephrine, they were able to produce panic attacks.
7. What does Tina's locus ceruleus have to do with her panic disorder?

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Tina’s locus ceruleus is the area of the brain rich in neurons that use norepinephrine which
increases the activities of norepinephrine and produces panic attacks. The locus is where the
thoughts are taken to action.

8. What role might GABA play in her symptoms?

The GABA carries messages from neuron to neuron. These messages are then turned into
thoughts and panic.

Treating Tina
1. Which Psychodynamic technique has been found to be the most useful in the
treatment of GAD?

The most useful technique is the free association which helps individuals to discover
threatening impulses and conflicts within.
2. Explain why a humanistic approach would be helpful in treating Tina's GAD.

Humanistic approach will help Tina to self actualize, in other words to fulfill her potential
for goodness and growth.
3. How might you use Rational-Emotive Therapy to treat Tina’s GAD?

I would try to encourage Tina to do more things on her own and for her self. She should
drive up to the large bridge several times thoughout the day. She should even try letting go
of smoking and start dating again.
4. How would Systematic Desensitization be used to treat Tina’s phobia of
bridges?

She can relax while gradually facing the objects or situations she fears.
5. What medications have proven useful for treatment with panic disorder?

Tina might need antidepressant drugs which have been useful in treating generalized anxiety
disorder.
6. What role could cognitive therapy play in Tina's treatment for panic
disorder?

Cognitive therapy can help participants to breathe, exercise, or simply think in certain ways.
7. Considering that Tina may be treated for comorbid disorders, how do you see
the treatments for the various disorders complementing each other?

The various treatments are useful and will complement each other because Tina’s case is
linked to her codependence.

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8. Is there any reason to think that any of the treatments would be contraindicated when utilized
together? Explain why/how or why/how not.

No, the treatments will be useful and are all directly related.

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