Reference no: EM132227600 , Length: word count:3000

Abnormal Psychology Assignment -

Learning Outcomes - On successful completion of this module the learner should be able to:

• Discuss the prevalence of psychological disorders in an Irish context.
• Describe and analyse causes/effects/interventions for psychological disorders.
• Reflect on teamwork and personal skills development through collaborative learning.
• Apply a social construction perspective to learning disability and mental health.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.
• Describe the incidence, causes and societal response to suicide from a psychological perspective.
• Evaluate their role in the social care team in managing challenging behaviour issues.

Please choose form option A OR B below.

Option A -

Leanne came to the office because she stated that her depression had worsened in recent months and that she was feeling nervous and panicky almost daily. She is 31 years old. Leanne described her home situation as "less than ideal." She separated from her husband two years ago and found herself barely able to meet her financial obligations of the mortgage that was once shared and the other household bills. She noted that she was laid off about 18 months ago from her former job and was unemployed for one year. During this time she returned to school for a Master's degree. Leanne's financial crisis deepened with the layoff and she was forced to sell her home and move in with her boyfriend about three months ago. She found a new job in her field about six months ago, but she is making less money than she was even receiving from unemployment benefits.

Leanne describes the living arrangement as difficult. Her boyfriend's chronically ill best friend also lives in the house. Leanne states that the house is too small to accommodate her belongings and she is storing things in her camper in the backyard. She misses her old house which was bigger and had a nice yard. She also misses her dogs that live with her ex-husband. She stated that she feels like she is "walking on eggshells" around her boyfriend all of the time because the living arrangement is only supposed to last until she finishes her Master's degree next summer. She said that she feels like a long-term houseguest and that her presence is an intrusion. She said that her boyfriend's actions sometimes confirm this feeling.

Leanne's job, in addition to not paying as much as she needs to remain independent, she also finds the work mundane and unchallenging. She found her former position to be stimulating and exciting. Now she feels like she is just "wasting her days there and not trying to excel." She states that her supervisors do not value her opinion or utilize her recommendations regarding projects. Leanne feels that the job description misrepresented the actual duties and that she is basically fulfilling the obligations of a secretary, rather than a marketing professional. She says that she completes her tasks quickly and then spends quite a bit of time each week "looking busy" because her supervisors do not have additional work for her and she has to stay.

Social History

Leanne was depressed as a child. Her mother first noticed symptoms at 6 years old, she said. Her mother took her to her first therapist that year and she participated in therapy sessions several times over the next 7 years. She states that she did not trust her therapists because they were always discussing her behaviour and her conversations with her mother and stepfather. She began acting out by saying she wanted to die and cutting herself. At age 13 she attempted suicide because she felt alienated at home. She describes her mother and step father as verbally abusive. She says that they were always yelling at her for things, but they were lax in providing discipline or guidance to help her improve her behaviour. After the suicide attempt Leanne was admitted to an in-patient hospital where she remained for six months. Here she was first prescribed anti-depressant medication.

During her teenage years, Leanne continued therapy and medications. She also experimented heavily with drugs and alcohol during this time. She describes her parents as continuing their verbal abuse until age 16 when they moved to another state and she stayed behind to live with friends and finish high school. Despite her behavioural issues and depression, Leanne always excelled at school. She credits this as part of the reason why her parents did not appropriately discipline her. She reports that she felt abandoned by her parents' move and that her behaviour did not improve and for that reason she bounced around between different friend's houses because she did not follow the rules set by their parents. After high school Leanne received a scholarship and attended the local university; graduating with a BA in Communications. Leanne got a job as an editor for a local newspaper after graduation and eventually took a better position at another newspaper in California. She describes her career as "very fulfilling and successful" up to the point that she was laid off and collecting unemployment while searching for a new job. Leanne describes the period of time before the layoff as a time where her depression was well managed with medication. She met her husband during this time and got married. She says that her depression was not part of why she got divorced. Her husband was transferred for his job and while they were living apart, being long distance spousal partners, they grew apart and amicably split.

Leanne cites the perceived failure of her marriage, her current position at work, the loss of her home and the unhappy living situation she is currently in for the escalation in her depression and new symptoms of anxiety. She mentioned that she has been having trouble concentrating at work and sleeping at night. She stated that she is also seeing a re-emergence of thoughts about death, like those she faced as a teenager before her suicide attempt. She stated that she does not wish to die, but the thoughts keep happening; especially after a confrontation. She has been referred for counselling by her psychiatrist. She has been taking Lexapro for the last eight years and she was prescribed Ativan just before her referral for counselling.

Q1. From the perspective of a social care worker, highlight the specific issues/concerns related to Leanne. (1000 words).

Q2. Develop an intervention strategy for Leanne based on her particular issues, situation, international best practice and the research evidence (2000 words).

OR

Option B -

Referring to the class textbooks choose a client of your choice that is experiencing a mental health issue (based on DSM 5 disorders) or exhibiting behaviours that challenge.

Q1. From the perspective of a social care worker, outline a case study and highlight the specific issues/concerns related to mental health/intellectual disability/behaviour that challenges the service user. (1000 words).

Q2. Develop an intervention strategy for your client based on their particular issues, situation, international best practice and the research evidence (2000 words).

Refer to current literature and evidence-based practice in your answers.

Attachment:- Assignment File.rar