Assignment Psychopathology
Marks 10
Read the following case scenarios. Identify the symptoms, relate with Diagnostic Criteria of
DSM-5-TR and Provide the Tentative Diagnosis
Also you need to provide the differential diagnosis closely related to your tentative
diagnosis.
A- Latrell Robinson, a 25-year-old college student and athlete, was raised by a single mother. He
was called to active duty with the National Guard during the Iraq war, retrained as a military
policeman, and became known for his leadership and confidence.
During his deployment in Baghdad, he faced multiple combat situations, including small arms
fire and witnessing injuries and deaths. On one mission, his vehicle was hit by a missile, leaving
him with injuries and chronic pain. Despite this, he was quickly sent back to duty, which led to
frustration and mistrust toward his command. He started experiencing insomnia, hypervigilance,
and detachment from others, and dissociative symptoms.
After two months of unsuccessful recovery and worsening symptoms, he was evacuated to a U.S.
military medical centre. Although hesitant about returning home due to fears of being different or
aggressive, he eventually left the military and was referred to the Psychotherapist for ongoing
care.
B- At 22, while living in Los Angeles and trying to build a career as a writer and performance
artist, I suddenly started feeling overwhelming grief without any clear reason. My life fell apart
as I became consumed by sadness and extreme fatigue. Simple tasks like getting out of bed or
getting dressed became almost impossible, and I eventually stopped going to work and cut
myself off from everyone. My apartment became a mess, and I spent days lying on a pile of
blankets, waiting for the feelings to pass.
knew something was wrong. I told myself I could control it, but the episodes kept coming back,
no matter how hard I tried to stay aware and responsible. Each time, I lost more—my job, my
apartment, and even my friends, who grew tired of dealing with my unpredictable moods and
withdrawal.
C- Brian and his wife Helen went sailing on a Saturday, enjoying the rough waters they believed
were safe. They didn’t notice the worsening weather until they were caught in a sudden,
powerful storm far from shore. Struggling to control the boat, they tried to put on safety jackets,
but the boat capsized before they could. Brian managed to cling to the overturned boat, but Helen
couldn’t fight the rough waves and disappeared from view.
After the storm calmed, Brian righted the boat and returned to shore, devastated. The Coast
Guard later recovered Helen’s body, and Brian faced overwhelming grief, guilt, and a new
challenge—he couldn’t walk properly. Initially thought to be an injury, tests revealed no physical
cause for his near paralysis. His condition worsened, leaving him unable to attend Helen’s
funeral or resume daily life. Withdrawn and emotionally numb, Brian stopped communicating
with others and became trapped in his grief, unable to move forward.
D- Laura, a 40-year-old former professional dancer, pursued independence early, touring Europe
and meeting her husband in Germany. After moving to a small town in France with him, she felt
unhappy and restless. They eventually emigrated to the U.S., where Laura found solace in caring
for her dog. When the dog became paralyzed and had to be euthanized, Laura became agitated
and depressed.
Her mental state worsened as she became preoccupied with noises from her neighbours,
believing they were deliberately irritating her. Over time, her paranoia grew—she thought the
neighbours were spying on her, recording her conversations, and planning harm. She started
noticing "funny" sensations and felt strangers on the street were watching her. Television
programs seemed to reference her thoughts, and she became convinced people were stealing her
ideas. Laura's paranoia led her to want to involve the police, feeling increasingly unsafe and
detached from reality.
Good Luck 😊
