What’s Wrong with a Short Assessment
Assessment Case Studies
Directions:
PSYC FPX 2300 Assessment 2: What’s Wrong with a Short Assessment Choose one of the individuals described in the case studies in Chapter 6 of your textbook: Ann (page 61), Daniel (page 65), Sam (page 67), or Dean (page 72). Based on the information in the textbook, complete the following form.
Client Name: Ann
Substance Use History
| Category | Details |
| Drug | Alcohol |
| Pattern of Use Over Time | Began using alcohol socially in her early 20s but increased usage during stressful work periods. |
| Frequency of Use in Past Month | Consumed alcohol 3-4 times per week, typically in the evenings to “unwind.” |
| Date/Amount of Most Recent Use | Two glasses of wine on January 18th, 2025. |
Sociocultural Factors
Here are individual sentences for each sociocultural factor:
- Workplace stress has been a major contributor to Ann’s increased alcohol use.
- Perfectionism fuels Ann’s anxiety and compels her to self-medicate.
- Social isolation prevents Ann from being able to seek help from others.
- Cultural expectations about success pressure Ann to keep coping silent.
- There is limited support from family or friends, leaving Ann overwhelmed.
Diagnostic Criteria Checklist
| Criteria | Yes | No |
| Persistent worry or anxiety | ✔ | |
| Difficulty controlling worry | ✔ | |
| Physical symptoms (e.g., fatigue, restlessness) | ✔ | |
| Interference with daily activities | ✔ | |
| Substance use to cope | ✔ | |
| Significant distress or impairment | ✔ |
Basis of Diagnosis:
The basis of Ann’s diagnosis lies in her persistent and excessive worry, which she finds difficult to control, along with her reliance on alcohol to cope with stress (MacKillop et al., 2022). Her anxiety significantly interferes with her daily functioning, particularly in her work performance and social interactions. She does not show any visible signs of being anxious, such as tiredness or restlessness; her behaviors fit more into a generalized anxiety disorder, which she suffers more severely because of her workplace pressure and an overachieving tendency. Besides that, her reliance on alcohol to alleviate these states is a pathological approach to dealing with such states.
Applicable Addictions Perspective:
From an addiction perspective, Ann’s alcohol use can be understood in the context of self-medication, where she uses alcohol to cope with the anxiety and stress associated with her work environment and perfectionistic tendencies. This behavior suggests that her substance use may function as a temporary relief from the overwhelming emotions she experiences, though it ultimately exacerbates her anxiety and impairs her ability to manage stress effectively (Ricci et al., 2023). Her use pattern, involving drinking mainly as a way of relaxing, especially in terms of emotional distress, may have implications for developing a maladaptive coping mechanism that, unless intervened upon and changed through healthier styles of coping, may continue to develop into further psychological and then physical dependence.
Ethical Considerations:
Some of the ethical considerations in Ann’s case are confidentiality and informed consent while discussing her substance use and anxiety issues during assessment and treatment (Kilkku & Halkoaho, 2022). Her autonomy has to be respected, yet any risks linked with her alcohol use, such as dependency, should be addressed. It is also important to take into account all cultural factors that may affect how much she wants to open up and come for help. Communicate with Ann without judgment and be able to show empathy toward her. Provide access to therapy or support groups so that she is well taken care of and encouraged to participate in treatment.
References
Kilkku, N., & Halkoaho, A. (2022). Informed consent, genomic research, and mental health: A integrative review. Nursing Ethics, 29(4), 096973302110665. https://doi.org/10.1177/09697330211066573
MacKillop, J., Agabio, R., Feldstein Ewing, S. W., Heilig, M., Kelly, J. F., Leggio, L., Lingford, A., Palmer, A. A., Parry, C. D., Ray, L., & Rehm, J. (2022). Hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorders. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-022-00406-1
Ricci, V., Maina, G., & Martinotti, G. (2023). Dissociation and temporality in substance abuse: A clinical phenomenological overview. Psychopathology, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1159/000533862
