Diagnosing Mental Disorders: Schizoaffective Disorder Essay

Client Diagnosis

Major Psychiatric Disorder(s): F25.9 Schizoaffective Disorder, Unspecified

Rationale (what did you see that supports the diagnosis?)

The client meets Criterion A (the presence of the major manic episode that is related to Criterion A of schizophrenia) for the schizoaffective disorder because she reported being extremely excited or “genius” during a certain period. She was agitated by the necessity to resolve the puzzle that was associated with the received “secret message” about Edgar Allan Poe. In addition, the client did not need to sleep for several days. However, it is important to note that no depressive moods or suicidal ideations were reported. The client also meets Criterion B (delusions or hallucinations) because she reported receiving secret messages and having many brilliant ideas. The client also meets Criterion C (the duration of symptoms) as Susie reported being genius and active during a long period, and she called these periods “genius phases.” It is also possible to state that the client meets Criterion D (no medication abuse) as she did not report consuming any drugs, but she wanted to take some drugs to become even more genius.

Developmental Disorder(s): No diagnosis.

Rationale (what did you see that supports the diagnosis?)

The client did not report having any disorders diagnosed while being a child, including autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Therefore, it is impossible to claim that the client has some developmental disorder that affects her mental state and behavior.

Personality Disorder(s): F60.6 Avoidant Personality Disorder

Rationale (what did you see that supports the diagnosis?)

The client can meet Criterion A (avoiding interpersonal contacts) because she discussed interactions with other people and her thoughts regarding having a husband. The client’s ideas about her family and husband can be associated with Criterion B of this disorder because she seems to be unwilling to become involved in interactions with other people or strangers.

Medical Disorder(s): G47.00 Insomnia

Rationale (what did you see that supports the diagnosis?)

The client seems to meet the majority of criteria for insomnia, but an additional conversation is required to examine her sleep patterns in detail. The problem is that the client does not sleep for several days, and this aspect needs to be examined as her mental disorder can cause such problems. Furthermore, specific sleep patterns associated with the chronic type of insomnia can also provoke some of the symptoms reported by the client. As a result, the symptoms associated with the client’s mental disorder can worsen because of problems with her sleep patterns.

Client Strengths

1. The client has positive relationships with her daughter.
2. The client can be motivated to follow some treatment.
3. The client has no suicidal ideations.
4. The client denies the presence of any other mental disorders.
5. The client’s home environment is stable.
6. The client receives her daughter’s assistance and support.
7. The client can be described as clever and self-confident.
8. The client reads a lot and she can memorize some poems.

Comments/Differential Diagnosis. (Did you consider any other possible diagnoses? Identify them here, and discuss your rationale for not selecting them. You can also use this section to discuss additional observations that helped you with your diagnostic decision making

In addition to the schizoaffective disorder associated with the client’s state, it is possible to diagnose schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. However, not all criteria for schizophrenia are met, and to diagnose bipolar disorder, it is important to note that the client has an extremely accentuated manic phase without discussing significant symptoms for the depressive phase. Currently, it is impossible to specify the client’s disorder as of the bipolar type because of the lack of information regarding the client’s manic and depressive episodes, but the bipolar type is assumed (ICD 10, 2017). The client also has such symptoms of schizoaffective disorder as psychosis, mania, disorganized and rapid speech, and the impossibility to focus on one idea at a time.

Reference

ICD 10. (2017). 2017/18 ICD-10-CM diagnosis code F25.9. Web.