Type responses to questions in the response boxes
Ordinary People
Overview
Conrad Jarrett, from Ordinary People, is undergoing ongoing treatment following bouts with depression and a suicide attempt. He has been seeing a psychotherapist, Dr. Berger, for quite some time and has made great progress. Recently, however, his parents have separated (possibly for good). His mother, Beth, with whom Conrad has had a difficult relationship, has gone away. His father, Calvin, is not sure when (or if) she is coming back.
In addition to ongoing visits with Dr. Berger, both Conrad and Calvin are receiving community-based family education and therapy during this difficult time and to cope with residual grief over the death of Buck, Conrad’s older brother. You are a nurse working at the facility they visit.
Client name: Conrad Jarrett
Psychiatric diagnosis: Major depressive disorder
DSM-IV-TR criteria:
1. Five or more of the following symptoms have been present for at least 2 weeks, and are a change from previous functioning. At least one of the symptoms is either depressed mood or loss of interest/pleasure:
§ Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day—reported by client as feeling sad or empty, observed by others such as tearful, crying
§ Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities
§ Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain or changes in appetite
§ Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
§ Psychomotor agitation or retardation
§ Fatigue or loss of energy
§ Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (may be delusional)
§ Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness
§ Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a plan, or suicide attempt or specific plan for committing suicide
2. Symptoms are not due to a substance or medical condition or bereavement.
3. Symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Date:
Your name:
Name of the client you are assessing: Conrad Jarrett
Name of the movie: Ordinary People
What is the chief complaint? (In the client’s own words and report of others)
Response:
Based on the above information and a close viewing of the movie, what questions would you raise during history taking? What are some possible answers? You might base your questions on the:
Past psychiatric history, treatment, and treatment outcomes
Family dynamics and history
Psychosocial history
Response:
What other observations do you have about the client’s behavior?
Response:
In your opinion, is the diagnosis above accurate?
Response:
What treatment plan would you outline?
Response:
Copyright 2008, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ordinary People - 1