Substance Abuse Case Study: Multi-Axial Diagnosis
Substance Abuse
Substance Abuse Case Study: DSM-V-TR Multi-Axial System Diagnosis
Substance Abuse Case Study: DSM-V-TR Multi-Axial System Diagnosis
Al (A.L.) is obviously in enough distress that his family felt the need to drag him, kicking and screaming, to the emergency room. Despite having a normal appetite, concentration, energy levels, interest, and sleep patterns, the alcohol abuse, deep despondency, and acute family concern suggest that this behavior is abnormal for Al and the family as a whole. This type of behavior would also be abnormal for the general public, therefore a multi-axial system diagnosis is warranted.
Axis I: 305.00 alcohol abuse; 309.28 adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, acute; 309.21 separation anxiety disorder
Axis II: 317 mild mental retardation
Axis III: none
Axis IV: marital difficulties
Axis V: GAF = 55, current.
Axis I
When Al was brought to the emergency department (ED) for evaluation, he smelled of alcohol and appeared intoxicated. The wife's report that Al had been drinking more heavily since they began to have marriage problems, together with the DUI, was deemed sufficient to diagnose Al with alcohol abuse (305.00).
The Axis I adjustment disorder (309.28) diagnosis is based in part on the Axis II diagnosis of mild mental retardation. Although the DSM recommends that a diagnosis of adjustment disorder not be given when the criteria are met by an axis II diagnosis, the description of mild mental retardation is sufficiently vague to warrant further elaboration on the symptoms. Al's depressive and anxious symptoms developed within 3 months of the onset of marriage difficulties, the main stressor, which satisfies one of the diagnostic criteria. In addition, the stressor is being blamed as the cause for alcohol abuse and three consecutive days of tearful hopelessness. Based on these symptoms,...
There were also facilities that conducted both random tests and tests based on reasonable suspicion (Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Juvenile Correctional Facilities, 2002). In addition, of the facilities that responded to the survey 17% tested residents at the time that they were admitted to the facility, and 8% of the facilities tested the juveniles when they were released (Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Juvenile Correctional Facilities, 2002). The survey
Substance Abuse: Driving Under the Influence (DUI) According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 16,694 people died in 2004 in alcohol and drug related traffic collisions, representing 40% of all traffic related deaths in the United States. ("2004 Traffic Safety ... " 2005) In addition about half of the one million people injured in road accidents were also due to driving under the influence (DUI). These are startling statistics,
For some, there will be a denial and minimization of the substance habit as being inconsequential, purely recreational or extremely intermittent. This response is akin to the young adult asserting that there is no problem. For other homeless youths, their drug or alcohol habit maybe viewed as a form of survival: these drugs help these teenagers bear life on the street. In that sense the substance is attributed as
However, in understanding the factors that exist in most substance abuse cases, preemptive solutions to the problem such as education and awareness, as well as early interventions in recently-onset cases can help to curb the issue significantly. Proposed Solutions The key to preventing substance abuse, as proposed by researchers and laymen alike, is awareness and education regarding substance abuse. Beginning in schools, religious organizations, and at home, individuals are better adept
Research that the authors report in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy -- a peer-reviewed journal -- shows that adolescents abusing substances cause "stress-related symptoms" in parents (Yuen, et al., 2011, p. 250). The stress parents experience includes: depression, anxiety, fear of danger, guilt, anger, despair as well as grief associated with failure in the parental role" (Yuen, 250). And so prior to bringing parents into
Substance abuse can be defined simply as a maladaptive use of any harmful substance for the purposes of mood-altering and not limited to the use of prohibited drugs or the misuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs with an intention other than that for which it is recommended or in a way or in quantities other than instructed (Bennett & Holloway, 2005). Drug related crimes are brutal criminal acts that are committed
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