Track: Psychological Case Studies in Mental Health

Psychology 2025

Managing Depression and Anxiety with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
    1. Overview: A 35-year-old female with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and moderate depression.
    2. Intervention: Implementation of CBT to identify negative thought patterns and reframe cognitive distortions.
    3. Outcome: Reduction in anxiety symptoms, improved coping strategies, and return to daily functioning.
    4. Lessons Learned: Importance of collaborative goal setting, addressing avoidance behaviors, and the role of homework assignments in reinforcing therapy progress.
Trauma-Informed Care for PTSD:
    1. Overview: A 45-year-old male war veteran with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following combat exposure.
    2. Intervention: Combination of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and somatic experiencing to process traumatic memories and reduce hyperarousal.
    3. Outcome: Significant reduction in flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional numbing, with improved emotional regulation.
    4. Lessons Learned: The need for gradual exposure, safety in the therapeutic relationship, and addressing both cognitive and physical aspects of trauma.
Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):
    1. Overview: A 7-year-old boy diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), displaying social communication difficulties and repetitive behaviors.
    2. Intervention: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy combined with family support to teach social skills, communication, and reduce maladaptive behaviors.
    3. Outcome: Improvement in social engagement, communication skills, and reduction in repetitive behaviors.
    4. Lessons Learned: The importance of early intervention, consistency in behavioral reinforcement, and involving the family in the therapeutic process.
Adolescent Depression and Family Therapy:
    1. Overview: A 16-year-old girl exhibiting symptoms of depression, including withdrawal, low self-esteem, and suicidal ideation.
    2. Intervention: Integrating individual psychotherapy with family therapy to address family dynamics, communication patterns, and emotional support.
    3. Outcome: Improved self-esteem, stronger family relationships, and reduction in depressive symptoms.
    4. Lessons Learned: The role of family dynamics in adolescent mental health, the value of a supportive home environment, and the importance of addressing both individual and familial factors.
Managing Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):
    1. Overview: A 28-year-old female diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), presenting with intense emotional instability, self-harm behaviors, and relational difficulties.
    2. Intervention: Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) focusing on emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
    3. Outcome: Decreased self-harm behaviors, enhanced emotional regulation, and improved interpersonal relationships.
    4. Lessons Learned: The importance of validation in treatment, the challenge of managing crises, and the effectiveness of DBT in improving interpersonal functioning.
Eating Disorder Recovery:
    1. Overview: A 22-year-old female with anorexia nervosa, struggling with body image issues and restrictive eating behaviors.
    2. Intervention: A multidisciplinary approach involving cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT-E) for eating disorders, nutritional counseling, and family therapy.
    3. Outcome: Restoration of healthy eating patterns, improved body image, and resolution of disordered thinking.
    4. Lessons Learned: The complexity of eating disorder treatment, the importance of family involvement, and the need for an integrated approach addressing psychological, nutritional, and medical factors.
Psychosis and Schizophrenia:
    1. Overview: A 30-year-old male with schizophrenia, presenting with delusions, hallucinations, and cognitive impairment.
    2. Intervention: Antipsychotic medication combined with cognitive remediation therapy and family psychoeducation.
    3. Outcome: Reduction in psychotic symptoms, improved cognitive function, and enhanced family support.
    4. Lessons Learned: The role of medication in managing psychotic symptoms, the challenges of cognitive deficits, and the importance of family education and support.
Learning Objectives:
  1. Gain practical insights into the application of psychological theories and interventions through case study analysis.
  2. Understand the complexities of diagnosing and treating various mental health conditions in real-world clinical settings.
  3. Learn about the challenges clinicians face in treating complex cases and how to adapt interventions to meet individual patient needs.
  4. Explore the benefits of multidisciplinary approaches in mental health care and the importance of collaboration in treatment planning.