Psychology and counseling - 3

With reference to DSM-5 and classification issues, should Hassan’s behavior be classified as a mental disorder?

• Yes, it should be classified as Major Depressive Disorder due to his sadness and crying spells.

• No, he is likely experiencing an adjustment reaction as he maintains functioning and goal-directed behavior.

• Yes, his reduced appetite and low energy indicate a mental disorder.

• No, cultural norms suggest that temporary sadness after losing a job is normal.

Psychotherapy
Scenario:
Ahmed, a 28-year-old teacher, has been struggling with intense anxiety for the past year. He reports constant worry about work performance, difficulty sleeping, muscle tension, and frequent panic attacks before entering his classroom. These symptoms have started interfering with his ability to teach effectively, and he fears losing his job. Ahmed finally seeks professional help and is referred to a psychotherapist.
Drawing upon the understanding of psychotherapy as a treatment involving structured methods and the therapeutic relationship, explain:
a. How Ahmed’s symptoms and circumstances align with problems psychotherapy aims to help.
b. The possible goals of psychotherapy for Ahmed.
c. How the therapist–patient relationship contributes to his recovery.

• Psychotherapy aims to help individuals by addressing their symptoms and improving their mental health through structured methods and a supportive therapeutic relationship.

• Psychotherapy is primarily focused on diagnosing mental illnesses without considering the patient's cultural background.

• Psychotherapy is a method that solely relies on medication to treat anxiety disorders.

• Psychotherapy is only effective for individuals with severe mental health issues and not for those with mild symptoms.

Abnormal Psychology & Culture
Scenario:
A psychologist in Japan meets Kenji, a 19-year-old student who avoids eye contact with others and fears that his facial expressions may offend people. He avoids social gatherings and often isolates himself, worried that he might cause discomfort to others.
What disorder does this scenario represent?

• Taijin kyofusho - a culture-bound anxiety disorder in Japan, fear of offending others socially.

• Social Anxiety Disorder - a common anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear of social situations.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder - excessive worry about various aspects of life.

• Avoidant Personality Disorder - a pattern of social inhibition and feelings of inadequacy.

Abnormal Psychology (Culture & Diagnosis) - In the case of Maria, a 42-year-old woman from a rural community who experiences what her culture views as a spiritual connection with her late mother, what is a significant challenge in cross-cultural assessment as highlighted by her experience?

• Cultural beliefs can lead to misinterpretation of normal experiences as psychosis.

• All cultural practices are considered abnormal by Western psychiatry.

• Cultural connections are always respected in psychiatric evaluations.

• Western-trained psychiatrists are always correct in their diagnoses.

What does comorbidity mean in abnormal psychology?

• Presence of two or more disorders in the same individual (e.g., depression + anxiety).

• A single disorder that manifests in multiple ways.

• The treatment of one disorder without considering others.

• A temporary condition that resolves on its own.

Motivation & Emotion

Scenario:
Sara, a 20-year-old university student, once highly motivated to achieve top grades, has recently lost interest in studying. Despite having important exams approaching, she procrastinates, feels little drive to succeed, and spends more time on social media. However, when asked about her hobbies (painting, music), she lights up and engages with enthusiasm.

Task:
Using theories of motivation and emotion, discuss:

• How Sara’s change in motivation can be explained.

• The role of intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation in her behavior.

• How understanding her emotional state could help restore her academic motivation.

• Sara's motivation has decreased due to a lack of intrinsic motivation for academic tasks, as she shows high intrinsic motivation for her hobbies.

• Sara's motivation is solely influenced by external factors such as grades and social media distractions.

• Sara's emotional state has no impact on her academic motivation, as she is simply choosing to procrastinate.

• Sara's motivation has increased due to her engagement in hobbies, which has positively influenced her academic performance.

Motivation
Scenario:
Ali, a 17-year-old student, often eats large amounts of fast food late at night even when he is not hungry. His parents are concerned about his weight gain. Ali says he feels drawn to food advertisements on TV and feels comforted when eating, especially after stressful school days.
Task:
Using motivational theories and biological/environmental influences on hunger, explain:
Why Ali eats excessively despite not being physically hungry.
How biological and environmental factors interact in his case.
One psychological strategy to help regulate his eating.

• Ali eats excessively due to emotional regulation and external food cues that motivate eating beyond biological need.

• Ali's excessive eating is solely due to a lack of willpower and self-control.

• Ali's eating habits are influenced only by his biological needs and not by environmental factors.

• Ali's excessive eating is a result of peer pressure and social influences.

Psychotherapy & Social Skills Training

Scenario:
Mariam, a 22-year-old university student, struggles with making friends. She avoids eye contact, interrupts people when speaking, and feels anxious in group discussions. She seeks therapy because she believes her poor social skills are affecting her ability to build relationships and succeed in her career.

Task:
Discuss how social skills training could be applied to Mariam’s case by addressing:

• The main techniques used in social skills training.

• How these techniques would improve Mariam’s interpersonal functioning.

• Why this approach may be effective in her long-term adjustment.

• Modeling, behavioral rehearsal, and shaping to improve social skills.

• Ignoring social cues to reduce anxiety in social situations.

• Encouraging Mariam to avoid group discussions altogether.

• Focusing solely on academic skills to enhance self-esteem.

Psychotherapy & Behavior Therapy

Scenario:
Leena, a 24-year-old woman, developed a phobia of dogs after being bitten as a child. She avoids parks, friends’ houses with pets, and feels anxious when she hears barking. She seeks therapy because this fear restricts her social life.

Task:
Explain how systematic desensitization could be applied to Leena’s case by addressing:

• The principles behind the treatment.

• The steps her therapist would use.

• Why this method may be effective for her phobia.

• The treatment involves immediate exposure to dogs to eliminate fear.

• The treatment is based on operant conditioning to reward bravery.

• The treatment replaces fear with relaxation through gradual exposure.

• The treatment focuses solely on cognitive restructuring of thoughts.

Psychotherapy & Biomedical Approaches

Scenario:
Zain, a 40-year-old man, has been diagnosed with severe depression. He has tried psychotherapy and antidepressant medications but shows little improvement. His psychiatrist suggests electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a last resort.

Task:
Discuss ECT in the context of Zain’s treatment by addressing:

• How ECT works and when it is used.

• The potential benefits for Zain.

• Risks and ethical concerns associated with ECT.

• ECT induces controlled seizures to improve symptoms of severe depression and is used when other treatments fail.

• ECT is a form of psychotherapy that involves talking to a therapist about one's feelings.

• ECT is a medication that helps balance brain chemicals and is used as a first-line treatment.

• ECT is a surgical procedure that removes parts of the brain to alleviate depression.