Case Study OF a patient with panic disorder
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My patient, Bill Aniswork, is being diagnosed with Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia. Bills essential feature of panic disorder is "the presence of recurrent, unexpected panic attacks followed by at least 1 month of persistent concern about having another attack" (APA, 2000, pg. 397). Before diagnosing Bill with Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia I had to rule out several disorders that could be causing his anxiety and panic attacks. The disorders that were ruled out are: Anxiety Disorder due to a General Medical Condition, Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobia, Psychotic Disorder, Social Phobia, Delusional Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Separation Anxiety Disorder.
Bill exhibits all the essential features of having Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia according to the DSM-IV. They are: A) Bill has had unexpected panic attacks, in fact when he came to my office he stated that "it was his third attack of the week, and at least his tenth that month." The patient also feels anxious in particular situations, fearing he would have a panic attack. Jim also described a fear of "falling apart," at times he even thinks that he "could be dying." Even though Bill discontinued drinking the 8 to 10 beers he had drank every weekend for much of his adult life, Bill continues to have panic attacks...