The Multiple Levels Of Strengths From The Case
From the case of Mark Johnson, there are several levels of strengths. First, Mr. Johnson has depression and social withdrawal. He likes sitting alone and often do not talk to his family members. Secondly, Mark shows an inability to express joy and seems engaged in inappropriate laughter. Whenever he is asked questions, he shows hostility and extreme reactions. According to American Psychiatric Association (2020), the most common early warning signs of Schizophrenia include depression and social withdrawal, inability to cry or express joy or inappropriate laughter, oversleeping, forgetfulness, and expressionless gaze. Mark shows all these signs in the study video provided. Thus, it can be argued that Mark has Schizophrenia. When asked what he would do when he finds Batman, he answers that "I don't want the food because the food is poisoned." Such a reaction shows that Mark is unable to concentrate, a sign that is associated with Schizophrenia. Furthermore, Mark shows delusions. He believes that Bat Man is somewhere in the classroom. He also believes that the food is poisoned. Mark firmly holds these ideas despite clear evidence that they are not true. Mark's delusions are delusions of persecution; he believes someone wants to poison him through his food.
Another strength shown in Marks's case is hallucination. He believes there is a lady named "Annie" whom he says he is in love with. Schizophrenia hallucinations are often meaningful to the person experiencing them (American Psychiatric Association, 2020). In the case of Mark, it is observed that he is acting differently from what is expected. Schizophrenia disorder affects thinking about others and oneself, controlling one's behavior, enhancing emotional responses, distorting relationships with other people. Mark also shows disorganized speech, disorganized behavior, and general negative symptoms, which are positively associated with Schizophrenia. The study video noted that Mark lacks emotional expression, shows unpredictable or inappropriate emotional responses, and lacks inhibition and impulse control. These are strong levels of schizophrenia disorder.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Intrapersonal, Micro And Mezzo-Level Risk Factors
Due to Mark's incidents and the noticed behaviors, it can be argued that therapy is essential in improving his coping and life skills. Besides, therapy can address relationship issues with his family, improve his communication skills, and manage his stress levels. First, it is vital to establish micro-level risk factors associated with his case. Under micro-level risks, people lack interacting skills and often exclude themselves from society (American Psychiatric Association, 2020) . From the case herein, Johnson prefers eliminating himself from the family members and stays alone in his room most of the time. Sometimes he stays on top of his roof, waving his arms. The therapeutic approach, which can be enhanced, involves social skills training, family education, and coordinated specialty care (CSC) ( Stępnicki et al., 2018) . Social skills will help improve social interactions and communication. Family education is vital in ensuring that the family understands psychosis and thus helps Mark. It is noted that people with Schizophrenia who receive the best support system do better than those who do not get any support from family and friends ( Stępnicki et al., 2018) . The CSC is essential in changing the prognosis direction in the early stages of Schizophrenia.
On the other hand, at the mezzo level, the risk factors present in low tolerance levels and high levels of suspicion of outsiders. The factors that mentally ill people deal with at this level include discrimination and prejudice. Besides, ill people show complications in finding jobs. Johnson worked at a grocery as a cashier but quitted saying he was overwhelmed. The therapeutic approach appropriate for Mark's case is social therapy recovery, which will help restore a sense of optimism and enhance positive beliefs about others and himself. Johnson's interpersonal risk factors indicate that his parents have never suffered mental illness. There is no direct family member with a mental illness history apart from his aunt, bipolar disorder. Mark shows no addiction to alcohol, and drug or substance abuse, thus have limited chances of acquiring mental illness from the abuse. However, he can be subjected to cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to change the potentially distractive or harmful beliefs that he shows.
Social Justice Issues
Regarding the macro-level risk factors, the most common social issue facing Mark is that he has been suspended from school because of his actions. The consequences of such a disciplinary measure may be adverse, and can lead to total drop-out from school. Mental health awareness is essential in school settings to limit the chances of suspending such students. Other social justice issues faced by people with mental disorder include discrimination, social isolation, poor housing, poverty and unemployment. Stigma associated with mental health conditions may trap people in a cycle of illness. In the current case, other social justice issues that may be affecting Mark include social isolation and poverty and unemployment. It is noted that he quitted his job saying “he was overwhelmed.” His family background indicates that Mark's father has a job as a chef, while his mother is local elementary school staff. Low-income family social backgrounds hinder access to social institutions such as social security systems, healthcare organizations, and labor markets.
Reflective Assessment
The thoughts that come into my mind in the assessment of this case are that altered perception of reality and hallucination are highly associated with schizophrenia. It is evident from the case that Mark is seeing and hearing things that does not exist. Besides, he speaks in a confusing way and believes that others are trying to harm him by poisoning his food. I would make assumptions about the primary symptoms experienced by the client, and establish the time frames within which the symptoms have existed. According to the DSM-5 standards, a person is only diagnosed for schizophrenia if he meets two or more primary symptoms. The first category of symptoms must be hallucination, delusions, or disorganized speech for a period of at least one month. Secondly, the person must show gross diminished or disorganized emotional expression.
As a clinician, based on the analysis of this case, I would provide psychotherapeutic and rehabilitation services for Mark. I would also manage Mark’s treatment and help him obtain stable physical health. Additionally, since Mark may subject to imprisonment, as a clinician I would integrate the interview data, psychological assessments and collateral records into comprehensive report for the courts, to ensure Mark is not wrongly convicted due to his condition.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2020, February 12). Get help with personality disorders . https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/personality-disorders
Fusar-Poli, P., De Micheli, A., Cappucciati, M., Rutigliano, G., Davies, C., Ramella-Cravaro, V., Oliver, D., Bonoldi, I., Rocchetti, M., Gavaghan, L., Patel, R., & McGuire, P. (2017). Diagnostic and prognostic significance of DSM-5 attenuated psychosis syndrome in services for individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis. Schizophrenia Bulletin , 44 (2), 264-275. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbx055
Stępnicki, P., Kondej, M., & Kaczor, A. A. (2018). Current concepts and treatments of schizophrenia. Molecules , 23 (8), 2087. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23082087
