Case+Study

In class we saw the first two+ sections of Frontline's report on mental health in prisons. The rest of the video can be viewed here. Your assignment is to create a case study of a person who is in prison and suffering from a condition we have studied in our exploration of mental health this term. They are coming up for release and need a plan for the future, your job as their therapist is to come up with some options. Please complete your assignment in standard case study format as presented below.

Case studies are pretty standard assignments in a psychology class in college, creating a case study involves multiple in-depth interviews and deep reflection on the part of the researcher. In this situation you are assigned a brief outline of a person with a condition, and a state; with that information you will create a well reasoned and respectful case history and treatment plan. Typically you would actually be conducting these interviews, in this assignment, you are watching video, doing research, and "fleshing out" the individual based upon a few details that have been assigned to you individually. Your imagination is crucial to this project. Be creative, but stay respectful.

Your grade will be determined by the research you put into the project, the sensitivity with which you create their situation, the appropriateness of your plan for your client, and the degree of detail you use in both creating your case study and formulating their care plan- 20pts each for a 100pt project.

This is the typical format for case studies:

I. Case History
The first section presents your client's background. Include factors such as age, gender, work, health status, family mental health history, family and social relationships, drug and alcohol history, life difficulties, goals and coping skills and weaknesses. (Note: Several, but not all of these details have been provided to you, your job is to fully develop this client and then tackle their needs. The more details you give them here and in 2, the better you can address these issues later.)
 * 1. Background Information**

In the next section of your case study, you will describe the problem or symptoms that the client presented with. Describe any physical, emotional or sensory symptoms reported by the client. Thoughts, feelings, and perceptions related to the symptoms should also be noted.
 * 2. Description of the Presenting Problem**

Provide your diagnosis and give the appropriate [|DSM-IV] code. Explain how you reached your diagnosis, how the clients symptoms fit the diagnostic criteria for the disorder(s) or any possible difficulties in reaching a diagnosis.
 * 3. Your Diagnosis**

II. Intervention
The second section focuses on the intervention used to help the client.

Describe how a psychoanalytic therapist would view the client's problem. Provide some background on the [|psychoanalytic approach] and cite relevant references. Explain how [|psychoanalytic therapy] would be used to treat the client, how the client would respond to therapy and the effectiveness of this treatment approach.
 * 1. Psychoanalytic Approach**

Explain how a cognitive-behavioral therapist would approach treatment. Offer background information on [|cognitive-behavioral therapy] and describe the treatment sessions, client response and outcome of this type of treatment. Make note of any difficulties or successes encountered by your client during treatment.
 * 2. Cognitive-Behavioral Approach**

Describe a [|humanistic] approach that could be used to treat your client. Provide information on the type of treatment you chose, the client's reaction to the treatment and the end result of this approach. Explain why the treatment was successful or unsuccessful.
 * 3. Humanistic Approach**

You picked a state in the US, based upon this map, please determine what resources are available to your client in their home state. Where will they live, how will they support themselves, (other than depending on wealthy parents), what skills set could your client develop, job training, etc. What do you suggest for their future as their therapist.
 * 4. Resources Available**


 * Tips:**
 * Do not refer to the subject of your case study as "the client." Instead, use his or her name.
 * More resources on mental health in prisons here.
 * Read examples of case studies to gain and idea about the style and format. The following case studies can provide insight on how to write up a case history: Case Studies
 * PS: keep your bibliography to turn in with your case study.