Discussion: Bereavement and Client Diagnosis

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DISC 2

Although grief may be painful, for many individuals, it is a temporary journey of sadness. Yet, for others, grief may be a painful, unending road into despair. With grief there is usually a period of bereavement, more commonly known as a mourning period or sadness experienced from death or separation. Bereavement may result in temporary psychological distress or despair, or it may manifest into severe and/or reoccurring psychological disorders, such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other anxiety disorders. Additionally, the effects of bereavement may complicate client diagnosis, especially for clients that you may already be treating for other disorders.
For this Discussion, review the week’s Learning Resources and current literature to examine how unremitting effects of bereavement may complicate client diagnosis. Select an example from the current literature and Learning Resources where bereavement might present an issue for an existing client. Consider if a psychologist might have to change the original client diagnosis.
With these thoughts in mind:
a brief description the example you selected. Then explain how bereavement might complicate a client’s diagnosis. Finally, post your position on whether a psychologist must change the client’s diagnosis in the example you selected and explain why or why not.

Read all the assignment directions carefully.
When you select your “example” disorder, you may make your selection from any psychological disorder we have studied. Discussion: Bereavement and Client Diagnosis
Describe the disorder you selected.
Assume that your client with the example disorder has just lost a loved one and is grieving the loss.
Consider the symptoms of bereavement over layed onto the symptoms of the example disorder.
Answer the question: How does bereavement complicate the diagnosis of the example disorder?
Will the therapist have to change the diagnosis?  Why or why not?
Be thorough.  Separate your discussion into sections.  Address all parts of the question.

Resources

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Conditions that May be a Focus of Clinical Attention
Sleep-Wake Disorders
Other Mental Disorders
Paris, J. (2015). The intelligent clinician’s guide to the DSM-5 (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Chapter 15, Other Diagnostic Groupings
Fox, J., & Jones, K. (2013). DSM-5 and bereavement: The loss of normal grief? Journal of Counseling & Development, 91(1), 113–119. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Larson, D. G., & Hoyt, W. T. (2007). What has become of grief counseling? An evaluation of the empirical foundations of the new pessimism. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 38(4), 347–355. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Lorber, W., & Garcia, H. A. (2010). Not supposed to feel this: Traditional masculinity in psychotherapy with male veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 47(3), 296–305. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Sayer, N. A., Noorbaloochi, S., Frazier, P., Carlson, K., Gravely, A., & Murdoch, M. (2010). Reintegration problems and treatment interests among Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans receiving VA medical care. Psychiatric Services, 61(6), 589–597. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Zisook, S., Corruble, E., Duan, N., Iglewicz, A., Karam, E., Lanuoette, N., & … Young, I. (2012). The bereavement exclusion and DSM-5. Depression & Anxiety (1091–4269), 29(5), 425-443. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Optional Resource
Britton, W. B., Bootzin, R. R., Cousins, J. C., Hasler, B. P., et al. (2010). The contribution of mindfulness practice to a multicomponent behavioral sleep intervention following substance abuse treatment in adolescents: A treatment-development study. Substance Abuse, 31(2), 86–97. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Bussolari, C. J., & Goodell, J. A. (2009). Chaos theory as a model for life transitions counseling: Nonlinear dynamics and life’s changes. Journal of Counseling & Development, 87(1), 98–107. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Sasaki, M., & Yamasaki, K. (2007). Stress coping and the adjustment process among university freshmen. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 20(1), 51–67. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Servaty-Seib, H. L., & Taub, D. J. (2010). Bereavement and college students: The role of counseling psychology. The Counseling Psychologist, 38(7), 947–975. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.