Psychology

The patient is a male Caucasian aged 23 years, weighs 120 pounds and is 5 5 tall. He is of medium build, has blue eyes and dark brown hair. This is his fourth visit to our clinic for stress related illnesses. The patient is an undergraduate in his first year of study at the local university. He is the last born in a family of three children, two boys and one girl. His sister is married and lives with her spouse in the Caribbean while his brother, works part-time at a diner. His mother has divorced twice and is currently living in a rented apartment with her first-born son. She survives on welfare and monthly checks from her daughter.

Available medical records detail treatment for STDs and unexplained bruises on the back and forearms. Attempts to find out what caused the bruises were met with a studious silence and claims of ignorance. The patient denies claims of sexual promiscuity but fails to identify the person(s) responsible for his infections. Blood pressure readings indicate a normal rate while a chest examination discounted any respiratory problems. Blood tests were negative for traces of substance abuse and insulin levels were below average. The patient had sunken eyes and pale white skin. The urine sample was cloudy and dark yellow.

Investigations revealed the patient has a criminal record for six counts of assaulting different girlfriends. School records show that he has been suspended or expelled on a number of occasions for fighting. The patient complains of feeling worthless and admits to contemplating suicide on a number of occasions (Gunderson  Hoffman, 2005). Gaining his trust was very difficult owing to his general suspicion of people and the world. He exhibits anger management problems and claims he has very few friends. He suffers from intense bouts of anxiety and fear that grip him unexpectedly. These episodes usually last for a few hours at most.

The patient has low self-esteem and is unable to maintain eye contact with others. He speaks in a stammering voice but becomes coherent when expressing his anger. He blames his mother for his predicament, claiming she discriminated against him during his childhood by not loving him as much as she did the other children. He suffers from extreme mood swings from time to time. He is a reserved and thoughtful person.