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RUNNING HEAD: Personality Disorders: Making a Diagnosis

Personality Disorders: Making a Diagnosis
Anya Dobbs
Walden University
September 27, 2015

Given the stigma and often-times lifelong courses of mental disorders, I would like to have more time and information from this patient in order to make a definitive diagnosis, but based on the information I have, I would likely diagnose him with Schizoid Personality Disorder, 302.01. “Schizoid personality disorder is a pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression” (APA, 2013, p. 645). The patient in question displays almost every symptom that is characteristic of the disorder, based on the information he has provided. Criterion A states the patient must display at least four of seven symptoms displaying “a pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotions in interpersonal settings, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of context” (APA, 2013, P. 652). Based on what the patient provided, his symptoms did begin by early adulthood as he mentioned his behaviors while in college and they are present in a variety of context- school, work, personal, and familial areas of his life. Five out of seven of the criterion symptoms apply to the patient: Criterion A1 states, “Neither desires nor enjoys close relationships, including being a part of the family” (APA, 2013, p. 653). The patient expressed how he came to see the therapist due to his mother’s concerns about him not having a girlfriend. The client expressed he has no desire for a girlfriend and never has. Criterion A2 states, “Almost always chooses solitary activities” (APA, 2013). The patient meets this criterion based on the fact that while in college, he never engaged in any type of social activities or made friends, stating he did not have use for

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