Case Study B
Client Z is thirty-two years old and has a fifteen-year history of addiction, including a two-year history of crack addiction. Z has been in a variety of psychiatric and substance abuse treatment programs during the past ten years. Z’s longest clean time has been fourteen months. Z has been attending a dual-diagnosis outpatient clinic for the past nine months and going to Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings off and on for several years. Z has been clean from all substances for seven months. The following is a list of high-risk relapse factors and coping strategies identified by Z and Z’s counselor:
- Z is tired and bored with “just working, staying at home and watching television, or going to NA meetings.” Recently, Z has been thinking about how much Z “misses the action of the good old days” of hanging out with old friends and thinks has not enough things to do that are interesting. Z has been referred to you for a recent drug arrest and a violation of a restraining order. Z cries often and has a history of bulimia and some type of body dimorphic risks. Z appears fixated on body size and weight and avoids social activities as a result of body discomfort.
- Z is unemployed and is running out of unemployment compensation and has a sporadic employment history. Z describes current relationship as a safety net and is afraid of becoming more alone, lonely, and erratic if the partner leaves. On the basis of your inquiry, you discover that Z:
- Has a history of eating disorders.
- Has a long history of multiple partners and cheating on partners.
- Has a history of noncompliance with medications.
- Has had one prior treatment three years ago, which was initiated due to a suicide attempt; however, Z denies any current thoughts, plans, or dreams of harming self (suicidal ideation).
- Denies any homicidal ideation at this time (no attendance to any self-help programs, such as eating support groups, Alcoholics Anonymous [AA], or NA).
- Is at risk for homelessness.
- Has no current AA or NA sponsor.
- Has a limited support system.
On the basis of these two case studies, respond to the following:
- Analyze the case studies and try to identify the gender in each case and possible diagnoses. Support your position with detailed facts and references to the readings.
- Examine gender-related differences, gender biases, and gender inequity diagnosis concerns.
- Provide the stand of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Counseling Association (ACA) on this particular topic.
- Locate and evaluate the ethical suggestions of the ACA and the APA to assist your skills and ethical directions to help prevent gender bias and gender stereotyping when diagnosing clients. Describe how these ethical suggestions can be improved.
- Describe whether the individuals in these case studies are homosexuals and how clinicians should interact with them in an ethical and supportive way. Support your response with the APA guidelines on this subject.
Justify your answers with appropriate reasoning and research.
Reference:
Leedom, L. (2007, March 10). Ask Dr. Leedom: Is there a gender bias against menin the diagnosis of sociopathy? [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.lovefraud.com/blog/2007/06/08/ask-dr-leedom-is-there-a-gender-bias-against-men-in-the-diagnosis-of-sociopathy/
Cite all sources in APA format and include a Turnitin.com Report.