Name:______________________
Using DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria in a Case Study Project
You need to find the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for the following conditions. You can copy and paste them into a
word document. (Use a small font): Histrionic Personality Disorder, Delusional Disorder, Borderline Personality,
Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia, Antisocial Disorder, ADHD, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Opposition
Defiance Disorder.
Based on the characters listed below, or a different one, choose one that you are most familiar with and match
it to a disorder. You need to be able to go through each of the criteria and give evidence and examples showing
how that character fits into enough of the criteria to classify the character with the condition.
Examples of characters that you may use: The Wolverine from X-men, Clark Griswold from Vacation Movies,
Bart Simpson, Stewie Griffin from Family Guy, The Grinch, The Joker, Regina George from Mean Girls, the Mad
Hatter from Alice in Wonderland, Tony Soprano, Michael Scott from The Office. Each of these characters fit into
one of the above disorders, but others may come to mind.
You are not limited to the above characters or disorders. You can research the DSM-IV criteria for any disorder
you want and find a character that meets that DSM-IV criteria. (For example; Narcissistic, OCD, Schizophrenic,
Dissociative Identity, Eating Disorders, Autistic, Depression, Bipolar, Sleep Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Specific
Phobias, PTSD, etc.) Please do not use people you know as examples. Celebrities are fair game.
What you will turn in:
1- You can print or email your copy and pasted DSM-IV criteria for the eight disorders listed in the first
paragraph.
2- You will type and present your diagnoses to the class. (See the example on the back of this page) If you
have video clips demonstrating the disorder you can include a link. (Movieclips.com and youtube.com
are good resources.)
Example:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Name: Piglet
Source: The World of Pooh by A.A. Milne (books, 1954)
Background Information
Piglet is a young male pig and Winnie the Pooh’s friend. Since he is portrayed as a baby, he is probably in the age range of 0-3 years old. Piglet does not
have a job and his family history is unknown. He does not have any physical health problems but he displays characteristics of anxiety and nervousness. He
stutters quite a bit and he is fearful of wind and darkness. Piglet also does not like bees or woozles (which are creatures that Piglet has not yet seen). Piglet
lives in the Hundred Acre Wood with Pooh and all of the other Winnie The Pooh characters. He lives in a house in a large beech tree with a sign outside that
says “Tresspassers W” which to Piglet means his Grandfather lived there and his name was “Tresspassers William”. Piglet’s goals are to become brave, not
so timid, and to catch a heffalump (a creature that resembles an elephant).
Description of the Problem
Piglet is a very timid piglet. He shows characteristics of anxiety and he stutters. He thinks of how any situation can go wrong and he argues with himself
about what he should do if a situation does go wrong. For example, while trying to catch a heffalump, Piglet thinks to himself how he can fake a headache so
he will not have to face one of these creatures, in case it is fierce. Then he thinks to himself that if he fakes a headache he will be stuck in bed all morning, so
he does not know what to do. These are the types of scenarios that make him anxious. He has thoughts that he creates that jump from one bad scenario to
another. Piglet also shakes and blushes. His ears twitch when he is scared or nervous, which is often. He is usually very flustered.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis that would best fit Piglet is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (300.02).
A.
In children, to be diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, only one of these symptoms must be present:
(1)Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
(2) Being easily fatigued
(3) Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
(4) Irritability
(5) Muscle tension
(6) Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep)
Piglet definitely shows signs of restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge. He also has difficulty concentrating (his thoughts jump from one bad scenario to
another).
B.
Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days for at least six months about a number of events or
activities (such as work or school performance).
Piglet has had anxiety problems his whole life as far as we know from the books. He definitely has probably had anxiety problems for more than six months.
C.
The person finds it difficult to control their worry.
Piglet cannot control his worry which is why he struggles with trying to be brave. He manages to live with his worry and anxiety but the thoughts are still
there and he voices his worry to his friends.
D.
An unrealistic fear or worry, especially in new or unfamiliar situations.
Piglet is afraid of the dark and wind. He has an unrealistic fear of heffalumps and woozles.
E.
The focus of the anxiety and worry is not confined to features of an Axis I disorder, e.g., the anxiety or worry is not about having a
panic attack (as in panic disorder), being embarrassed in public (as in social phobia), being contaminated (as in obsessivecompulsive disorder), being away from home or close relatives (as in separation anxiety disorder), gaining weight (as in anorexia
nervosa), having multiple physical complaints (as in somatization disorder), or having a serious illness (as in hypochondriasis), and
the anxiety and worry do not occur exclusively during post-traumatic stress disorder.
Piglet anxiety and worry are not due to any of the above features.
F.
The anxiety, worry, and physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other
important areas of functioning.
Piglet’s anxiety and worry does cause him clinically significant distress because he is always worrying about or is afraid of something. He shows distress
from his anxiety.
G.
The disturbance is not due to the direct psychological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general
medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism) and does not occur exclusively during a mood disorder, a psychotic disorder, or a
pervasive developmental disorder.
Piglet does not use drugs, nor does he suffer from any physical medical conditions and he does not have any of the above disorders.