Abnormal Psychology - Diagnosis and treatment Question: interest have narrowed.

Question

Abnormal Psychology - Diagnosis and treatment

Question: interest have narrowed. On one occasion, he tried cocaine and, on another, LSD, but found both experiences unpleasant. It was not until his arrest for possession that he decided that drug use was ruining his relationship with his parents and could interfere with his desire to become a:n attorney. He hus also become grudually aware that marijuana may be affecting his motivation and schoolwork. 1. Do you think that Jordan has a clinically significant problem with marijuana/cannabis? In other words, does he have a psychological disorder? Describe why or why not? Is his drug use "abnormal"? Is it worthy of a psychological diagnosis? According to what criteria? 2. If you were Jordan's therapist, what would be your goals for his therapy? Case of Jordan Jordan was first introduced to marijuana by his girlfriend, who uses it every day and whose mother also uses marijuana Jordan smokes both alone and with friends; however, he would sometimes not use marijuana for weeks at a time during summer holidays and when pressed by his parents. He introduced his 17-year-old brother to marijuana, but his brother felt paranoid on that occusion and has not tried it since Jordan is a 20-yr-old male colege student who was recently arrested for possession of marijuana, which was detected when he was stopped for unsafe driving. He was charged with driving while intoxicated with cannabis, and his license was suspended. Jordan is the oldest otf three children and continues to live at home while attending college. His mother is a successful attorney and his father is a school administrator. He has smoked cigarettes since age 16 and currently snokes one pack a day. He drinks five drinks on occasion and has been smoking marijuana several times a week for 1 year. His usual pattern of use is to go on weekend bingcs, starting to smoke on Friday cvenings and then again carly in the day on Saturday continuing into thc Jordan achieved normal milestones and performed well in high school. He wanted to live away from home during college, but his parents resisted the idea because of financial pressures and a tendency to be overprotective. Upon examination, Jordan is a neatly dressed young man witha sarcastic manner. He appears tom between embarrassment and anger at being forced to seelk belp. He states that, although he has not used marijuana since he was caught, he still has doubts ubout its harnfulness. He says that he finds murijuana pleasurable and relaxing and that, if he could find a way not to get caught, he would like to continue using it. He believes that marijuan:a has helped him feel better about not achieving the high goals he had set for himself and not fulfilling the expectations his parents have for him. Jordan shows no evidence of thought disorder. He reports that he has been unhappy at times but that this feeling has never been lasting. He has no sleeping or eating problems, suicidal ideation, history of panic attacks or agoraphobia, cognitive deficits or leaming disahility cvening. Hc has had two car accidents that occurred whilc hc was intoxicated with marijuana. During recent months, he has sometimes smoked marijuana on school nights. On the momings after he uses marijuana, Jordan tends to sleep in and cut class. Although he has always been a good student, his grades have begun to go down and he is not meeting his academic potential; his recreational and social interests are also limited. Jordan's parets detected his use of marjuana 6 months earlier, and since that tie Jordan has been in a constant struggle with his purents about his perceived "right" to snoke marijuana. When his parents first discovered his marijuana usc, they insisted that he seek professional help for what they perceived to be a drug problem. Although they even threatened to call his college Dean, Jordan refused help and began to discuss quitting school. He did cut down on his use somewhat, however, and when pressed by his parents, would abstain for several weeks at a time. His parents also stopped giving him permission to drive a family car and were concemed about his influence on his younger siblings. Neither parent has any history of substance-related problems, with the exception of his mother's recovery from tobacco addiction, which began 3 years carlier. A matermal uncle was an alcoholic. Jordan admits that since he began smoking marijuana, his previously good and trusting relationship with his parents has soured. He has taken to hiding his use, has lied to them, and has felt increasingly negative about himself, especially as his grades have suffered and his general

Explanation / Answer

Jordan is not having any psychological disorder at this stage. Jordan is not into addition stage but he has passed the stage of introduction and is into second stage of regular use. This may lead to addition if not broken.Due to Marijuana he reports that he gets happy, this may lead to more frequent use. Though psychological diagnosis is not required but counselling is required.

If I were his therapist, the goal would have been definitely to stop substance abuse and to maintain good friend circle, eg cutting down his current girlfriend. Making him aware of other potential hazards of marijuana esp. of substance abuse. Tracking his daily routine, and keeping it more busy by involving his parents into it. Talking with his parents and ask to be more of friends with him and understand his problems.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.