Whats the diagnosis on all five axes?

Question by Shelly D: Whats the diagnosis on all five axes?
Read the following vignette, then give the diagnoses on all five axes. (You do not need to provide an explanation for your diagnosis)

Samson is a 54 year old African American divorced male. He lives alone in a studio apartment since his separation from his third wife. His undergraduate degree is in business and accounting. He works as a bartender in a neighborhood bar two nights per week, and on the swing shift at a 24-hour call-in support service for a bank, earning a total of about $ 27,000 per year.

He began drinking when he was about 16 years old, and says that he and his friends would “party” Friday and Saturday nights, drinking about 6-12 beers each. He has smoked cigarettes since age 17. He also smoked marijuana in college, and tried “most drugs” (when asked to specify he listed cocaine, crack, meth, heroin, and ecstacy; he says there might have been others but he doesn’t remember). Despite his drug and alcohol use he was able to maintain a B average and graduate within five years.

At age 20 he met and married his first wife, who was Latina. “We were both so high we didn’t know what we were doing. When we came back to earth we realized it was a mistake, but we stuck it out for about six months, just to see. But we got divorced before our first anniversary.” He met his second wife, who was African American, when he was bartending, at age 26. By this time he was refraining from most drugs except crack, marijuana, and alcohol. His wife was a heroin addict who was undergoing methadone treatment. Once she got clean she left Samson. He was then single until age 38, when he married an African American woman who already had two children. They had another two children together. Samson continued his drinking, able to drink a full bottle of vodka and several beers in a 24 hour period. He had black outs about once or twice a month. He is very hazy about the demise of this marriage, but his wife gained full custody of the children. The separation occurred when he was age 48, and the divorce finalized within that year. Since then Samson has gotten sober for up to three months at a time, experiencing withdrawal symptoms each time.

Samson received his first DUI about six months ago. The court ordered him into treatment, which led him to a clinic that espouses abstinence. He receives individual and group therapy, as well as attending AA meetings at the clinic. Samson stopped drinking once he began therapy and AA, but got the shakes and hallucinations in the next few days, vomiting, not sleeping, unable to eat. A friend stayed with him through it and after about three-four days he was better. Since then he has continued to attend therapy and AA (“I did my 90 meetings in 90 days!”) and been sober for four months. Recently he called his kids but they have not wanted to be in touch with him. At the urging of his therapist and his sponsor in AA, he quit his job as a bartender, but this brought his income down to about $ 21,000 per year and he has a hard time making ends meet.

Samson’s medical history is notable for high blood pressure, emphysema, and Type 2 diabetes. Current urine analysis confirms his sobriety, and blood tests show him to be free from other drugs except marijuana. He does not believe he is depressed, and in fact feels quite confident that he has a chance to have a better life. His main concern is loss of his children, and wanting to move to an apartment in a better neighborhood, which he can’t afford.

Ten points!!!! And a 5 star rating!!!!!

Best answer:

Answer by Libraryanna
You really expect people to do your homework for you? Do you plan to come here when you are in the professional world and expect people to help you?

Take the time to figure out what the diagnosis is. You need to learn the stuff.

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