Pierre is a successful corporate lawyer who is well respected by his peers. Alth
ID: 3503513 • Letter: P
Question
Pierre is a successful corporate lawyer who is well respected by his peers. Although he has always been thought of as gregarious, outgoing and fun-loving, for the past several months Pierre has not been feeling quite himself.
He no longer enjoys things the way he used to and he feels a profound sense of sadness just about every day; so much so that he feels utterly hopeless about his future. To make matters worse, Pierre’s previously healthy appetite has evaporated and he often finds himself waking up very early in the morning and unable to fall back asleep. Although Pierre has always enjoyed hockey and weight-training, lately he has found that he just doesn’t have the energy to do much of anything. At work, he has been scraping by and cannot seem to concentrate or make quick decisions, both of which have conspired to send his self-esteem and sense of worth into a tailspin.
His friends, co-workers and family are growing increasingly concerned as he is returning phonecalls and e-mails less frequently, and seems very withdrawn and despondent.
Using the DSM-V , what is your diagnosis/classification (based only on the information given above):
Explanation / Answer
Pierre seems to present the symptoms of mood disorder of the Major depressive type. His behaviour shows the following symptoms:
1. A general and overwhelming feeling of sadness for more than one day, almost everyday.
2. Inability to sleep, loss of appetite, anergia.
3. Difficulty in concentrating on work.
4. Constant feelings of worthlessness, negative self- evaluations, low self-esteem and worry about the future.
5. Diminishing social and interpersonal communication.