Patient With Bipolar I With a Comorbidity of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

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The patient Thabo in the case study may be diagnosed with having bipolar I with a comorbidity of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The following essay aims to discuss how the patient was diagnosed and the reasons for this diagnosis. This will be done by discussing how Thabo’s behaviours may be classified as abnormal and by listing the symptoms of abnormality. This would then lead to the differential diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder and substance abuse disorder, which will then facilitate the discussion of why Thabo is diagnosed with bipolar I with comorbidity OCD.

A mental disorder and abnormal behaviour are defined as a psychological dysfunction of an individual that is associated with distress or impairment in functioning, along with a response that is not typical (Barlow & Durand, 2012). Thabo may be classified as having abnormal behaviour and mental illness due to the fact that personal distress is seen in his obsessive compulsive tendencies, suicidal thoughts, depression and psychosis. Due to these factors Thabo has impairment in his occupation and social life. These behaviours of Thabo are atypical and therefore Thabo meets the criteria for a psychological disorder as he shows signs of psychological dysfunction, distress or impairment, and atypical responses.

Mental disorders are described by not just one, but a set of syndromes as seen in the theory of multidimensional models (Barlow & Durand, 2012), and this is seen in Thabo as he suffers numerous abnormal symptoms. Initially he seeks help for his constant worrying and lack of concentration, which may potentially be a cause of his obsessions and compulsions, and this will be discussed further in the essay. He has episodes of depression, which at some point eve...

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