Bipolar/Depressive Disorders
Emma, 34, presents with recurrent mood disturbances, including manic episodes lasting at least one week characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, impulsivity, decreased sleep, and reckless behaviors such as excessive spending and risky sexual encounters, followed by depressive episodes marked by low mood, loss of interest, hopelessness, and suicidality. Emma has been hospitalized on several occasions, significantly impairing her personal and professional life.
Bipolar I
Sarah, 28, experiences recurrent, unexpected panic attacks characterized by sudden fear or discomfort, palpitations, sweating, trembling, and shortness of breath, leading to a fear of further attacks and avoidance of triggering situations. Over the past six months, these attacks have intensified, significantly interfering with her work and social life.
Panic Disorder
John, 42, presents with a three-month history of increasingly exaggerated beliefs about his abilities and revolutionary inventions, despite lacking any formal training. He claims to possess powers beyond ordinary humans and is convinced he is destined to lead humanity into a new era of technological advancement. John's symptoms have led to social isolation, unemployment, and neglect of personal hygiene. He lacks insight into the irrationality of his beliefs and refuses to consider the possibility of mental illness.
Delusional Disorder (grandiose type)
Amarie, 23, experiences intrusive memories, nightmares, and flashbacks related to a car accident six months ago, leading to emotional numbness, avoidance of driving or getting into a car, sleep disturbances, and irritability. These symptoms have significantly impaired her ability to function at work and in her personal relationships, causing distress and disruption in her life.
PTSD
Alex, 27, exhibits tumultuous relationships marked by idealization and devaluation, intense mood swings ranging from euphoria to despair, impulsivity leading to substance abuse and reckless behaviors, chronic feelings of emptiness, unstable self-image, and recurrent suicidal behavior, including gestures and attempts, contributing to frequent job changes, social isolation, and strained relationships with family and friends.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Alex, 40, presents with a six-month history of pervasive low mood, loss of interest, and feelings of worthlessness, accompanied by changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. These symptoms significantly impair his ability to function at work and in his relationships, causing strain with family and colleagues.
Major Depressive Disorder
Michael, 35, experiences persistent and excessive worry and anxiety about various aspects of his life, including work, health, and relationships, for the past two years. He feels restless, fatigued, and has difficulty concentrating, along with muscle tension, irritability, and difficulty controlling his worry. These symptoms impair his performance at work and strain his relationships.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Sarah, 25 years old, presents with a three-year history of auditory hallucinations, including voices commenting on her actions and conspiring against her, alongside disorganized thinking, erratic speech patterns, and tangential thought associations. She exhibits social withdrawal, isolating herself from friends and family, and displays flattened affect and impaired grooming. These symptoms have led to her dropping out of college and significant difficulty in maintaining relationships.
Schizophrenia Disorder (multiple episodes, currently in acute episode)
Matteo, 29, experiences distressing obsessions related to moral scrupulosity, constantly worrying about making mistakes or committing moral transgressions, such as lying or harming others unintentionally. To alleviate his anxiety, he engages in compulsive behaviors such as seeking reassurance from others, confessing perceived wrongdoings excessively, or mentally reviewing past actions to ensure they align with his moral standards. These compulsions consume significant time and mental energy, causing impairment in daily functioning, including work and social activities.
OCD
Lisa, 35, exhibits a lifelong pattern of difficulty making decisions and excessive reliance on others for reassurance and advice, fearing abandonment if she expresses disagreement. Her submissive and clingy behavior in relationships leads to significant distress and impairment in personal and professional life. Lisa tends to enter romantic relationships quickly due to her persistent need to rely on someone else, further exacerbating her dependency issues.
Dependent Personality Disorder
Sophia, 28, presents with a two-year history of recurrent mood disturbances, including hypomanic episodes lasting for several days, characterized by elevated mood, impulsivity, and excessive spending, alternating with depressive episodes marked by low mood, loss of interest, and feelings of worthlessness. While these mood swings cause some strain in relationships and difficulties in meeting work deadlines, her hypomanic episodes are not severe enough to necessitate hospitalization or cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning.
Bipolar II
Lily, 27, experiences persistent and excessive fear of social situations, including interacting with unfamiliar people or being scrutinized by others, for longer than six years. She exhibits physical symptoms such as trembling, sweating, and a rapid heartbeat when faced with social interactions, leading her to avoid social gatherings and job interviews. Lily fears that she will act in a way or show symptoms that will be negatively evaluated, leading to rejection or humiliation.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Emily, 28, presents with sudden onset of paranoid delusions and auditory hallucinations over the past two weeks, believing she is being followed and hearing derogatory voices. These symptoms have led to disorganized speech and odd behaviors, significant distress and impairment in her ability to function at work and in her personal life, resulting in avoidance behaviors.
Brief Psychotic Disorder
Darren, 38, experiences significant distress following the unexpected loss of his job three months ago, exhibiting symptoms of sadness, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and social withdrawal, leading to impairment in her ability to function at work and in personal relationships.
Adjustment Disorder
Michael, 42, battles pervasive feelings of inadequacy and social inhibition, craving connection while fearing rejection and criticism, which profoundly impacts his ability to form and maintain relationships. He navigates life with a persistent dread of social interaction, avoiding opportunities for personal and professional advancement due to the paralyzing fear of failure or humiliation. Michael's avoidance of social situations and reluctance to initiate relationships leave him trapped in a cycle of isolation and loneliness, perpetuating his low self-esteem and reinforcing his belief in his own inadequacy. This debilitating pattern significantly impairs his personal and professional life, hindering his potential for growth and fulfillment.
Avoidant Personality Disorder
David, 45, presents with a five-year history of chronic low mood, feelings of hopelessness, and pervasive low self-esteem. Despite maintaining his job as a teacher, David experiences a lack of interest in most activities, strained relationships with family and friends, and increased social isolation.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
Mark, 42, experiences intense fear and anxiety in situations where escape might be difficult or help may not be available, leading to avoidance of crowded places and public transportation for the past two years. His fear of experiencing panic-like symptoms in public has severely restricted his ability to engage in normal activities, causing significant impairment in his personal and professional life.
Agoraphobia
James, 30, arrives in the ER with complaints of auditory hallucinations and dissociative symptoms, precipitated by heavy cannabis use. James describes hearing commanding voices and experiencing episodes of feeling detached from reality, particularly following a night of prolonged cannabis use. Lacking a psychiatric history, he struggles to comprehend the origin of his symptoms.
Substance/Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder (with onset during intoxication)
Rachel, 25, experiences intense distress and preoccupation with perceived flaws in her appearance, particularly focusing on her nose and skin, for the past five years, leading to avoidance of social situations and impaired functioning at work and in personal relationships. Despite others' reassurances, Rachel remains convinced of her flaws, causing significant distress and social withdrawal.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Jessica, 29, displays attention-seeking behavior, exaggerated emotions, and rapid mood swings, leading to difficulties in maintaining stable relationships and causing strain in her personal and professional life. She constantly seeks validation and approval from others, engaging in provocative behavior to draw attention to herself. Despite her outgoing demeanor, Jessica experiences feelings of emptiness when not the center of attention, fueling her need for constant stimulation and excitement.
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Antonia, 10, exhibits severe temper outbursts, including screaming, yelling, and physical aggression, at least three times a week for the past year, alongside a persistently irritable or angry mood most days. These symptoms, disproportionate to situations, result in physical harm or property destruction and impair her functioning and relationships at home and school.
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
Mikhaela, 9, experiences severe panic when her parents leave the house, fearing that they will never return, leading to social withdrawal. She avoids sleepovers and other social activities due to excessive worry about separation from her parents and potential harm to them or herself.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Michael presents with long-standing mood instability characterized by depressive and manic episodes accompanied by periods of two or more weeks of auditory hallucinations and paranoid delusions. These symptoms have led to recurrent psychiatric hospitalizations and significant impairment in his ability to maintain employment and relationships.
Schizoaffective Disorder (bipolar type)
Ruby, 12, experiences recurrent urges to pull out her hair, particularly from her scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes, for the past eight years, leading to noticeable bald patches and significant distress. Despite her efforts to stop, Ruby feels unable to control her urges, causing distress and embarrassment, and impairing her social and occupational functioning.
Trichotillomania
Daniel, 36, exhibits eccentric behavior, peculiar beliefs such as telepathic communication, and social isolation. He experiences perceptual distortions, such as visual and auditory hallucinations, and struggles to form close relationships, preferring solitude and feeling uncomfortable in social situations. Despite his desire for connection, Daniel's eccentricities and social anxiety contribute to his profound sense of isolation and difficulty in understanding social cues, leading to impaired social and occupational functioning.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder