Question

The Patient Mrs. E. L had intense fear of falling and dying, along with fears of losing

consciousness; not to be found in time; and might be buried alive. She had been home bound

for the last 17 years. She had a fear that something bad would happen if she left her apartment.

She stayed mostly in her bed, and did not even allow her husband to leave the apartment. She

believed that she might get hurt or buried alive if she left the safety of her bed. She also

believed that she might not be found in time, should something bad happen to her. The patient

was quite fearful of dying, thinking she may go to hell, although she could not describe anything

that would make her deserve that fate. When her brother died in 1971, she managed to go to

the hospital but did not want to go to his room to see him. Her niece reported that in the 1950s,

when the patient’s husband was working, she couldn’t tolerate being home alone. It was unclear

if the patient met the criteria for Panic disorder; however, her niece also reported she may

sometimes have panic-like symptoms. These include shortness of breath; tightness in her chest;

palpitation; sweaty hands; tremors and sudden jolts of fear of dying. Her brother would pick her

up and she would stay all day with his family until her husband returned from work to pick her up

at the same time every day. Over the years, her condition worsened to a point where she even

refused to step out of her apartment. As the time progressed, so did her agoraphobia,

eventually forcing her to be confined to the corners of her bed. She was then provided with

services such as a bedpan and sponge baths.

In 2008, during the month of July, Mrs. E. L called her husband, who was in the next room, like

any other day. But this time she did not get a response from him. She immediately started

having bad thoughts and ideas of what could have happened to him; so she called 911. This alltook place from her bed. The safety of her husband was jeopardized, yet she still could not

leave her cloister of safety and comfort. Mrs. E. L denied feelings of depression, hopelessness

and worthlessness. She also denied loss of concentration. She had no leisure activities and

simply lied in bed. She did not listen to the radio or watch TV. She denied symptoms of mania or

psychosis and also denied suicidal or homicidal ideation.

1. Identify the psychological disorder Mrs E.L. is suffering from.

2. Describe the symptoms of this disorder

3. Under what category of disorders will this specific disorder come in?​

Answer 1

Answer:

Answer 1:- mental illness

Answer 2:- * excessive paronia, worry and anxiety

* long lasting sadness or irritability

* extreme changes in mood

* social withdrawal

* dramatic changes in eating or sleeping

* dipression

* fear of losing something

these are symptoms of losing something

Answer3:- obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)