Assessment Paper The movie I have chosen for this assignment is When a Man Loves a Woman (Mandoki, 1994). In this paper, I will describe the client, diagnose her and provide justification for my diagnosis, recommend next steps, and provide a reactive reflection. Describe the Client The client this assessment is focusing on is Alice Green, a wife and mother of two. Alice has a clear drinking problem, as the full focus of the movie is on Alice and her drinking habits beginning in the opening scene and continuing throughout the early portion of the movie. Whether with Michael or with friends from work, it becomes apparent that Alice drinks heavily and likely daily. These habits cause her to act out in different ways, including egging a Porsche, …show more content…
However, this paper will focus on pre-rehab issues. Comprehensive Diagnosis After watching the movie, it is clear to me that Alice is struggling with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) according to the standards listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-V). Based upon only the visible criteria displayed in the movie, Alice’s AUD reaches the severe level on the severity scale, as the presence of seven of the DSM-V criteria is evident. Outside of her AUD, I do not believe she suffers from any mental disorders, as any visible symptoms of anxiety or depression link directly to alcohol consumption. Justification The first listed DSM-V criteria (NIAAA, 2021) Alice meets is that she drinks longer than she intends at times. Early in the movie, Michael misses a work trip because Alice stays out drinking much longer than she agreed to with her work friend. When discussed, it seems this was a recurring issue, as Michael correctly guessed which friend she was with. Another criteria Alice meets in the movie is she is unable to cut down on her drinking. After she almost drowns in Mexico, she promises Michael she is going to stop …show more content…
Consequently, I believe the best solution would be to send Alice to an inpatient facility, not because of any danger to herself or others, but because her home and work environments are conducive to continuous drinking problems. Additionally, we saw Alice hide her drinking from her family for a while, so we can infer that outpatient services may not be enough. Therefore, based on American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) standards, Level III treatment, an inpatient facility that does not rise to the severity of constant medical monitoring due to health concerns or dangers to the client (Stevens & Smith, 2018). Reaction Response One aspect that would make assessing a real client easier is that specific questions could be asked about medical history. Examinations would be possible to determine if the client was suffering from any comorbid mental disorders, such as anxiety disorders or depression. Because Alice never visited a professional, I was limited to information scattered throughout the movie to make an informed guess on mental
Alcoholism is a severe disease that has the potential to negatively impact not only the individual combating addiction, but also the family members involved with the addict (Park & Schepp, 2014). The documentary series A&E Intervention follows the daily lives of individuals combating addictions such as alcoholism and substance abuse. Throughout Gloria’s A&E episode, before her intervention there was rarely a moment that did not consist of her having an alcoholic beverage within arm’s reach. Gloria was in denial about her alcohol abuse, and seemed to be unattached to traumatic events that occurred in her life, including the death of her father, her stillborn childbirth, and both of her daughter’s complex relationships with her. This paper seeks
throughout her childhood with an alcoholic father and a selfish mother who cared more about her art and happiness than that of her children’s. Alcohol misuse can affect all aspects of family functioning: social life, finances, good communication, relationships between family members, parenting capability, employment and health issues, It also has a strong correlation with conflicts, disputes and domestic violence which can leave a damaging effect on children. Alcohol misuse often times changes the roles played by family members in relation to one another, and to the outside world as well.... ... middle of paper ... ...and agencies designed to meet the physical, intellectual, and social-emotional needs of individuals and families.”.
Today, one out of every thirteen adults abuse alcohol or are alcoholics. That means nearly thirteen million Americans have a drinking problem. (www.niaaa.nih.gov) This topic offers a broad range of ideas to be researched within the psychological field. For this particular project, the topic of alcoholism and the psychological effects on people best fit the criteria. Alcoholism is defined as a disorder characterized by the excessive consumption of and dependence on alcoholic beverages, leading to physical and psychological harm and impaired social and vocational functioning. (www.dictionary.com) Through this project, the most important information regarding personal experiences dealing with alcoholism will be revealed. Not only are statistics, like the facts mentioned before, important when dealing with an issue such as alcoholism, but personal accounts and information are often more powerful and influential evidence. Non-alcoholics should be allowed to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for research purposes.
Consequently, there is much stigma associated with being gay. Casey may have reverted to alcoholism to deal with her issues of acceptance. Hence, that may have triggered her association with alcohol: It may have been a coping mechanism for her. In order to make a viable plan, we must discuss the psychosocial and environmental issues that affect alcohol dependent women. According to our book, “There is good evidence that people are likely to reveal more aspects of their situation if they are approached with commitment, an open mind, empathetic attunement, authentic responsiveness and mutuality. “(pg. 23) The information that is obtained via the patient and research will help the social worker formulate a plan. Some of the factors that are related to this situation are as follows: Casey has an alcohol problem, is a lesbian and is experiencing anxiety and depression. If we look at the biopsychosocial model we can conclude that her biological health, psychological and social environment are all interrelated. These are all influencing the very core of her being. The alcohol is influencing her ability to take control of her life and her circumstances. It is affecting her behavior and her relationship with her
Some people only drink on the weekend, or just not at work. Some people attempt to hide their alcohol abuse while others demand company, or anything in between these various elements. Alcohol abuse or addiction is defined as an individual who a) needs to use alcohol every day to function, b) makes attempts to limit use to specific time with periods of sobriety between incidents of heavy drinking, c) have “binges” of continuous use for long periods of time interspersed with the aforementioned periods of abstinence, d) use in excess of the medical and social norms (Doweiko, 2015). To be diagnosed with an AUD requires the individual to meet 2 of eleven criteria laid out by the DSM-5 within a year, then severity is assessed on the basis of how many criteria are met (NIMH, n.d.). Severity is assessed as mild meeting 2-3 criteria, moderate meeting 4 to 5, and severe meaning meeting 6 or more criteria. These eleven criteria include factors such as having drank longer than intended, reduced interest in activities, increased risk behavior, and other factors that look at how drinking has affected you socially (NIAA,
Prior to the discussion of the gender differences in alcoholism and its treatment, the definitions of who is an alcoholic is necessary.
It is important to find out if Casey’s anxiety and depression are due to her drinking problem or if the drinking is causing her to be depressed. According to our book, “A systems perspective is perhaps the most useful for understanding human behavior than for directing social work interventions.” (Pg. 43). There are three types of situations that are most likely to produce problems in social functioning they are as follows: stressful life, transitions, relationship difficulties, and environmental unresponsiveness. Casey falls within all three of those categories. Therefore a systems theory would help. According to this theory family, couples and organization members are directly involved in resolving a problem even if it is an individual issue. This is where her family and friends could come in and help her see that although she is struggling, she can overcome this problem. They can focus on her positive attributes and strengths which would include the fact that she graduated from college, was able to obtain an apartment, and she maintained a full time job. In addition, there was a point in Casey’s life where she was able to decrease her drinking for a limited amount of time. There is no reason why she would not be able to try and do that again. If we look at the biopsychosocial model we can conclude that her biological health, psychological and
The Addition Severity Index is a well-known and widely used tool for use in treating alcoholics and other addicts. It is an approximately 45 to 60 minute long interview comprised of questions about the patient’s life. The interview covers eight subscales focusing on many different parts of a person’s life which helps to provide a comprehensive understanding of their life. The severity is scored on a ten point scale ranging from no problem or treatment indicated to extreme problem, treatment absolutely necessary. The scale helps the interviewer determine the seriousness of a client’s problem and to plan an effective course of treatment. The ASI can also be found in a self-administered paper-and-pencil form and an interactive CD-ROM multimedia version for the computer (Maleka, 2004). This test has been found to be reliable by most but some others do not agree. It is difficult to say whether or not the test is a reliable and valid measure of treatment due to the complexity of the questions. Once a client’s psychosocial needs are identified it is easier to find treatment suitable for that client. There are some problems with the test such as it is not properly designed to cover such a wide population (Maleka, 2004). Other problems include irrelevant questions for alcoholics and other drug users, difficulty remembering relevant information, and lying and exaggerating information for the best interest of the patient (Maleka, 2004). Use of the ASI can be found to be particularly problematic when used with the homeless or double-diagnosis patients. The ASI can be used in a wide range of treatment settings including clinical, research, and administrative. This comprehensive evaluation is a useful tool that helps professionals understand the
This case study is intended to analyze the movie When a Man Loves a Woman, and to provide worst and best case scenarios for treatment. This film depicts a family that is struggling with a family member’s alcoholic dependency. The mother, Alice Green, is a school counselor who has an addiction to alcohol that is causing her to experience problems in her life as a result of her use. Her husband, Michael Green, is an airline pilot that is very protective Alice and often steps in and takes over for Alice, even in her role as a mother. Alice has two children, Jess and Casey, which also bear witness to their mother’s deterioration from alcohol addiction.
Lily, Henrietta M. and Harmon, Daniel E. Alcohol Abuse and Binge Drinking. New York: the Rosen Publishing Group Inc., 2012. Print.
Severe mood swings, violent rages, memory loss—each of these problems were a part of my family life during the past two or three years. These problems are the result of alcoholism. Recently, a member of my family realized his abuse of alcohol was a major problem to not only himself, but also to those around him. He would lose control of his temper and often would not even remember doing it the next day. Alcohol became a part of his daily life including work, home, and any other activities. His problem was that of a "hidden" and "high-society" alcoholism. When he was threatened with the loss of his job and the possibility of losing his family, this man knew it was time to get help. After he reached his lowest point, he took the first step towards recovery—admitting his problem.
From the individual perspective, the client was a victim of child abuse, which led to feelings of fear and sadness and a desire to avoid these emotions. Socially, she came from a family of alcoholics giving her easy availability. There was also the pressure of keeping up appearances due to her mother’s status in society. The initial individual consequences of the client’s alcohol use were reinforcing. She felt invincible, warm, and it helped her avoid the thoughts in her head. Everything was right with the world as long as she was intoxicated.
During my time in the ward, I recently had a patient with alcohol dependency in my care. My patient, Mr Grey was a 51 year old male patient who was admitted with a fractured neck of femur and consistent hypertension. Mr Grey required a vast amount of medical treatment for his injuries. As well as Mr Grey’s physiological problems he also had poor mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. We later discovered my patient had some social issues and that he was homeless.
Novinska, A. (2002). Women & alcoholism. In K. Tyndall, Psychology and Women (pp. 105-106). Buford, GA: Lad Custom Publishing.
Alcoholism is a disease that affects many people in the United States today. It not only affects the alcoholic, but also their family, friends, co-workers, and eventually total strangers. The symptoms are many, as are the causes and the effects.