Diagnose Meredith Grey from Greg’s Anatomy the show. Provide a detailed description of the character and their cognitive, personality, emotional and/or behavioral patterns that form the basis from which your diagnosis is made. (While you can address the issue of comorbidity, you do not have to.)
You must research the DSM-V Diagnostic Criteria for the disorder you are dealing with and while I do not expect y’all to follow the diagnostic criteria perfectly, you are required to consider how a diagnosis is professionally made for the disorder and therefore make mention of how your character does or does not qualify for the diagnosis according to the standards set forth by the DSM. Include strong reasoning as to how your diagnosis is valid/warranted.
Patterns of behaviors, thoughts, and emotions are deemed abnormal or pathological based on four reasons: deviance, dysfunction, distress, and danger. Make reference to the role of at least two of these in your diagnosis, your claim of abnormality/pathology. If you choose deviance, consider the importance of context (cultural, social, developmental, etc.) in making a diagnosis. In other words, speak to this idea that “something is only abnormal in light of what is normal.”
While this is supposed to be a fun assignment, please keep in mind the power of a diagnosis/label and the care and responsibility that must always be taken when diagnosing. Things to consider in regard to this are issues such as the potential stigmatizing effects of a label and self- fulfilling prophecies.
Consider treatment. What is considered to be the most effective treatment for the disorder? If you were the psychologist, what treatment plan would you propose?
Tie in at least one other area of psychology we studied this semester (ex. Stress and Health Psychology, Biopsychology, The Brain, Behaviorism, Psychoanalysis, Social Psychology, etc).
Back to reality. Consider the disorder you have chosen and any related social responsibility issues. Is there a need for more research, treatment advancements, stigma reduction, social support, increased awareness, etc. when it comes to the disorder you are studying and those that struggle with it? Be specific.
