As a psychology student, you may begin to feel that you suffer from some of the disorders you are studying: this is a variation of medical student's disease. Sometimes, though, people do need professional psychological help. Write two hypothetical vignettes, each describing an individual displaying three symptoms indicating that he or she might benefit from psychological intervention. Select a different set of symptoms for each vignette.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Students' answers may vary.

Laurel has felt anxious for a long time. She feels unhappy and unable to cope with the demands of her job. On certain days, she experiences overwhelmingly high stress and feels as if she might break down. She experiences vague aches and pains that cannot be traced to a specific cause.

Claudia has been depressed for a long, long time. She feels as if her situation is hopeless, and that any action she might undertake would be futile. She has largely withdrawn from her friends and coworkers; she has even contemplated suicide.