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Assignment Case Study

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4 views

Assignment Case Study

Uploaded by

maryanruuney1212
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DEPRESSION

Refers to a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts,
behavior, feelings and sense of well-being. People with depressed mood can feel sad,
anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, ashamed or restless. They may lose
interest in activities that were once pleasurable, experience loss of appetite or overeating,
have problems concentrating, remembering details or making decisions, and may
contemplate, attempt or commit suicide. Insomnia, excessive sleeping, fatigue, aches,
pains, digestive problems or reduced energy may also be present
The symptoms of depression include unusually sad mood, and all or some of the
following:
 Loss of interest and enjoyment in activities
 Tiredness and lack of energy
 Loss of self confidence
 Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
 Wishing they were dead
 Difficulties in concentrating
 Sleeping problems
 Loss of interest in food and loss of weight
 Experiencing a range of physical complaints that have no apparent medical cause
e.g. weakness, aches & pains.
Not every person who is depressed has all these symptoms, and the severity of depression
is different for different people. Events that contribute to the development of an unusually
sad mood include:
 Distressing events that the person cannot do anything to control like the death of a
loved one or the breakdown of a relationship.
 Stressful events such as ongoing family conflict.
 Chronic medical conditions like diabetes or stroke.
 Sometimes women can become depressed after they give birth.
Case study A
Amina is a 58-year-old woman whose husband died last year. Her children are all grown
up and have left the village for better employment opportunities in a big city. She started
experiencing poor sleep and loss of appetite soon after her husband died. The symptoms
worsened when her children left the village. She experiences headaches, backaches,
stomach aches and other physical discomforts, which have led her to consult the local
clinic many times. There she was told she was well, but was prescribed sleeping tablets
and vitamins. She felt better immediately, particularly because her sleep improved.
However, within two weeks her sleep has got worse again. She went back to the clinic
and was given more sleeping pills and injections. This has been going on for months, and
now she can no longer sleep without the sleeping pills.
Questions
a) Describe the symptoms Amina is experiencing
b) As a social worker with knowledge of mental health how best can Amina’s
problem be addressed?

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