Write a total of 500 words to answer the three questions below.

Cite the DSM-5 (APA, 2013) to support your answer for questions 1 and 2 and cite at least one
meta-analysis or review article to support your answer for question 3.

Use APA referencing style.

1/
(10marks)

Mia has been in your high performing soccer team for the past 3 years. She is an outgoing, friendly, and
well-liked member of the team. She owns a successful landscaping business and is physically healthy.
Mia is known to be a particularly outstanding soccer player, and was even approached about joining a
representative team.

Three months ago, Mia’s knee was dislocated during a very rough tackle in a soccer game. The
dislocation was severe and extremely painful. Mia needed to be transported to hospital and had to
undergo an invasive medical procedure to place the knee back in position. Mia was forced to take time
off work because of the injury, and as a result was unable to complete a number of very important
landscaping jobs on time.

Mia underwent 8 weeks of rehabilitation, and whilst the risk of another dislocation is high, her
physiotherapist has said she is physically ready to return to playing sport. However, since the injury she
has become fearful of playing soccer and being injured, and refuses to attend soccer training. This
avoidance is impacting on her sporting performance, and she is spending more time on the bench during
the game, which is unusual as Mia has always been a talented sportsperson. When she is on the field
playing, she now actively avoids the ball, and lets the opposition pass without even attempting to tackle
them. Last week, you saw her in the toilets before the game and she was in tears and appeared to be
hyperventilating, stating she did not want to play.

When asked about why her performance has been so poor, Mia states that she keeps thinking about the
dislocation, about how it could happen again, and replays the sound and feeling of the dislocation over
and over in her head. Every time someone comes to tackle her on the field, she feels intense fear, and has
mentioned she wants to quit the team. She states that she wants to spend more time building her
landscaping business – which is her true passion and is what brings her most joy - and is also thinking
about refocusing her sporting abilities on becoming a coach or referee.


Considering Mia’s changes in her behaviour, you start to wonder if she has a specific phobia
(injury subtype), due to her knee dislocation.

Is Mia likely to have a specific phobia, or any other type of psychological disorder? Why or
why not? Justify your answer and give a diagnosis if you think it is appropriate.





2/
(10 marks)

Another member of your soccer team, Roxy, also seems to have been having a difficult time lately. She
discloses to you on a night out with the soccer team that she has been going through a particularly
challenging time in her work and relationship, is not sleeping well, feels constantly annoyed, and (despite
being physically healthy) is always tired.

Roxy is 25 years old, works at as a consultant in the finance industry, and has been in a long-term
relationship with her partner Alvin for the past 4 years. Roxy describes herself as “highly strung”, but that
she is used to it because that is how she has always been since she was a child. However, she mentions
that over the past year her stress has increased considerably.

She mentions that her work has become a key source of stress. As a part of her consultant job, she must
travel to different Australian cities for several days at a time. She states that she is terrified of flying, and
every time she gets on a plane she is fearful of dying. Not only is she afraid of there being a plane crash
or terrorist attack onboard, but she is also scared that she will choke on food during the flight or have a
heart attack and be unable to receive emergency medical treatment. Recently, she was so overwhelmed
with stress from her work, and her fears of flying, she called in sick and missed an important work
meeting interstate.

Ever since this event, Roxy has become very aware that her boss is unhappy with her work performance.
While her boss has not said anything, and she has been receiving positive feedback on the quality of her
work, Roxy can “sense” that she is close to being fired. The thought of losing her job terrifies Roxy, as she
would be unable to pay her mortgage, and fears she would become homeless. She finds it hard to shut
off the feeling that something bad is about to happen.

Roxy also talks to you about how her relationship with Alvin has been deteriorating over the past year.
Roxy and Alvin have been renovating their apartment and Alvin refuses to take appropriate precautions
to ensure their safety. For example, Roxy believes that their home could have asbestos and lead paint.
While the builder stated this was highly unlikely due to the age of the property, Roxy believes that no one
can be completely sure that there aren’t harmful fibres circulating in the home. Another example that
Roxy tells you about is that there is a large tree that overhangs her house, yet Alvin refuses to pay for its
removal because the safety assessor stated it was healthy. Roxy believes this is ridiculous – because if
lightening were to strike the tree it could fall on the home and kill them.

Roxy has become very irritable with Alvin, because she feels he does not place any value on her safety.
They have had numerous arguments and Roxy believes she “can never feel relaxed in her own home”.


Considering Roxy’s behaviours and worries you think she may have a number of Specific
Phobias (situational subtype – flying, natural environment subtype- storms, other subtype –
construction/renovation harm). Is Roxy likely to have a Specific Phobia, or should she be
diagnosed with different psychological disorder?

Why or why not? Justify your answer and give a diagnosis if you think it is appropriate.

3/
(5marks)

If you believe that either Mia or Roxy have a psychological disorder, what treatment
strategies would you recommend? Justify your answers.