Psychology students frequently search for clear guidance on analyzing a college senior like Kara who shows sudden avoidance of social settings and repetitive checking rituals after grief and a breakup to meet DSM-5-TR criteria while addressing cultural factors and two theoretical models in a concise 300-word submission.<\/p>\n
Kara, a 22-year-old college senior, has recently begun avoiding her normal routines. Such patterns often appear in students facing major life transitions and can signal the need for careful clinical attention. Once a confident student and leader in campus ministries, she now skips classes and avoids crowded places like the dining hall or student center. She experiences intense fear in social situations, especially when she believes others are watching her.<\/p>\n
Her heart races, she begins to sweat, and she becomes consumed by thoughts that she will embarrass herself or say something \u201cstupid.\u201d Recent data from campus mental health centers confirm that similar symptoms have risen among undergraduates dealing with loss since 2020.<\/p>\n
Kara has also developed a nightly ritual where she checks her alarm clock exactly 10 times before going to bed. If she loses count or becomes distracted, she must start over. She is aware that this behavior is excessive but says, \u201cIf I don\u2019t do it, I can\u2019t sleep.\u201d These symptoms began following a difficult year in which she lost a close friend unexpectedly and experienced a breakup. She reports feeling \u201cstuck,\u201d hyperaware of others\u2019 judgment, and exhausted by her thoughts and routines.<\/p>\n
Read the case study carefully, then complete the following assessment tasks. Faculty designed the prompt to help students practice applying module concepts directly to real-world presentations. Use concepts and terminology from Module 4 content in your responses. Your submission should be 1 page double-spaced (approximately 300 words) and include in-text citations from course readings or the DSM-5-TR.<\/p>\n