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Tierainie C. Johnson

5107: Biopsychosocial Assessment

Capella University

Dr. William Attridge

August 27, 2023

TYRELL’S CASE STUDY 2

Tyrell’s Case Study

Tyrell’s case presents an interesting perspective on psychology and other related

factors, such as drug and substance abuse. This case presents a potential for a dual diagnosis.

This means Tyrell could be dealing with a mental health and substance use disorder. There

are a variety of factors that show this. The first is his history of substance abuse. The white

powder in Tyrell’s luggage and James’ suspicion that Tyrell is doing meth show that there is a

possibility that Tyrell is using drugs (Fantuzzi & Mezzina, 2020). Tyrell’s possible encounter

with drugs while in college can also show that he has interacted with drugs. His erratic

behavior, such as grandiosity, impulsiveness, and violence, shows he may be dealing with a

mental disorder. His inability to relax and behavior around the waiter show that he might be

dealing with some mental issues. His episode in college could suggest a history of mental

disorder (Fantuzzi & Mezzina, 2020).

While a biopsychosocial assessment form provides a comprehensive overview of an

individual’s health and the factors that affect it, a variety of additional clinical information

and assessments would be valuable when formulating a diagnosis. One of them is a physical

examination and a medical history. I would want to know what Tyrell’s physical health state

is like and how it might influence his mental state (Fantuzzi & Mezzina, 2020). I would also

like to know his medical history. I would be keen to know more about the college episode. I

would also require a toxicology screen to determine what drugs and substances Tyrell is on. I

would also utilize diagnostic interviews with James and Tyrell to understand Tyrell’s

condition better.

One of the tests that I would be keen on Tyrell completing is the Drug Abuse

Screening Test (DAST-10). This can help quantify the amount of drugs that Tyrell is taking. I

TYRELL’S CASE STUDY 3

would also be keen on administering the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) on both

James and Tyrell to understand better Tyrell’s moods and their possible impact on his

addiction and whether they result from certain drug addictions (First et al., 2022). I would

also like to do a cultural assessment. Tyrell is African American, and that is a community

that, due to various historical factors, has seen the brutal end of psychological care. I wish to

know whether this has impacted Michael and Tyrell’s family and what other cultural impacts

could have caused his inability to seek medical care (First et al., 2022).

The DSM 5 TR would be valuable to me for many reasons. Initially, I would conduct

an interview and review the patient’s history. To gain an understanding of the situation, I

would engage in in-depth interviews with Michael, Tyrell, and James (First et al., 2022). This

approach would assist me in Tyrell’s case and in determining his illness in relation to the

situation. It is crucial as it allows me to identify the concern for the patient. Additionally, I

would utilize the DSM 5 TR to compare Tyrell’s symptoms with disorders (First et al., 2022).

This comparison could provide an indication of ailments he might be dealing with.

Subsequently, I can employ diagnostic tools to identify his condition accurately.

The first treatment option is stabilization and safety. Due to his violent outbursts,

Tyrell could be a danger to himself and others. He must be stabilized. If drug use is proven,

detoxing him and managing his withdrawal symptoms is the best move. With collaboration

with friends and family such as Michael and James, we would work on ensuring stability for

him. Another treatment option is the use of medication. Mood stabilizers and antipsychotic

medication could be used to help calm him down. I would also recommend psychotherapy

once his moods have been stabilized. Cognitive behavioral therapy has shown great results in

dealing with substance use disorder and mental illness issues.

TYRELL’S CASE STUDY 4

A holistic approach is one of the fundamental principles I would be keen on

implementing in this case. In this case, Tyrell’s issues could be related (Firth et al., 2020).

The stresses of his job could be triggering a mental illness and inciting his pressure to take

drugs. A holistic approach would help me attend to all the issues and efficiently untangle the

web. Another critical principle I would be keen on is culturally sensitive care. Tyrell’s

ethnicity and sexual orientation are critical to who he is (Firth et al., 2020). I would consider

them keenly when providing care, ensuring that he receives care that attends to his needs

while respecting his culture. I would also implement dual focus, where I attend to his mental

illness while dealing with his issues with addiction.

The essential tool I would utilize to diagnose, assess, and treat any co-occurring

mental health issue for the culturally diverse client is education, cultural, and emotional

intelligence. I would begin by educating myself on the culture and the diverse elements that

define Tyrell (Firth et al., 2020). I would also integrate information concerning the family. I

want to know how the culture influences them and whether they are outliers. I would then use

this information and cultural and emotional intelligence to determine how to best care for

Tyrell.

TYRELL’S CASE STUDY 5

References

Fantuzzi, C., & Mezzina, R. (2020). Dual diagnosis: A systematic review of the organization

of community health services. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 66(3), 300-

310.

First, M. B., Yousif, L. H., Clarke, D. E., Wang, P. S., Gogtay, N., & Appelbaum, P. S.

(2022). DSM‐5‐TR: Overview of what’s new and what’s changed. World

Psychiatry, 21(2), 218.

Firth, J., Solmi, M., Wootton, R. E., Vancampfort, D., Schuch, F. B., Hoare, E., … & Stubbs,

B. (2020). A meta‐review of “lifestyle psychiatry”: the role of exercise, smoking, diet

and sleep in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders. World

psychiatry, 19(3), 360-380.