Case Study - Option 3: Barbara Barbara is a 22 year old woman who has recently graduated from college with a psychology degree. She is currently working as a waitress at a popular restaurant near campus, and says she has always planned to attend law school. Barbara was born in a New Orleans, Louisiana. Her mother is an African American who is an assistant manager at a grocery store. Her father is Caucasian and works at a department store. Barbara reports that she was a shy, unattractive child, but that in general her early childhood was "pretty happy." Barbara says that during elementary school, she was constantly harassed by classmates about being of mixed race. Still, she says that she felt very close to her family during this period. She now insists that "I am not black or white, I am me." Barbara is sexually active and engages in sexual activity with different men at least 1 time a week. Barbara indicates that she does not need protection because she is on the pill. She says she is simply too young to settle down. During her junior year of high school, Barbara had her first serious boyfriend, Morris, who was a high school classmate. She describes the relationship as warm and supportive and they became sexually active during her senior year of high school. They broke up soon after the first sexual interaction. In college, Barbara has dated and she acknowledges some bisexual experimentation. Barbara says that she prefers heterosexual relationships, however. Although Barbara appears to be a natural athlete, she leads a relatively sedentary lifestyle. She does not exercise regularly and indicates that it is just not enjoyable. Barbara does not like her job at the restaurant, but seems unwilling to look for other employment. She says that she feels "very jittery" whenever she gets ready for work, and she uses any excuse to take days off. She also refuses to associate with fellow employees, and reports getting very anxious when she was given a surprise birthday party. Recently, she has lost interest in cleaning her house and seldom cooks for herself. She also attends less to her personal grooming. Diagnosis – Social Anxiety Disorder/Minor Depression DSM-5 – Diagnostic Criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder 1. Fear or anxiety specific to social settings, in which a person feels noticed, observed, or scrutinized. 2. Typically the individual will fear that they will display their anxiety and experience social rejection, 3. Social interaction will consistently provoke distress, 4. Social interactions are either avoided, or painfully and reluctantly endured, 5. The fear and anxiety will be grossly disproportionate to the actual situation, 6. The fear, anxiety or other distress around social situations will persist for six months or longer and 7. Cause personal distress and impairment of functioning in one or more domains, such as interpersonal or occupational functioning, 8. The fear or anxiety cannot be attributed to a medical disorder, s.

1. Case Study - Option 3: Barbara
Barbara is a 22 year old woman who has recently graduated
from college with a psychology degree. She is currently
working as a waitress at a popular restaurant near campus, and
says she has always planned to attend law school. Barbara was
born in a New Orleans, Louisiana. Her mother is an African
American who is an assistant manager at a grocery store. Her
father is Caucasian and works at a department store. Barbara
reports that she was a shy, unattractive child, but that in general
her early childhood was "pretty happy." Barbara says that
during elementary school, she was constantly harassed by
classmates about being of mixed race. Still, she says that she
felt very close to her family during this period. She now insists
that "I am not black or white, I am me."
Barbara is sexually active and engages in sexual activity with
different men at least 1 time a week. Barbara indicates that she
does not need protection because she is on the pill. She says she
is simply too young to settle down. During her junior year of
high school, Barbara had her first serious boyfriend, Morris,
who was a high school classmate. She describes the relationship
as warm and supportive and they became sexually active during
her senior year of high school. They broke up soon after the
first sexual interaction. In college, Barbara has dated and she
acknowledges some bisexual experimentation. Barbara says that
she prefers heterosexual relationships, however.
Although Barbara appears to be a natural athlete, she leads a
relatively sedentary lifestyle. She does not exercise regularly
and indicates that it is just not enjoyable.
Barbara does not like her job at the restaurant, but seems
unwilling to look for other employment. She says that she feels
"very jittery" whenever she gets ready for work, and she uses
any excuse to take days off. She also refuses to associate with
fellow employees, and reports getting very anxious when she
was given a surprise birthday party. Recently, she has lost
interest in cleaning her house and seldom cooks for herself. She

2. also attends less to her personal grooming.
Diagnosis – Social Anxiety Disorder/Minor Depression
DSM-5 – Diagnostic Criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder
1. Fear or anxiety specific to social settings, in which a person
feels noticed, observed, or scrutinized.
2. Typically the individual will fear that they will display their
anxiety and experience social rejection,
3. Social interaction will consistently provoke distress,
4. Social interactions are either avoided, or painfully and
reluctantly endured,
5. The fear and anxiety will be grossly disproportionate to the
actual situation,
6. The fear, anxiety or other distress around social situations
will persist for six months or longer and
7. Cause personal distress and impairment of functioning in one
or more domains, such as interpersonal or occupational
functioning,
8. The fear or anxiety cannot be attributed to a medical
disorder, substance use, or adverse medication effects or
another mental disorder.