Jorge Case Study Paper
Monique Long
Grand Canyon University
PSY:470 Abnormal Psychology
Professor Wheeler
September 1, 2024,
, Jorge Case Study Paper
Jorge is a 59-year-old Latino man with two loving sons who are deeply concerned about
his health. He used to work as a commercial pilot but had to take a medical leave due to
excessive alcohol consumption. His son Guillermo strongly believes that Jorge's alcohol use is
the reason he cannot return to flying and fears for his father's well-being. To show his love for
his two sons, Jorge has agreed to seek help from a clinician at a residential treatment center to
address his drinking problem. As Jorge's clinician, this paper will focus on identifying the most
appropriate diagnosis and symptoms for his alcohol use, considering cultural factors through the
sociocultural psychological model, exploring possible causes and treatment options for
substance-related disorders, and designing a personalized treatment plan for Jorge.
Diagnosis and Symptoms
According to Porter & Marcel (2017), a drinking problem reaches the level of alcohol use
disorder (AUD) when it becomes severe. This is classified medically, and individuals must meet
certain criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
According to the DSM-5, individuals who meet at least two of the 11 criteria within a 12-month
period are diagnosed with AUD. The individual's severity level is determined by the number of
criteria they meet, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Based on Jorge's symptoms and
presentation, the most accurate diagnosis would be Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), moderate
severity. The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for AUD include 11 criteria, and Jorge meets five of
those criteria. He has a strong desire or urge to consume alcohol, drinks larger amounts of
alcohol than intended, experiences memory loss or blackouts while drinking, feels guilty and
ashamed about his drinking, and has problems with relationships, particularly with his sons, due
Monique Long
Grand Canyon University
PSY:470 Abnormal Psychology
Professor Wheeler
September 1, 2024,
, Jorge Case Study Paper
Jorge is a 59-year-old Latino man with two loving sons who are deeply concerned about
his health. He used to work as a commercial pilot but had to take a medical leave due to
excessive alcohol consumption. His son Guillermo strongly believes that Jorge's alcohol use is
the reason he cannot return to flying and fears for his father's well-being. To show his love for
his two sons, Jorge has agreed to seek help from a clinician at a residential treatment center to
address his drinking problem. As Jorge's clinician, this paper will focus on identifying the most
appropriate diagnosis and symptoms for his alcohol use, considering cultural factors through the
sociocultural psychological model, exploring possible causes and treatment options for
substance-related disorders, and designing a personalized treatment plan for Jorge.
Diagnosis and Symptoms
According to Porter & Marcel (2017), a drinking problem reaches the level of alcohol use
disorder (AUD) when it becomes severe. This is classified medically, and individuals must meet
certain criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
According to the DSM-5, individuals who meet at least two of the 11 criteria within a 12-month
period are diagnosed with AUD. The individual's severity level is determined by the number of
criteria they meet, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Based on Jorge's symptoms and
presentation, the most accurate diagnosis would be Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), moderate
severity. The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for AUD include 11 criteria, and Jorge meets five of
those criteria. He has a strong desire or urge to consume alcohol, drinks larger amounts of
alcohol than intended, experiences memory loss or blackouts while drinking, feels guilty and
ashamed about his drinking, and has problems with relationships, particularly with his sons, due
