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Module 08 Case Study – Anxiety Disorder/Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
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Anxiety Disorder/Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
In this case study of an adolescent named Lauren, there are some clear signs that she is
suffering from social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). To start,
Lauren is displaying poor eye contact during the interview and this is a common cognitive
indicator of social anxiety. Lauren’s constant worry of saying something wrong, and the physical
discomfort while presenting in front of a group are also signs of social anxiety. Her excessive
fear of embarrassment if she says something wrong interferes with her daily life because she
avoids interactions with her peers. This fear also leads to physical side effects, like nausea, while
speaking in front of her classmates (Schub & March, 2018).
Not only did Lauren display signs of social anxiety disorder, she also appears to be
suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as well. Her obsessive thoughts and
compulsions started at a young age, and stem from a fear of something bad happening to her
grandpa. She has to begin each day by making her grandpa breakfast, and the meal has to be
prepared by no later than 9:00am to ensure a day free of worry. If this task is not completed her
day does not go well. She has only missed one day, and it led to body shakes, constant hand
tapping, an overall feeling of discomfort, and constant worrying about her grandpa the whole
day. Lauren does not like it when things are uneven. If she notices that somebody’s shoelaces are
not even, she either says it in her head, or has to write it down to help with the anxiety it causes.
This problem with things being uneven also leads her to continuously count the students in her
class, and if the number of students (including herself) do not equal 17, she is in constant worry.
She will count the students over and over again throughout the entire class period to ensure they
always equal 17. This dislike of uneven things began when she was a child as well, when she
Module 08 Case Study – Anxiety Disorder/Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
, 2
Anxiety Disorder/Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
In this case study of an adolescent named Lauren, there are some clear signs that she is
suffering from social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). To start,
Lauren is displaying poor eye contact during the interview and this is a common cognitive
indicator of social anxiety. Lauren’s constant worry of saying something wrong, and the physical
discomfort while presenting in front of a group are also signs of social anxiety. Her excessive
fear of embarrassment if she says something wrong interferes with her daily life because she
avoids interactions with her peers. This fear also leads to physical side effects, like nausea, while
speaking in front of her classmates (Schub & March, 2018).
Not only did Lauren display signs of social anxiety disorder, she also appears to be
suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as well. Her obsessive thoughts and
compulsions started at a young age, and stem from a fear of something bad happening to her
grandpa. She has to begin each day by making her grandpa breakfast, and the meal has to be
prepared by no later than 9:00am to ensure a day free of worry. If this task is not completed her
day does not go well. She has only missed one day, and it led to body shakes, constant hand
tapping, an overall feeling of discomfort, and constant worrying about her grandpa the whole
day. Lauren does not like it when things are uneven. If she notices that somebody’s shoelaces are
not even, she either says it in her head, or has to write it down to help with the anxiety it causes.
This problem with things being uneven also leads her to continuously count the students in her
class, and if the number of students (including herself) do not equal 17, she is in constant worry.
She will count the students over and over again throughout the entire class period to ensure they
always equal 17. This dislike of uneven things began when she was a child as well, when she
