Individual Practice SWES Practice Test

What diagnosis might a social worker consider for an 18-year-old who complains of loss of sensation after his father's death, especially when wearing his father's clothing?

1. Generalized anxiety disorder

2. Somatic symptom and related disorder

3. Post-traumatic stress disorder

4. Major depressive disorder

The correct answer is: Somatic symptom and related disorder

In this scenario, the loss of sensation experienced by the 18-year-old following his father's death raises important considerations around how grief can manifest psychologically and physically. The symptoms described suggest a strong link between emotional distress and physical experience, which aligns well with a somatic symptom and related disorder. A somatic symptom and related disorder is characterized by the presence of physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition, and which often arise in the context of emotional distress. In this case, the young man's reaction to the loss of his father and the connection to wearing his father's clothing could represent an emotional response that is being expressed through physical symptoms, such as loss of sensation. This indicates that his psychological state is heavily influencing his physical experience, which is central to the diagnosis of somatic symptom and related disorder. Other options like generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and major depressive disorder may account for emotional responses and symptoms related to grief, but they do not specifically encompass the unique presentation of physical symptoms linked to emotional triggers as seen in somatic symptom and related disorder. The presentation here emphasizes the body-mind connection, highlighting that psychological distress can manifest as physical sensations, which is fundamental to the understanding of somatic symptomatology.