Question

A 45-year-old male client is referred to a social worker by his EAP due to decreased productivity and several costly mistakes at work. In the intake, the client reports that his wife of 20 years recently left him and that he is in danger of losing his home. He also tells the social worker that he is a veteran of the Iraq war and says that he frequently uses large amounts of prescription opiates to sleep despite a lack of pain. The social worker should INITIALLY focus on:

A. Possible PTSD symptoms associated with military deployment.
B. Stopping his drug use.
C. His housing issues.
D. His grief over the end of his marriage.

Answer 1

The social worker should initially address the client's possible PTSD symptoms since they could be exacerbating his other issues including substance use, productivity at work, and personal losses.

Step-by-step explanation:

The 45-year-old male client, a veteran of the Iraq war, presents a complex situation involving substance use, potential mental health issues, and serious personal and financial difficulties. Given the multifaceted nature of the client's issues and the immediate concerns raised, the social worker should initially focus on Possible PTSD symptoms associated with military deployment. The symptoms of PTSD, including the client's use of prescription opiates despite a lack of physical pain, may be contributing to his decreased productivity and mistakes at work, and addressing these underlying psychological issues is critical for long-term recovery and improvement in other areas of his life. While his grief, housing issues, and drug use are also pressing concerns, treating possible PTSD symptoms could be imperative since it may be an underlying factor exacerbating his other difficulties.