Question

During the initial interview of a recent victim of domestic violence, the social worker observes a rapid emotional decompensation as the client recalls earlier childhood abuses. She becomes intensely distressed and then withdraws into a trancelike state while seeming to respond to visual and auditory hallucinations. It is MOST likely that the client:

A. is relieving past trauma
B. is experiencing a psychotic episode
C. has repressed memories
D. Has multiple-personality disorder

Answer 1

The client is most likely reliving past trauma, with symptoms indicative of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These symptoms include intense distress and hallucinatory experiences during recall, which are part of the PTSD symptom cluster related to re-experiencing the traumatic event.

Step-by-step explanation:

During the initial interview of a recent victim of domestic violence, the social worker observes a rapid emotional decompensation as the client recalls earlier childhood abuses. The client becomes intensely distressed and then withdraws into a trancelike state while seeming to respond to visual and auditory hallucinations. It is most likely that the client is reliving past trauma and exhibiting symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), rather than experiencing a primary psychotic episode, having repressed memories, or displaying multiple-personality disorder.

Such symptoms can be a part of the re-experiencing aspect of PTSD, where individuals may relive the traumatic event through flashbacks or hallucinations. This can be particularly acute during therapy or recall of the events. This understanding of trauma and memory can inform interventions that help clients manage and process their traumatic memories, particularly in the context of therapeutic techniques designed for survivors of childhood abuse or other traumas.