Use of Case Studies in Clinical Psychology

Question 1

Study name

Answer 1

Lavarenne et al (2013)

Question 2

aims

Answer 2

• To describe how a therapy group can provide a firn boundary within which individuals can explore their own fragile ego boundaries
• Group aimed to develop a feeling of connectiveness among individuals who are fairly isolated

Question 4

Findings of Earl

Answer 4

Reacted to Brett giving him a xmas card
Rejection of gift represents fear of being annihilated
Responded to gift by talking about oil project running around world (him trying to hold himself together - self esteem, oil because his father was an oil engineer)

Question 5

Findings of Dan

Answer 5

Silent for 6 months but now doesn’t stop talking
Described out of body experience where he was scared he wouldn’t be able to get his spirit back into his body
Relate to him not being able to define relationship with his gf

Question 6

Conclusions

Answer 6

Notes shows all group members were working hard to hold themselves together
Interacts with others threaten boundaries = tend to isolate themselves to avoid symptoms i.e. psychosis
Sessions showed support and tolerance from group members
Able to grow psychologically together

Question 7

Evaluation

Answer 7

+ Could not cause abnormal behaviour experimentally
+ Ethically not causing problems
+ Ecological validity = real patient suffering, nothing artificial, data transfers to real life
- Subjective = researchers interpretation
- Population validity = how they responded to treatment (could not be how everyone responds). Some people didn’t show up to sessions => could be those who don’t attend have worse condition