The case of Howard Original Research Article

This paper presents the case of Howard, a 51-year-old self-referred Vietnam veteran who was seeking a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compensation evaluation and treatment recommendations at his local VA hospital. At the time of the assessment, Howard was divorced, had not worked regularly for 7 years, and was living in the suburbs with his 9-year-old son. The evaluation revealed the presence of multiple Axis I disorders, including PTSD, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and somatization disorder. His primary concerns at initial presentation were intrusive memories of Vietnam, an inability to work, and ongoing health complaints. Further evaluation revealed additional concerns with paranoia, difficulties concentrating, and significant social isolation. This case study emphasizes Howardʹs psychosocial history, symptom presentation, and psychometric test results. Case summary and treatment recommendations are deferred until the final case conceptualization ().