Intake Information Sheila Hanson came to the Mindspring Center for Health and Mental Health upon a referral from her primary care physician. She asked to see a therapist, and the receptionist...

Intake Information

Sheila Hanson came to the Mindspring Center for Health and Mental Health upon a referral from her primary care physician. She asked to see a therapist, and the receptionist explained that she would need to talk to the intake worker, who would then schedule an appointment for her. She told the intake worker that she had been having severe headaches on a daily basis and other physical problems. Her doctor told her he wanted her to get an “evaluation.” She said she thought her doctor believed her symptoms “are all in my head,” but she knows she’s in pain. In order to comply with his orders, she agreed to see a therapist. The intake worker scheduled an initial interview and assessment for her for the following week. Sheila Hanson signed a consent form allowing you to talk with her primary care physician.

Telephone Consultation with Physician In order to obtain information about Sheila Hanson’s medical problems, you obtain a release of information and call her physician, Dr. Randolph. He tells you that he has seen Sheila on numerous occasions over the past 12 months for complaints of severe headaches, gastrointestinal distress, and menstrual problems. Laboratory tests each time revealed no physical or medical reason for the pain she has been experiencing. He prescribed pain medication that appeared to alleviate the symptoms initially, but she came back a few weeks later complaining that the medicine was no longer effective. He is concerned about prescribing stronger medications without a psychological evaluation. He states that previous medical history revealed that Sheila had been treated by a gynecologist for endometriosis after her third child was born.

1. What diagnoses are you considering based on the background information on Sheila?