Derek is a 25-year-old male who recently moved back in with his parents after his girlfriend was killed by a drunk driver 2 months ago. He had been dating his girlfriend for the past 3.5 years. As she was walking across a busy intersection to meet him for lunch, she was hit by a passing vehicle. He still vividly remembers the horrifying scene as the drunk driver ran the red light, plowing down his girlfriend right before his eyes. He ran to the scene, embracing her crumpled body as she died in his arms in the middle of the crosswalk. He keeps trying to erase the scene from his memory, but can’t seem to stop reliving the entire incident as if it was happening all over.
Derek has been having nightmares about the accident almost every night since the accident. He had to quit his job because his office was located in the building right next to the little café where he was meeting his girlfriend for lunch the day she died. The few times he attempted to return to work were unbearable for him. He has since avoided that entire area of town.
Normally an outgoing, fun-loving guy, Derek has become increasingly withdrawn and irritable since his girlfriend’s death. He’s stopped going to the gym, playing his guitar, or going out with his friends – all activities he once really enjoyed. His parents worry about how detached and emotionally flat he’s become.
Answer the following questions in essay format about Derek’s condition:
For this assignment, answer all questions in an essay format. Answer each question under the subtitle "Observation", "Hypothesis", etc. using complete sentences that relate back to the question. Use APA formatting to cite any sources used and be sure to include a reference section at the end of your assignment that lists any resources you use to complete your answers. Please use scholarly references such as peer-reviewed journal or government-sponsored or university-sponsored website. As you read, take notes from your sources and then write your paper in your own words, describing what you have learned from your research. Direct quotes should be limited and must be designated by quotation marks. Paraphrased ideas must give credit to the original author, for example (Murray, 2014)