Diana Miller Case Study

Abnormal psychology can be defined as “the scientific study of abnormal behaviour undertaken to describe, predict, explain and change abnormal patterns of functioning.” (Comer 2) The field is devoted to the scientific study of problems that obscure the line between normal and deviant behaviour. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the deviant behaviour of Diana Miller, also known as Disco Di. This paper will touch upon the diagnosis features, cultural and gender factors as well as paradigms and treatment methods, in order to analyze her specific case, understand the cause of Miller’s diagnosis as well as what contributed to her illness.
Diana Miller, aged 25, was born in Toronto and was raised by her immigrated parents. At the age of 3, Diana’s father walked out, leaving her mother to be the sole provider, only to return when she was 12 after reuniting with her mother. At the age of 12, Diana’s younger sister Carol was killed in a drunk driver accident. After suffering through an unstable and traumatic childhood, Diana began to show signs of Major Depressive Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder as well as multiple other mental illnesses at the age of 17. Her symptoms and episodes continued to increase in severity, which
I agree with the diagnosis given to her as I feel as though her symptoms coincide with the diagnosis features that accompany both Major Depressive Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. Diana’s multiple suicide attempts and depression that lead her to her first hospitalization is demonstrative of an individual suffering from Major Depressive Disorder. Major Depressive Disorder is considered a branch of unipolar disorders in which individuals experience extreme sadness, chronic feeling of emptiness, unstable emotions, as well a focus on death and