Anxiety and learning disorders: Victoria’s case
Antonella Maria Laura Messina, Anna Pappalardo
The scientific evidence available today in literature demonstrates comorbidity between internal and external learning disturbances and psychopathological ones. The clinical implications that result as a consequence place the practitioner proceeding with the evaluation and/or treatment of the specific learning disorders (SLD) in front of the necessity to globally assess the psychological functioning of the patient to be assisted, in cognitive, affective and behavioural aspects. This paper describes the case of Victoria (not her real name) and specifically illustrates the phases of formulating the diagnosis and the treatment plan established for the patient’s anxiety symptoms, with the objective of offering another point of reflection on the importance of considering and treating secondary emotional impairments in SLD patients, both in the phases of evaluation and in the definition of the overall intervention sessions. Victoria is a 9 y.o. child, attending her fourth year of primary school, who underwent a neuropsychological evaluation due to difficulties with her learning capability and a certain degree of inhibition in her social behaviour and also in her daily class participation. The case described was approached using a multilevel intervention method that foresaw the combination of a cognitive-behavioural psychotherapeutic treatment aimed at managing and sustaining anxiety levels; individual functional cognitive rehabilitation focused on spelling skills; a group pedagogical intervention with the intent of reaching educational objectives and increasing self-reliance in studying. The positive relapse on the emotional-affective-motivational spheres induced by such a specialised proposal highlights the value of the multilevel intervention method and emphasises the importance of involving various specialists in a synergic manner.
Keywords
Specific learning disorder, Anxiety disorders, Comorbidity, Dysorthography, Situational phobia.
