Lauren seemed motivated for the cashier position and was friendly with others. Lauren’s first two months at the job went well. Despite being overweight and having diabetes, she showed much energy  and was able to get a lot accomplished each day. She was the model employee: punctual, amiable and productive. During the last six months, however, she has been displaying some unusual behaviors which have drawn concern from others. Lauren’s attendance and punctuality became inconsistent. She missed work for three days in a row and did not call to say she wouldn’t be in. When Lauren finally did return to work, she appeared disheveled and smelled badly. Coworkers began saying that Lauren was staying odd comments during the work day and was often heard muttering to herself.  She made references frequently to the “plot” and the “conspiracy” of the drug store owner. One of her coworkers became alarmed when she realized that Lauren  had saved four months of customer receipts and had made strange notations on the receipts which indicated whether the customer could be trusted or was part of the conspiracy. When Lauren was brought in for a meeting with her supervisor to discuss these concerns, she became defensive and began yelling at others who were not present in the room. Lauren’s supervisor became concerned that she might be stealing drugs from the pharmacy and ordered that she take a drug test. Lauren tested clean for drugs but admitted that she has been drinking excessively in the evenings “to quiet the fighting in my head”. She does not report symptoms of tolerance or withdrawal, but admitted that she has on several occasions in the past six months driven to the liquor store after consuming large amounts of alcohol to purchase more.

1. Based on your understanding of abnormal psychology, propose a tentative diagnosis for Lauren.
2. Provide three pieces of clinical information to support your diagnosis.
3. What is Lauren’s prognosis and why? 

do not need to use or cite sources
clear and simple language