Assignment Question
You will be given a sample case (or cases to choose from) to complete this assignment. Read the vignette and prepare a written analysis of the case using the outline provided below. Your paper must include a minimum of six references, including the DSM-5 and at least five peer-reviewed articles or sources. Please include the following information in your case analysis: a. The client and the problem (10 points) Who is the identified client? State the client’s identifying information. Fully state the presenting problem. (What is the reason this client is currently seeking help?) Fully list the symptoms this client is exhibiting. Formulate a tentative diagnosis (or diagnoses).
Reflect on how the symptoms you have identified illustrate the client’s psychological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral health. Use the DSM-5 and at least two peer-reviewed articles for this section. Include the reasons for your decisions by reflecting on the diagnostic criteria for this diagnosis (or diagnoses), the literature, and your own body of knowledge or intuition. State what other diagnosis (or diagnoses) you thought about and ruled out and why. (20 points)
Fully think about the information you would need from and about the client that you do not currently have that would allow you to make a more accurate diagnosis. A resource may be needed to help you write this section comprehensively. (10 points)
Identify any sociocultural and environmental factors that could be impacting the client. How are these factors influencing the client’s problem? How does including these factors in your assessment affect your diagnosis? What additional diagnoses under the “Additional Conditions that May be a Focus of Clinical Attention” section of the DSM apply to this case? How might including them affect treatment for the client? (10 points)
Identify which follow-up services would be most appropriate for this client based on your diagnosis and assessment of the presenting problem. The services you choose should align with best practices for the diagnosis, but also should reflect your personal assessment of what is best for the client. Include your consideration of any sociocultural issues that you may need to accommodate in your referrals. A resource may be needed to help you write this section comprehensively. (10 points)
Write three relevant risk factors and three relevant protective influences for this client with regard to the presenting problem. Do not include professional interventions as protective influences. (10 points)
Finally, social workers are required to use the DSM in many settings and must therefore, at least to some extent, work within the perspective of the medical model in conceptualizing problem behaviors, cognitions, and moods. At times this may be inconsistent with the values of our profession, which conceptualizes problems from a more holistic perspective. What ethical conflicts do you see in using the DSM for this case? What elements of the case that you think are important does the DSM miss? What are the benefits and risks of labeling this client with your chosen diagnoses? How can we use diagnosis and assessment to best support this client? You may wish to refer to the NASW Code of Ethics for this section. (20 points)
Write using APA style. (Note: Title page and abstract are not required.) (10 points) Correct grammar, syntax, and punctuation Sentence fluency Smooth transitions Organization A clear and concise argument with no direct quotes Inclusive language Citations and reference page are formatted per APA style.
