1) What do you think is the most appropriate diagnosis for Zac?
• Considered evidence regarding diagnosis – consider Zach’s symptoms / evidence
• Considered alternative options for diagnosis – acknowledge diagnosis of other possibilities – evidence for
all different types of illness here
• Considered possible comorbid conditions – can Zach have several diagnoses? Argue for one primary, but
provide evidence, logic, and reason to alternative diagnosis (stay stronger to diagnosis but discuss 2
possible illnesses)
2) Should Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) be considered as a first-line treatment option for
Zach’s problem?
Describe what the therapy is, what it does, and how – “ACT is actually this and does this (what it involves)
aspect of mindfulness, aspect of …
• Identified relevant treatment research studies – studies that have assessed the therapy in the treatment
setting(stay away from correlational study - one group gets ACT & one group does not get ACT, see
results), randomized control trails = good study
• Critically evaluated treatment research studies – can you trust the evidence (reliable, validity, sample,
condition with illness) results = strong studies or not (point weaknesses out of studies) can we trust the
research - critically evaluate it, do not describe
• Considered criteria for empirically supported treatments – discuss ACT with the following terms:
o “efficacious and specific†– 2 or more independent research groups have found that the treatment leads to
a better outcome than another treatment or nonspecific control
ACT vs. no treatment
ACT compared to other treatments “ex. poppy therapy†(2 or more groups of samples)
o “efficacious†– at least two independent research teams have shown the treatment to be more efficacious
than its absence
o “possibly efficacious†– supported by evidence from only one research group awaiting replication
Sample Solution