Section 1. Nature and scope of this disorder/problem (25 points).
• Definition of the disorder/problem.
• Describe the predominant symptom behaviors associated with the disorder.
• Characteristics of the disorder/problem: course of the disorder (acute-chronic), typical age of onset, degree(s) of impairment, and any other salient characteristics of the disorder/problem.
• Discussion of demographics including prevalence among the general population as well as regarding gender, race/ethnicity, age, urban vs. rural, socio/economic/cultural background, and sexual orientation.
• Has this diagnosis been applied disproportionately to any specific group?
• Discuss contributing factors: neurobiological, genetic, familial influences, as well as socio- environmental conditions that may impact on the onset or course of the disorder (e.g. discrimination, poverty, environmental toxins, illness, accidents, etc.).
Section 2. Brief history of the problem and how it has been treated through the years (25 points).
• How long has this problem appeared through history?
• Past attempts to understand and address this problem (e.g. institutionalization, imprisonment, blood-letting, religious rituals, culture-bound strategies, etc.)?
• When was this disorder first formally recognized as a mental health disorder? When did it first appear in DSM? What different “labels” have been used to identify this disorder? Current differential diagnoses? Comorbidity?
• What formal treatment approaches have been used with this problem (e.g., psychoanalysis, behavior therapy, pharmacotherapy, CBT, etc.)? What does the literature say about the effectiveness of these treatment?
• Discuss the level of stigma or negative biases associated with this disorder.
Section 3. Critical discussion of an evidence-based approach. Discuss an empirical research study on the use of cognitive-behavioral or behavioral approach) used to address this problem (40 pts).
In this section you will select an empirical study from a scholarly journal and provide a critical analysis that includes:
• Purpose of the study.
• Description of the setting where the study took place and where the participants came from: hospital, community agency, mental health facility, college or university, etc.
• Demographic characteristics of the participants: age, sex, race/ethnicity, etc.
• What was the research hypothesis?
• Brief, general description of methodology: How were the participants selected? Random selection/assignment? Experimental design? Quasi-experimental? Control group? Pre-post?
• Describe the intervention: What took place during the actual treatment sessions? [This is an important aspect of this assignment so be sure to select a study that describes the intervention used.] How was the intervention delivered? Individual? Group? Daily? Weekly? Was there homework?
• How was progress measured? How frequent? What instruments were used to measure outcomes?
• What were the outcomes of the study? Did the findings support the hypothesis? Were there significant differences/changes? Non-significant? In your own words critique the effectiveness of this strategy with this psychopathology.
• How many participants started? How many completed? If there were significant number of dropouts, did the authors discuss why this happened?
• Conclusions from the study and authors’ recommendations for future research?
• In your own words discuss the strengths and/or limitations of this study. For this discussion you may want to address the composition of the sample, diversity, and methodology. What did you find particularly helpful (or not helpful) about this study?
• In your own words discuss what treatment challenges a social worker might find when working with this disorder. Consider possible issues related to values and ethics, client resistance, family, socio/economic/cultural issues (race/ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, poverty), or any other relevant issues that you deem appropriate.
Sample Solution