A client’s description of symptoms and the observations of the clinical social worker are not always reliable when determining a diagnosis for an anxiety disorder. Therefore, anxiety measurements are very useful in clinical practice. An anxiety scale can indicate the level of severity, which helps the clinician determine the appropriate treatment.
For this Discussion, review the case study, “Working with Clients with Severe Persistent Mental Illness: The Case of Emily,” and read the DSM-5 chapters on anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Remember, you will determine a diagnosis for Emily. Also, read the article on anxiety disorders by Olatuni, Cisler, and Tolin (2007). Finally, search the literature for an evidence-based assessment scale that would assist you in your diagnosis.
· Post a clinical diagnosis for Emily based on the information provided in the case study, using the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-5.
· Note that the diagnosis in the case study was based on the DSM-IV. Include other conditions that may be a focus of clinical attention in your diagnosis.
· Compare the two diagnoses, particularly when using a person-in-environment approach.
· What target behaviors and/or symptoms does the scale assess?
· How valid and reliable is the assessment tool?
· How is the scale administered?
· How would this tool help you with your diagnosis?
References (use 3 or more)
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
· “Anxiety Disorders” (pp. 189–223)
· “Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders” (pp. 235–264)
Olatunji, B. O., Cisler, J. M., & Tolin, D. F. (2007). Quality of life in the anxiety disorders: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 27(5), 572–581.
Discussion 2: Policy Proposals
In your reading for this week, you meet Jose and Iris, two individuals who are in situations that require assistance and guidance from a professional social worker and policy advocate.
In this Discussion, create a policy proposal that will impact the situations faced by either Jose or Iris. Describe the trade-offs you used to develop your proposal.
To prepare: In your text, review “Trade-Offs: Systematically Comparing Policy Options in Step 3” in Chapter 8.
· Post a brief summary of the policy proposal and its purpose that you created based on either Jose’s or Iris’s situation and the trade-offs you used to develop your proposal.
References (use 3 or more)
Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series.
· Chapter 8, “Placing Policy Proposals in Policy Briefs in the Second, Third, and Fourth Steps of Policy Analysis” (pp. 246-283)
Plummer, S.-B, Makris, S., Brocksen S. (Eds.). (2014). Social work case studies: Concentration year.Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
Stuart, P. H. (1999). Linking clients and policy: Social work’s distinctive contribution. Social Work, 44(4), 335–347.
Midgley, J., & Livermore, M. M. (Eds.) (2008). The handbook of social policy (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Chapter 6: “The Impact of Social Policy” (pp. 83–100) (PDF)