This assignment focuses on vignette analysis and direct application of course concepts to the persons and situations presented in the vignette for each question.   All discussions must take into account the legal and ethical considerations, as well as issues of culture and human diversity that may pertain to the situation presented below.  Cultural information is in both the course text and DSM 5. You may use alternative cultural resources to enhance your work. Legal/Ethical information is in Chapter 16 (Kring, et al 2014). You are also encouraged to familiarize yourself with and apply the laws and ethics of mental health professionals in your state or country.

Use the reading assignments thoroughly in an integrative discussion. Remember to reference all work cited or quoted by the text author. You should be doing this often in your responses

You are encouraged to use the DSM-5 Level I Assessment Measure(s) to formulate your diagnosis: 
http://www.psychiatry.org/practice/dsm/dsm5/online-assessment-measures#Level1

Please keep your responses focused on what is presented in the vignette. Do not add information but use your creativity to support what you see in the vignette as written.  Avoid elaborations and assumptions. This assignment MUST be typed, double-spaced, in APA style, and must be written at graduate-level English.

Assignment should be 5-6 pages total plus a title and reference page

An example of how to approach these vignettes can be found under Additional Resources

Vignette Three

Jackie is a 35 year old European American woman who is referred to you by her primary care physician.

Her husband George, a 45 year old man of Native-American descent, is present for this first session.

Jackie tells you that her doctor is overreacting. “Just because I lost 10 more pounds, he thinks I have an eating disorder. He’s ridiculous.  Don’t I look a bit pudgy to you?”  You notice Jackie is dressed in loose fitting clothes, looking painfully thin. Jackie tells you, “I gained a lot of weight as a kid hoping to keep my

old man off of me. It didn’t work, so I started cutting to stop the rage.  A lot of my friends were cutting back then. And making yourself throw up was the norm in high school. Sure was a quick way to knock off those pounds! Jackie and George have been married for 5 years.  The couple has a 4 year old daughter. Prior to George, Jackie admits to being in several “mutually-abuse” relationships. She describes George as, “ a passive softie. He hates conflict. Sometimes he’s so boring, but he loves me no matter what.”  George is reluctant to comment on his wife’s behavior. He does tell you, “I worry about our little girl.  She looks so scared sometimes when Jackie is having one of her episodes.  When Jackie doesn’t get her way, things start flying across the room.”

Consider Eating and Personality Disorders

1.     Taking into account the genetic, neurobiological, sociocultural, familial and environmental factors of assessment and diagnosis, what are your diagnostic thoughts for Jackie? What might be going on with George? Use the DSM-5 criteria to formulate your diagnostic impressions for Jackie and possibly for George, supporting what you see in the vignette that supports your diagnostic impressions.

2.     Using the psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions discussed in the text, describe an initial treatment plan for Jackie and George. Remember to treat the persons in the vignette, and not the diagnosis. Also remember to consider culture and legal/ethical issues.

 Assignment Outcomes

Assess the major diagnostic categories of the DSM 5

Evaluate legal and ethical issues related to psychopathology

Consider the impact of culture and human diversity issues

Examine current research on the theory treatment and prevention of mental illnessExplore the existing etiologic theories of psychopathology and the supportive research

when such exists