Termpaper Guidelines

Instructor:        Donette Steele M.A.

PAPER:           Paper must be type-written, double-spaced, font-  12pt or less, and a minimum of four pages. The paper Written must reflect. accepted college grammar and style. Points will be deducted for misspellings and improper use of grammar. No covers of any type. Use a cover page, stapled in upper left hand corner, indicating title, name, day and time you attend class.  Papers will not be accepted later than the due date (day of class final) and failure submit paper will result in a grade of F (0%) on the assignment. 

Each Section (Part) should begin on a new page.

The Term Paper will not be assessed according to the actual right or wrong diagnosis. The paper is intended to acquaint you with how a psychologist assesses  a disorder and plans a treatment program for an individual. It is also to intended to familiarize you with the psychological and biological aspects related to the disorder you choose.  You will also be looking at psychological treatments and the use of  psychopharmacological medication.

Guideline for Paper ( The paper needs to follow the format below)

Term paper will be based on a Psychological Evaluation, plus the Psychological  and  Biological Explanation of the disorder and Treatment Plan.  A DSM diagnosis is required.  You may assess a character from a book, movie or television program. The character you choose must accurately portray the mental illness. **

Format for Term Paper

PART ONE

Clinical Interview

Identifying Information (Age, race, martiaI status, education, etc.,  whatever else you deem relevant.)

 Presenting Problem

(What is going on with your client that is of concern regarding their mental health)

 Brief History

(Examples of-specific behaviors in which the presenting problem is shown, is treatment voluntary or mandated)

 Behavioral Observations

(Behavior at the time of Evaluation such as dress, mental state, speech patterns, mood, ability to focus, general health, hygiene, oriented in present etc.)

 Summary (Summarize the above points into one paragraph)

Section one should be written in paragraph form in third party format.   

PART TWO

 Biological and Psychological Explanation of the Disorder

 Pharmacological Treatments used for Disorder - Medications used in conjunction with therapy

 Psychological Treatment - Therapy for the Disorder (type of therapy normally used to treat the type of disorder you have chosen.)

 Discuss Therapy Chosen - Discuss how medication and therapy work to treat the disorder

PART THREE

DSM-IV Diagnosis: (Must Have Code Number for Axis I and/or II)

Note:   A client may or may not have an Axis I and/or Axis II diagnosis -if no diagnosis is indicated for one of these Axis put: None

Axis I: __________________(Clinical Disorders)

Axis II:__________________(Personality Disorders, Mental Retardation)

Axis III: ____________________General Medical Conditions

Axis IV: Psychosocial and Environmental Problems

Axis V: Global Assessment of Functioning Score (See DSM)

<****This next area is not to be included in the term paper for the paper. It is a worksheet to assist you with Axis IV and Axis V *****>

Specify: Problems with primary support group:

Problems related to the social environment:

Educational problems:_____________________

Occupational problems:____________________

Housing problems:________________________

Economic Problems_______________________

Problems with health care access___________

Interactive Problems with Legal system/crime:

Other psychosocial and environmental problems __________________*******

PART FOUR

Justification of Diagnosis

How did you arrive at your DSM-IV Diagnosis? How did the subject meet the requirements for your Axis assignments?  List complete criteria from DSM-IV and specify which criteria your client meets.

DUE ON DAY OF COURSE FINAL: Project may be completed individually or in a group of two individuals. If done as a group project, each team member is responsible for the entire project and each member of the group will receive the same grade

**This means do not use a movie, such as Me, Myself and Irene. Although thought to be funny by some, this movie does not accurately represent the mental illness of Dissociative Identity Disorder.