Assignment: Final Project

The sign of an effective clinician is the
ability to identify the criteria that distinguish the diagnosis from any
other possibility (otherwise known as a differential diagnosis). An
ambiguous clinical diagnosis can lead to a faulty course of treatment
and hurt the client more than it helps. In this Assignment, using the
DSM-5 and all of the skills you have acquired to date, you assess a
client.

This is a culmination of learning from all the weeks covered so far.

To prepare: Use a differential diagnosis
process and analysis of the Mental Status Exam in the case provided by
your instructor to determine if the case meets the criteria for a
clinical diagnosis.

By Day 7

Submit a 4- to 5-page paper in which you:

• Provide the full DSM-5 diagnosis. Remember, a full diagnosis should
  include the name of the disorder, ICD-10-CM code, specifiers, severity,
  and the Z codes (other conditions that may need clinical attention).
• Explain the full diagnosis, matching the symptoms of the case to the criteria for any diagnoses used.
• Identify 2–3 of the close differentials that you considered for the
  case and have ruled out. Concisely explain why these conditions were
  considered but eliminated.
• Identify the assessments you recommend to validate treatment.
  Explain the rationale behind choosing the assessment instruments to
  support, clarify, or track treatment progress for the diagnosis.
• Explain your recommendations for initial resources and treatment.
  Use scholarly resources to support your evidence-based treatment
  recommendations.
• Explain how you took cultural factors and diversity into account when making the assessment and recommending interventions.
• Identify client strengths, and explain how you would utilize strengths throughout treatment.
• Identify specific knowledge or skills you would need to obtain to
  effectively treat this client, and provide a plan on how you will do so.

Will need access to the DSM-5