The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was originally developed in 1952 to help doctors and counselors across the country standardize the classifications of mental disorders in the American population. Throughout the intervening years, the DSM has gone through several revisions, establishing specific diagnostic criteria for each disorder listed, and revising disorders as more was understood about their origins, symptoms, and treatments. The DSM III (1980) marks the point when substance use disorders were moved to a category of their own, separate from personality disorders. Today, the current DSM lists the diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders.
While these standardized diagnostic practices have been in use for more than sixty years, there are some pros and cons in the use of the DSM diagnoses of substance use disorders in the assessment of clients.
Complete the following requirements:
- Evaluate, in detail, the pros and cons of using DSM diagnoses as the primary classification structure for clients with substance use disorders.
- Examine the assessment types used to diagnose clients with substance use. Choose two of these assessments that would not only help to diagnose the substance use disorder, but would also assess the whole person. Explain them fully.
- Compare and contrast the two assessments chosen regarding how they will evaluate the whole person and not just the specific DSM diagnostic criteria.
- Justify the value of using assessments that evaluate the whole person rather than just the specific DSM diagnostic criteria.
Use scholarly resources to support your work.
Write a 3–4 page paper in Word format. Apply APA standards to citation of resources.
Assignment 2a
Due Monday 12/1/14
Diagnosis for Substance Use Disorder with Co-occurring Disorder
In your professional capacity as a substance abuse counselor, you are not permitted to give diagnoses for mental disorders other than those related to substance abuse. However, you will likely be exposed to clients with mental health disorders in the assessment or treatment process. The competent substance abuse evaluator will be able to identify clients who present mental health disorders and make the appropriate referrals. Providing appropriate referrals for clients is common in the substance abuse field.
This assignment has two parts. Complete both parts.
Part I
Create a case history for a person with an addiction and a mental disorder. Do not include identifying information. Include the following elements in your case history:
- Demographics—including age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, marital status, number and ages of children, living arrangements, and religion if applicable
- Presenting problem
- Previous psychiatric treatment of patient
- Previous chemical treatment of patient
- Chemical history
- Medical history—including disabilities if applicable
- Work and education history
- Legal or financial concerns
- Family background
- Concerned person involvement
- Referral source
Part II
Analyze the case history and present your diagnosis as related to substance use disorders. Include the following in your diagnosis:
- Summarize key case study elements you would use to formulate a diagnosis and guide your treatment plan.
- Identify at least two assessment tools that you would use to formulate a diagnosis. Justify why you have selected these tools.
- State your diagnosis related to substance use disorders. Justify your reasons for your diagnosis.
- Identify other concerns and offer recommendations and referral opportunities. Justify your reasons and explanations.
Write a 3–4-page report in Word format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.
Assignment 3
Due Friday 12/5/14
Working with special populations in any field can present challenges that require special competencies. This is particularly true in the substance abuse field. There are many cultural factors that contribute to substance abuse and influence assessment and treatment approaches. In addition, specific demographic factors such as age, socioeconomic status, family composition, and parenting styles can influence the development of these disorders and have to be addressed in the assessment and treatment plan. The success or failure of treatment can be directly related to the accommodation of these factors.
Use the module readings and the Argosy University online library resources to research cultural competency.
Review the following list and select one population group for use in this assignment:
- Deaf and hard of hearing
- Native Americans and Alaskan Natives
- Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders
- Spanish Americans
- Persons with disabilities
- Children and adolescents
- Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT)
Respond to the following in a PowerPoint presentation:
- Explain how you would work with that population with cultural competency. Specifically address substance abuse.
- Describe the particular issues that might arise when working with a client from your selected special population.
Include detailed speaker’s notes and one slide with references.
Develop a 6–8-slide presentation in PowerPoint format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.
Assignment 4
Due 12/12/14
Substance Abuse Assessments Across the Lifespan
Substance abuse assessments have very different purposes for different populations. For instance, an assessment for treatment of victims will look different from a court-mandated assessment relating to criminal behavior. For another example, an assessment for an adolescent would likely emphasize peer influence more so than it would for an adult. These demographic factors significantly influence the assessment as it relates to treatment planning or other recommendations.
Use the module readings and the Argosy University online library resources to research types of substance abuse assessments for different demographics.
Select three substance abuse assessments for use in this assignment. Your choices should represent three different age populations such as the elderly, adults, adolescents, or children.
Review the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) patient placement criteria for the treatment of substance-related disorders at the following:
- Mee-Lee, D. (2005). Overview of the ASAM patient placement criteria, second edition revised (ASAM PPC-2R). Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Retrieved from
http://www.samhsa.gov/co-occurring/topics/screening-and-
assessment/asam-overview.aspx - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2001). KAP KEYS Based on TIP 13: The role and current status of patient placement criteria in the treatment of substance use disorders. Retrieved from
http://integratedrecovery.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/TIP13-KAP.Keys_.pdf
Complete the following:
- Describe the ASAM patient placement criteria for the treatment of substance-related disorders.
- Describe the three selected types of substance abuse assessments that you might use. Be sure that your choices represent three different age populations such as the elderly, adults, adolescents, or children.
- Compare and contrast the information being collected in each of the three assessments and describe the areas of concern. Ask, for example, does it include client presentation and functioning, current use and history, high-risk behavior, first exposure, consequences of addiction, culture, life skills, work, vocation, education, health, recreation, or spirituality? Present the comparison of the four types of substance abuse assessments in a table.
- Explain special considerations, including ethical issues, which would apply to the different populations selected.
- Evaluate the importance of having assessment tools for clients in each developmental life stage.
Create an 8–10 slide PowerPoint presentation to present your findings to other substance abuse counselors. Include the table comparing the three types of substance abuse assessments. Apply APA standards to citation of sources in your slides. Use the speaker notes in the slide show to further discuss the topics on each slide. In addition, make sure you have a title slide and a slide with references (in APA format).
