Assignment: Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
Write a case history describing a fictional child or adolescent who meets DSM-5 criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), reactive attachment disorder, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), an anxiety disorder, or a depressive disorder. This should be written using a professional writing style (similar to the case studies in the Wilmshurst text), as if you are the psychologist that provided the assessment and treatment. The paper should be a total of 5-6 pages (double-spaced). No references are needed, but the information should be accurate based on material summarized in your textbook and lecture slides. Please include the name of the diagnosis you have chosen in the title or heading of your paper. The paper should include the following sections and subheadings:
Part I: Background Information
a. Demographics and context: In no more than one paragraph, describe basic demographics for your fictional child (i.e., name, age, gender) and any other important background information (i.e., SES, culture, family context)
b. Reason for seeking services: Describe the reason the family brought the child in for evaluation
Part II: Symptoms and DSM-5 Diagnosis
Imagine that you have completed a semi-structured clinical interview with the child and his or her parents. In this section, summarize the information that you obtained from the interview about the child's symptoms.
a. Symptoms: Describe the symptoms presented by the child. Don't just list the symptoms from the DSM--- describe what they look like in this child's life by providing an example of how the child has displayed each symptom. Most children do not exhibit all of the possible symptoms for a particular disorder, so choose a set of symptoms that you think would go together, and would be sufficient to result in the diagnosis you have chosen.
b. Onset and Duration: How long has the child been experiencing these symptoms and when did they first start?
c. Impairment: Explain how these symptoms have resulted in sufficient impairment in the child's functioning to warrant a diagnosis. Include information about what settings the symptoms occur in and what problems they have caused for the child and/or family.
d. DSM-5 Diagnosis: List the diagnosis that the child qualifies for based on the above symptoms and impairment.
e. Differential Diagnosis: Please indicate one alternative diagnosis that you considered, and the reasons why you ultimately chose the current diagnosis instead.
Part III: Suspected Causes
The purpose of this section is to demonstrate that you have some understanding of the potential causes for the disorder that you have chosen. Since all of these disorders are caused by a combination of biological, cognitive, and social factors, please describe one factor for each domain that you suspect may have had a causal influence on the onset of this disorder. This information should be based on causes that were discussed in your textbook, supplementary readings, and or lecture slides.
a. Biological: State one or more plausible biological factor that might contribute to this disorder (i.e. a genetic polymorphism or alteration in brain structure or function, neurotransmitter function, or neuroendocrine function). Since in many cases the details of the biological alterations are still unclear, just naming the parts of the brain or the neurotransmitter or neuroendocrine systems that are believed to be altered is sufficient (i.e., 1 or 2 sentences is okay).
b. Social-contextual: Describe any relationship problems or stressors in the social environment that you suspect might have contributed to the onset of the disorder.
c. Cognitive: Describe 2 or more cognitive biases or distortions that you suspect might have contributed to the onset of the disorder. Give specific examples of the types of thoughts the child is having that you believe are dysfunctional.
Part IV: Treatment and Disposition
Imagine that following the assessment you provided 16 sessions of evidence-based psychotherapy. Choose an evidence-based psychotherapeutic approach (i.e. an approach that is supported as at least moderately effective by current research evidence) that would be appropriate for treating your disorder in a child of the age you have selected.
a. Psychotherapeutic Treatment: State what type of therapy you chose to implement (i.e. CBT, DBT, IPT, exposure with response prevention) and why? What were the major components of the treatment? Give examples of at least two skills that were taught and two specific activities that were done as part of treatment.
b. Disposition:
1. Current Status and Diagnosis: Summarize how well the child responded to treatment and whether they still meet full criteria for the disorder or not. What DSM-5 diagnosis (if any) did they receive at the end of treatment?
2. Follow-up Services: Are there any follow-up evaluations the family should seek to rule out possible comorbid conditions (i.e. learning disorders, other internalizing or externalizing disorders). Or are there any additional treatment options they should consider, such as consultation for medication with a psychiatrist, school-based services, or parent training to address parenting issues? Choose at least one follow-up evaluation or intervention to recommend and explain why it is recommended.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.