Step One: Choosing the Disorder Find the DSM-5 in the library/MC Library Online and summarize the chosen disorder by name, presentation, prevalence, and clinical criteria for diagnosis. This will be the introduction to your paper (starting page #3). Remember, no other reference will be in your introduction than the DSM-5. This should be several well written/comprehensive paragraphs introducing the disorder to the reader. It needs to close with a smooth transition to treatment course… Step 2: Researching Treatments Treatment Course: As a psychotherapist, I work with clients to help chart a pathway of care so their lives will be less distressing, dysfunctional, dangerous, and/or deviant. This treatment course could include medication management along with psychotherapy and strong wellness plan. For the purpose of your paper, you are going to research (scholarly journals only- see librarian for search issues if you do not know how to do this) and find the most current/effective biomedical approaches (medication, implants, surgeries, etc), psychotherapies (CBT, MBCT, DBT, etc.), and wellness approaches and summarize the most effective. For example, if you chose depression you will certainly discuss SSRI, Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors because they are the first line treatment medically. However, you would not only want to treat with just medication, the person would need to work with a therapist to address depressive thought patterns, irrational thought patterns that sustain depressive symptoms. In addition, living a healthy lifestyle for one who is depressed is essential: nutrition, exercise, mindfulness medication, yoga are all evidence based strategies to combat depression and nearly all other disorders. So, no matter which you choose- your paper will address the biomedical approach, psychotherapy approach, and wellness related activities that would benefit a person with the chosen disorder. These are treatments that are started at the time of treatment planning- not separately. I always see people write: if the medication does not work, then start psychotherapy- NO… a strong treatment approach has all working at the same time unless there are individual reasons why they cannot. People need to be working with strong intent daily to manage their symptoms implementing their skills learned in therapy, taking their medication (when indicated), eating well, exercising, using breathwork, and mindfulness meditation/stress reduction skills. You will be summarizing your findings in those three realms (biomedical, psychotherapy, and wellness- be sure to include Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction). Step 3: Preparation and Submission So…preparation begins the moment you contemplate your topic! You will be preparing this as a formal APA Style research paper. APA is the American Psychological Association’s style of preparing a formal journal articles and research papers. Part of the learning objectives of all accredited General Psychology classes is for all students to be exposed and trained in APA style of preparation. You have an enormous amount of support through the library services both online and at the college. In fact the DSM-5 is available through the online library so you can browse the categories and choose the specific disorder! In addition, all information on APA formating is available there as well! Your paper will be a minimum of 8 full pages, 10-12 point font, double spaced. The first page is the APA style cover page, the second page is the Abstract which is a short summary of the paper (about 120 words), and beginning on page 3 is the formal essay component followed by the reference section. There is a pretty good explanation on regarding APA guidelines. Also, the MC Online Library has fantastic resources for APA formatting. So, you will need to find at least five current peer reviewed journals (contact library if you have questions about finding peer reviewed journals and databases) and the DSM-5 to support your paper. The DSM-5 is only to be used for the introduction/beginning of your essay- summarize the presentation of the disorder, prevalence, and criteria. No other book is to be used. Once this part is complete, you will provide a smooth transition towards the treatments (biomedical, psychotherapeutic, and wellness) using at least five peer reviewed journal articles.
