write a paper in paragraph form about Just Checking by Emily Colas fallowing these guidelines; Guidelines for Abnormal Psychology Applied Paper
Although a broad outline of the Applied Paper assignment is found in the course syllabus,
the following is an expanded set of guidelines intended to help make sure that you’re able
to earn a high grade on the assignment by covering all relevant material in adequate
detail.
Subject: You should write about someone who has battled a diagnosable psychological
disorder (even if they’ve never been formally diagnosed). The subject of your
observations needs to be someone who is both: (a) the subject of a published biography,
memoir, or autobiography; and (b) someone who can be diagnosed with one or more
psychological disorders according to DSM-5 criteria.
Major Elements of the Paper include: (a) a description of relevant phenomena, (b)
diagnosis; (c) discussion of etiology; (d) treatment recommendations; and (e) two
references.
Description (30 pts): It will be important to describe in detail all relevant symptoms or
abnormal behaviors and their effect on the subject’s ability to function - including
variations over time or across different situations. You’ll want to give multiple examples
of each symptom (and be sure to note when one began), and also note any waxing and
waning of symptoms over time. For each symptom, be sure to note the page
number(s) from the book where it’s described. (If it’s an electronic book, you can use
the numbering system of the e-book you’re using.) The best papers will report a clear
description of what the disorder is like from the subject’s point of view, and whenever
possible, the perspective of objective observers. (If it’s an autobiography or a personal
memoir, you may be limited to the author’s own limited subjective account, which is fine
if that’s all you have to work with.) In most cases, this section should require at least 3
pages to provide an adequate level of detail and case illustration.
Diagnosis (25 pts): On the basis of symptoms described in the above section, you’ll need
to arrive at a diagnosis based upon DSM-5 criteria. In some cases, your subject will meet
criteria for more than one diagnosis (e.g., major depressive disorder and OCD), and in
such cases it’ll be important to cover each diagnosis that’s relevant. Likewise, in some
cases it will be important to rule out a diagnosis that your subject doesn’t have, in those
cases where they exhibit some symptoms of the disorder but don’t actually meet
diagnostic criteria. (For example, a depressed subject might experience a few weeks of
hypomanic symptoms while taking a stimulant medication, but at no other time – in
which case you can rule out bipolar disorder.) For each relevant diagnosis, you’ll need
to: (a) provide an outline of the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for the disorder (preferably in
bullet-point or numbered-outline format), and (b) explain very clearly – based on the
description of symptoms you’ve provided in the first section of the paper – exactly how
the person meets (or fails to meet) each of those key diagnostic criteria elements (e.g.,
“loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities”), and why a specific diagnosis is
warranted. Please note: If your subject meets DSM criteria for several disorders,
you can simply pick the TWO most significant disorders (i.e., the two that have the
biggest impact on functioning), and limit your discussion to those two.
Etiology (25 pts): You’ll need to include a discussion of etiology – i.e., discuss various
factors that may help explain what caused each disorder. Don’t just include those factors
or precipitating events that are discussed in the book, but discuss all factors that be
relevant based upon what you know about the etiology of the disorder in question.
Relevant factors to consider will often include: genetics, brain function, stressful events,
social support (or lack thereof), and psychological factors like rumination, body image,
self-esteem, hopelessness, etc. If the subject’s symptoms have fluctuated over time, you
can also try to hypothesize regarding what might have influenced the remission or
reappearance of symptoms from one period of time to the next.
Treatment Considerations (20 pts): Be sure to describe any treatment(s) the person has
received, and to document what sort of treatment response the subject experienced. In
addition, you should include a description of other major treatment options (including
drug therapy, psychotherapy, and – in many cases – alternative treatments like exercise,
omega-3 supplementation, etc.). Finally, you can include any treatment
recommendations you may have for the subject based on your analysis of relevant
treatment options.
References: You’ll need to include at least two outside references, but one of them can
be the DSM-5. Any other published scholarly article or book will do – preferably one
that covers the treatment or etiology of your subject’s disorder(s). You can use any style
for references you prefer (APA, MLA, etc.).
Page Length: It will be difficult to write an A paper in fewer than 9-10 pages (double-
spaced). However, you are welcome to exceed that page-length guideline if you choose,
especially if your subject has multiple diagnoses.
Due Date: The paper is technically due on Sunday, May 7 at 11:59 pm, although papers
will be accepted with no penalty as late as Friday, May 12, 2017 at 5:00pm. (Papers
turned in by the 5/7/17 deadline will also receive a +3 “on-time bonus”.) All papers must
be turned in both electronic and hard-copy forms. The electronic copy must be uploaded
on Blackboard (under Assignments) and the hard copy may be turned in either to Dr.
Ilardi in person or to the main Psych Office on the 4th floor of Fraser Hall, or it may be
slid under the door of Dr. Ilardi’s office in 410 Fraser. Please note: Applied Papers
turned in after 5pm on May 12 will be reduced in grade by 10% for each day beyond the
due date they are turned in.