Diagnosis and Assessment in Clinical Social Work Practice

Catalog description

The Diagnosis and Assessment in Clinical Social Work Practice course addresses the etiology, nature, course and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders across the life development cycle. Diagnosis and assessment will be examined through the diversity lenses of age, ability, color, culture, education, ethnicity, family structure, gender identity, gender expression, identity, marital/relationship status, nationality/national origin, race, religion/spirituality, sex, sexual identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status or other distinguishing characteristics or traits and other aspects of diversity and how they shape how symptoms of mental illness are experienced, interpreted and expressed. An extensive selection from the major categories of mental health and substance use disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) will be addressed in the course, although it will not be possible to examine all disorders listed in the DSM in class. Understanding and applying the DSM manual as a clinical assessment tool, along with an overview to psychopharmacology, and the nature and role of risk and protective factors associated with suicidal and violent behavior will also be addressed. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of culture in the diagnostic process.