Between 10% and 20% of the population experience personality disorders. They are difficult to treat as individuals with personality disorders are less likely to seek help than individuals with other mental health disorders. Treatment can be challenging as they do not see their symptoms as painful to themselves or others.
Paraphilic disorders are far more common in men than in women, and generally quite chronic, lasting at least two years. Treatment of these disorders usually involves both psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic treatments.
In this Assignment, you will explore personality and paraphilic disorders in greater detail. You will research potentially controversial elements of the diagnosis and/or treatment and explain ethical and legal considerations when working with these disorders.
To Prepare
- Review this week’s Learning Resources and consider the insights they provide on assessing, diagnosing, and treating personality and paraphilic disorders.
- Select a specific personality or paraphilic disorder from the DSM-5-TR to use for this Assignment.
- Use the Walden Library to investigate your chosen disorder further, including controversial aspects of the disorder, maintaining the therapeutic relationship, and ethical and legal considerations.
The Assignment
In 2–3 pages:
- Explain the controversy that surrounds your selected disorder.
- Explain your professional beliefs about this disorder, supporting your rationale with at least three scholarly references from the literature.
- Explain strategies for maintaining the therapeutic relationship with a patient that may present with this disorder.
- Finally, explain ethical and legal considerations related to this disorder that you need to bring to your practice and why they are important.
Learning Resources
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg77
Sadock, B. J., Sadock, V. A., & Ruiz, P. (2015). Kaplan & Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. (For review as needed)
- Chapter 22, “Personality Disorders”
Thapar, A., Pine, D. S., Leckman, J. F., Scott, S., Snowling, M. J., & Taylor, E. A. (Eds.). (2015). Rutter’s child and adolescent psychiatry (6th ed.). Wiley Blackwell.
- Chapter 67, “Disorders of Personality”
- Chapter 68, “Developmental Risk for Psychopathy”
- Chapter 69, “Gender Dysphoria and Paraphilic Sexual Disorders” (pp. 988–993 only)
Zakhari, R. (2021). The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner certification review manual. Springer Publishing Company.
- Chapter 14, “Personality Disorders”
Required Media (click to expand/reduce)
In 2–3 pages, address the following:
• Explain the controversy that surrounds your selected personality or paraphilic disorder. |
14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
The response includes an accurate and concise explanation of the controversy within the field related to the disorder. |
12 (12%) – 13 (13%)
The response includes an accurate explanation of the controversy within the field related to the disorder. |
11 (11%) – 11 (11%)
The response includes a somewhat vague or inaccurate explanation of the controversy within the field related to the disorder. |
0 (0%) – 10 (10%)
The response includes a vague or inaccurate explanation of the controversy within the field related to the disorder. Or the response is missing. |
• Explain your professional beliefs about your selected disorder, supporting your rationale with at least three scholarly references from the literature. | 23 (23%) – 25 (25%)
The response includes a thorough and well-organized explanation of the student’s professional beliefs about the disorder. Rationale demonstrates critical thinking and is strongly supported with three scholarly references. |
20 (20%) – 22 (22%)
The response includes a well-organized explanation of the student’s professional beliefs about the disorder. Rationale is clear and appropriately supported with three scholarly references. |
18 (18%) – 19 (19%)
The response includes a somewhat vague explanation of the student’s professional beliefs about the disorder. Rationale is somewhat unclear and references either provide weak support for the rationale or are not scholarly/current. |
0 (0%) – 17 (17%)
The response includes a vague explanation of the student’s professional beliefs about the disorder. Rationale is unclear and references are inappropriate. Or the response is missing. |
• Explain strategies for maintaining the therapeutic relationship with a client that may present with the disorder. | 27 (27%) – 30 (30%)
The response includes an accurate and concise explanation of strategies for maintaining the therapeutic relationship with a client that may present with the disorder. |
24 (24%) – 26 (26%)
The response includes an accurate explanation of strategies for maintaining the therapeutic relationship with a client that may present with the disorder. |
21 (21%) – 23 (23%)
The response includes a somewhat vague or incomplete explanation of strategies for maintaining the therapeutic relationship with a client that may present with the disorder. |
0 (0%) – 20 (20%)
The response includes a vague or inaccurate explanation of strategies for maintaining the therapeutic relationship with a client that may present with the disorder. Or the response is missing. |
• Finally, explain ethical and legal considerations related to the disorder that you need to bring to your practice and why they are important. | 14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
The response includes an accurate and concise explanation of ethical and legal considerations related to the disorder that are important to clinical practice and why they are important. |
12 (12%) – 13 (13%)
The response includes an accurate explanation of ethical and legal considerations related to the disorder that are important to clinical practice and why they are important. |
11 (11%) – 11 (11%)
The response includes a somewhat vague or incomplete explanation of ethical and legal considerations related to the disorder that are important to clinical practice and why they are important. |
0 (0%) – 10 (10%)
The response includes a vague and inaccurate explanation of ethical and legal considerations related to the disorder that are important to clinical practice and why they are important. Or, response is missing. |
Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization:
Paragraphs make clear points that support well-developed ideas, flow logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused—neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction are provided that delineate all required criteria. |
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion are provided that delineate all required criteria. |
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment are stated, yet they are brief and not descriptive. |
3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%–79% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment are vague or off topic. |
0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity < 60% of the time. No purpose statement, introduction, or conclusion were provided. |
Written Expression and Formatting – English writing standards:
Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation |
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors |
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Contains 1-2 grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors |
3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Contains 3-4 grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors |
0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Contains five or more grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding |
Written Expression and Formatting – The paper follows correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbers, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list. | 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct APA format with no errors |