Context: Assessment is designed to inform the diagnosis and treatment of any medical and psychological ailment. It is important to understand the criteria for the diagnosis in order to understand how the professional uses assessment methods to inform and enhance treatment interventions.
Psychological assessment is best used in the interest of therapeutic intervention. Diagnoses that are derived from the evaluation inform treatment recommendations and planning. Assessment can also be used to measure progress in therapy and points to continue addressing. While there are many similarities in how human beings respond to traumatic life events, there are also notable differences in how people from different cultural backgrounds react. Many current assessment instruments have been normed on middle-class Americans and therefore may have some limitations in their generalizability to individuals from varied backgrounds.
Description: This learning activity aims to allow you to develop an in-depth comprehension of how professionals use psychological assessment in the interest of understanding and treating trauma-related syndromes. You will draw from the information presented in the required readings in order to do the following:
Write a two- to three-page paper in which you address the following points:
- Look over the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD. Explain criterion G DSM 5
- Elaborate on what it means to have a “co-morbid” condition and why is it important to assess for comorbidity
- What are some examples of co-morbid psychiatric and physical conditions that are often found to be associated with exposure to traumatic life events?
- What could be a community activity to recommend to a friend that could bring public awareness to the needs of persons with PTSD, while at the same time consider Jesuit values put into action? Jesuit Values
(Jesuit values screenshot)
