The University has designated this course as writing intensive so you will be required to write a 3,000-word paper (including references) based on a review of the psychological disorder of your choice from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). You should write as if you are giving a case presentation to a team of psychologists while using APA formatting and style. This means you should use language that is more formal than a conversation about a TV character among friends or a magazine article (avoid contractions etc.), but still as simple and concise as possible.
Your paper will be due at the beginning of class on 12/02/19 (10% off for each day it is late, beginning at the due date/time). All papers must be word-processed or typed. The paper will focus on one DSM-5 psychopathology/disorder. You must email me to inform me of your chosen disorder by 10/16/2019 so it may be approved beforehand. You may access the DSM-5 here:
When writing your term paper, you will start by giving a brief imaginary case example of someone with the disorder and then describe how the persons symptoms meet the DSM-5 criteria for the disorder using examples. You may choose to write about a movie or book character as your case example if you wish or make up an imaginary character. Next, you will hypothesize about the etiology (potential causes) of the disorder (using empirical articles), and explain some effects the disorder has on the individuals social or school/job functioning. Then, you should describe what you think would be the best treatment option and why. You may describe more than one treatment option (e.g. discussing why one treatment would be better than another), but each treatment option must have been demonstrated to be effective EMPIRICALLY. You should go to the library and find at least two outside peer-reviewed articles (not books), one that bolsters your treatment decision and another that provides supporting evidence for possible causes of the disorder. These sources must be cited it in the text in APA format (Author, Year) and with a reference page where you list your references in APA format at the end of the document. Use OneSearch or PsychINFO on-line databases in the library to find a list of possible articles.
If you decide to write about a character from a book/tv show/movie and the way the character is portrayed is not consistent with the DSM-5 criteria for the disorder (e.g. they do not demonstrate all of the required symptoms), make sure you discuss this. Explain how the writer(s) got it wrong and provide examples of other symptoms the character would need to demonstrate to meet full criteria. Also, if the story does not fully explain how the character developed the disorder, hypothesize about possible causes based on known etiological factors (and cite studies which provide evidence that these factors contribute to the development of the disorder)
All final versions of the papers should be submitted through the turnitin.com link on our UH Blackboard page prior to the deadline. The paper is worth 150 points. It may not be dropped in lieu of a test score. Be sure to present clear symptoms that fit a disorder. If you misdiagnose your case or recommend a treatment for which you cannot cite empirical support, you will automatically lose 10 points off your paper grade. Get your papers in on time. Late papers will be docked 10% per day.
– Your paper will utilize APA format headings to identify sections in which you discuss the case description; DSM-5 diagnostic criteria (please write out in complete sentences); Etiology (bio and/or psychosocial causes of his/her disorder); D) Impairment (work, school, social?); and Treatments (empirically supported).
– At least 2 peer-reviewed references are required. Provide in-text citations and a reference list in APA style format. I suggest visiting Purdue OWL or checking the APA style guide to ensure your references are formatted correctly because sometimes sources are printed in other formats (https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html)
– All papers must be submitted as a word document using the Turnitin.com link on BlackBoard. All materials must be original and cannot come from papers. Make sure you cite your sources! You may use direct quotes sparingly (e.g. no more than 2-3 direct quotes consisting of a couple sentences). You should try and describe information in your own words as much as possible and if you do quote another source directly you must use quotations marks, otherwise you are plagiarizing.
Note: Poor grades on this assignment are almost always due to omitting required information or unacceptable clarity. It is highly suggested you confirm you’ve included all required elements (**including headings in APA format**) and proofread your paper to ensure each sentence is complete and the flow is satisfactory. The writing center is great for help with this. Previous TAs have frequently expressed surprise at the number of papers that clearly had not been read by their authors. This should be a part of your process every time you write. Being able to effectively communicate in writing is an important skill and skipping this last step can make or break your paper (and your grade).
Term Paper Tips & Tricks
Topic
Make sure you choose one disorder that is included in the DSM-5 and that you are using the correct terminology for the disorder. You should not choose a broad class of disorders (such as eating disorders, instead chose one, such as anorexia nervosa). Also, do not chose a disorder that is not found in the DSM-5 [e.g. psychopathy (which is a type of trait studied in the research domain, though similar symptoms are encompassed by the DSM-5 diagnosis antisocial personality disorder as an alternative), sex addiction, Aspergers syndrome (which has been removed from the DSM and is not covered by autism spectrum disorder), Multiple Personality Disorder (the correct name is Dissociative Identity Disorder)]. I would recommend checking the DSM-5 for the disorder you choose if it was not covered in the course material. Please email me by 10/16/2019 with your chosen disorder so I may approve it.
Structure
Make sure you include an introduction and a conclusion. The introduction should contain the main argument/idea that you will be conveying in your essay and provide an overview of what you will be discussing, referencing the main points from key sections. However, avoid directly referencing your essay (e.g. this essay will focus on). The conclusion should provide a summary of what you discussed in your essay and revisit the main idea/argument.
Sections
The etiology section should focus on potential causes of the disorder (e.g. biological, genetic, psychosocial). Go beyond general statements about different types of etiological factors. For example, if you are discussing genetic contributions, provide supporting research indicating how heritable the disorder is (e.g. % heritability) or specific genes thought to be associated with the disorder and the specific processes/behaviors that they are related to. In most cases there are genetic contributions and psychosocial contributions to the development of a disorder, so it is not enough to simply say that genetics likely play a role as well as social factors, ect.
In the DSM-5 Criteria section, make sure you go beyond a simple description of the disorder or even copying the DSM-5 Criteria. Describe how the person/character meets the full DSM-5 criteria for the disorder by discussing their specific symptoms and providing examples. Be as specific as possible. For example, instead of saying your character worries all the time, you could say that your character frequently worries about her romantic relationship, her finances, and her family, and these worries last all day long. If you choose a character that does not meet full criteria based on how they are depicted in a tv show/book/movie, describe how the authors got it wrong and give examples of additional symptoms they would need to demonstrate to meet full criteria.
In the treatment section, make sure you provide a source that indicates that the treatment is effective. If you discuss psychotherapy options, discuss the specific processes involved. The website for division 12 of the APA is great reference because it lists empirically supported treatments for many disorders (https://www.div12.org/treatments/). However, you should not simply cite this website as your source, refer to research from peer-reviewed journal articles to support your claims.
The functional impairment section should describe how the disorder impacts or interferes with the person/characters functioning in different domains of life (e.g. social, romantic, family, job/school, leisure activities, suicide risk). Thus, this should go beyond a discussion of symptoms of the disorder (which should be the focus of the DSM-5 Criteria section). If a book/tv show/movie does not do a good job demonstrating functional impairment in certain areas, you may hypothesize about how the character might show impairment or whether they are at risk for any negative outcomes (e.g. suicide, losing their job, health conditions, ect.)
Language
Be cognizant of the language you use when describing people who have been diagnosed with psychological disorders. There is already stigma surrounding mental health in our society so we should be careful not to contribute to this problem with our terminology. Avoid phrases such as people suffering from a disorder (for example, bipolar disorder). Examples of more appropriate phrases include: people who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder or people with bipolar disorder.
