There are 2 purposes of this assignment. The first is for the class to become familiar with diagnoses in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. The second purpose is to

There are 2 purposes of this assignment. The first is for the class to become familiar with diagnoses in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. The second purpose is to practice putting diagnoses in terms that any layperson could understand.

1.       Choose one of the diagnoses from the list of options provided on the homepage of D2L and post immediately in discussion your topic (so classmates do not choose the same topic as you will not credit for a repeat). Chosen topic is Depression

2.       Read the Criteria for your chosen diagnosis by searching it in your text, power points or online.

a.       Note diagnostic features, associated features, prevalence, course, and differential diagnosis

3.       Imagine you have a friend or family member who has just been diagnosed with this disorder, in terms your friend or family members could understand (no, they do not have a PhD or MD), explain:

a.       What the diagnosis means and what other “features” they may experience

b.       How common or rare the disorder is

c.       What to expect about the course of the illness

d.       How the doctors might distinguish between this disorder and a similar disorder or other similar disorders

e.       Anything else you believe they should know