Diagnosis of bipolar and depressive disorders

Diagnosis of bipolar and depressive disorders

Reflect on this direction from the American Psychiatric Association (2021) DSM-5-TR: “Careful consideration should be given to the delineation of normal
sadness and grief from a major depressive episode” (p. 177).
When considering how many disorders may have depressive symptoms, diagnosing bipolar and depressive disorders is an excellent example of the way in
which no single symptom or characteristic points to a particular disorder. Indeed, beginning this week, when you practice diagnosis, you should not just
focus on symptoms related to the disorder covered this week. Any disorder studied up until this point may be possible to diagnose in the case study if there
appears to be more than one disorder.
This week, you continue your practice diagnosing mental disorders.
LEARNING RESOURCES
Required Readings
• American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5-TR) (5th ed., text rev.).
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787Links to an external site.
o Bipolar and Related Disorders
Read the introduction to this classification on page 139, and then focus on:
“Bipolar I Disorder” (pp. 139–150)
“Bipolar II Disorder” (pp. 150–159)
“Cyclothymia Disorder” (pp. 159–162)
“Other Specified Bipolar and Related Disorder” (pp. 168–175)
o Depressive Disorders
Read the introduction to this classification on page 177, and then focus on:
“Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder” (pp. 178–182)
“Major Depressive Disorder” (pp. 128–192)
“Persistent Depressive Disorder” (pp. 193–197)
“Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder” (pp. 197–200)
• American Psychiatric Association. (2022). DSM-5-TR online assessment measures. Links to an external
site. https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm/educational-resources/assessment-measures
• Document: Case Study
Note: Your Instructor will post an Announcement this week with details for retrieving the case study.
TO PREPARE
• Review the case study for this week.
• Start by familiarizing yourself with the disorders from the DSM-5-TR found in the Learning Resources this Week.
o Look within the noted sections for symptoms, behaviors, or other features the client presents within the case study.
• If some of the symptoms, in the case study, cause you to suspect an additional disorder, then research any of the previous disorders covered so far in the
course.
o This mirrors real social work practice where you follow the symptoms.
• Review the correct format for how to write the diagnosis noted below. Be sure to use this format. Remember: When using Z codes, stay focused on the
psychosocial and environmental impact on the client within the last 12 months.
Use APA citations and references:
Submit your diagnosis for the client in the case. Follow the guidelines below.
• The diagnosis should appear on one line in the following order.
Note: Do not include the plus sign in your diagnosis. Instead, write the indicated items next to each other.
Code + Name + Specifier (appears on its own first line)
Z code (appears on its own line next with its name written next to the code)
Then, in 2 pages, respond to the following:
• Explain how you support the diagnosis by specifically identifying the criteria from the case study.
o Describe in detail how the client’s symptoms match up with the specific diagnostic criteria for the disorder (or all the disorders) that you finally selected for
the client. You do not need to repeat the diagnostic code in the explanation.
• Identify the differential diagnosis you considered.
• Explain why you excluded this diagnosis/diagnoses.
• Explain the specific factors of culture that are or may be relevant to the case and the diagnosis, which may include the cultural concepts of distress.
• Explain why you chose the Z codes you have for this client.
o Remember: When using Z codes, stay focused on the psychosocial and environmental impact on the client within the last 12 months.