Core Assignment: Diagnostic Deep Dive

Assignment Purpose

This assignment gives you the opportunity to develop expertise on a specific mental disorder by conducting in-depth research. You will examine the disorder from multiple perspectivesclinical, theoretical, critical, and practicalto deepen your understanding of how we conceptualize and treat psychopathology in counseling practice.

Instructions

Select one disorder from the DSM-5-TR to study in depth. Your paper should address all four sections below. Use current scholarly research (peer-reviewed journals) to support your analysis throughout.

******* Please Write about Bipolar Disorder**********

Requirements

• Length: 8-9 pages of content (title page and references do not count toward page length)
• Format: APA 7th edition (including title page, running head, in-text citations, and references)
• Sources: Minimum of 7 scholarly sources (peer-reviewed journal articles)

Text book Maddux, J. E., & Winstead, B. A. (Eds.). (2025). Psychopathology: Foundations for

• a contemporary understanding (6th ed.)
• Must include the DSM-5-TR
• Writing: Graduate-level writing with clear organization, proper grammar, and professional tone

Paper Sections

Section 1: Clinical Overview

Provide a comprehensive clinical picture of the disorder:

• DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria: Include all criteria, specifiers, and severity indicators
• Prevalence and demographics: Who is most commonly diagnosed? What are the prevalence rates?
• Onset and course: When does this disorder typically begin? How does it progress over time?
• Comorbidity and differential diagnosis: What other disorders commonly co-occur? What disorders might be confused with this one and why?

Section 2: Etiology & Contributing Factors

Examine what research tells us about the causes and contributing factors:

• Biological factors: Genetics, neurobiology, brain structure/function, medical conditions
• Psychological factors: Cognitive patterns, personality traits, trauma history, developmental experiences
• Social/environmental factors: Family dynamics, socioeconomic stress, discrimination, cultural context, systemic factors
• Theoretical models: What are the current theories or frameworks for understanding this disorder?

Section 3: Critical Analysis

This is the heart of your paper. This section requires you to go beyond describing the disorder and engage in thoughtful analysis about the social, political, and systemic contexts of diagnosis. Think critically about the diagnosis itself:

• How might sociopolitical factors (such as systemic oppression, poverty, trauma, or marginalization) contribute to the development of this disorder OR be mistaken for symptoms of this disorder?
• What are current controversies or debates in the field about this diagnosis?
• What are the limitations of the DSM framework for understanding this disorder?
• How might diagnostic biases related to gender, race, class, or other identities influence who gets diagnosed?
• What power dynamics should counselors be aware of when working with clients with this diagnosis?

Section 4: Treatment & Clinical Implications

Apply your research to clinical practice:

• What are the evidence-based treatment approaches for this disorder?
• What assessment tools or considerations are important?
• What practical recommendations would you offer to counselors working with clients with this disorder?
• What important considerations should counselors keep in mind when working with diverse client populations with this diagnosis?

Requirements

• Length: 8-9 pages of content (title page and references do not count toward page length)
• Format: APA 7th edition (including title page, running head, in-text citations, and references)
• Sources: Minimum of 7 scholarly sources (peer-reviewed journal articles)
• Must include the DSM-5-TR
• Writing: Graduate-level writing with clear organization, proper grammar, and professional tone