Project:

Group Wiki Part 3: Analysis of a Policy

As an astute social worker and professional policy advocate, once you have selected and identified a social problem, you begin the process of creating and implementing a policy that addresses that social problem. One of the first things you do in the implementation process is an analysis of the social policy you identified.

In Part 3 of your ongoing Wiki assignment, your group analyzes the selected social policy.

Policy: The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA)

Complete Part 3 of your Wiki.

Address the following items within your group’s Wiki page for Part 3:

• Evaluate the policy’s strengths and weaknesses. What is working? What is not working?

Need to be 1 page in length 

References use (2 or more)

Assignment 1: Analysis of an Assessment Tool for Dissociative Disorder

Assessing and determining a mental health diagnosis can be difficult because many of the disorders have similar presenting symptoms. In addition, a client may not outwardly present symptoms, therefore, the only way to detect them involves using a scale. Finding a reliable and valid scale that determines whether an individual meets the diagnostic criteria can be very useful.

For this Assignment, read the DSM-5 diagnosis of dissociative disorder. Then review the Dissociative Disorder Scale (Bernstein & Putnam, 1986). You are not required to fill out the form.

Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) [Measurement instrument]

Assignment (2 pages):

The Dissociative Experiences Scale (Bernstein & Putnam, 1986) is a reliable and valid scale that is widely used in diagnosing dissociative disorders. Analyze and discuss the questions on this scale in the following areas:

• Do the questions appear to be consistent with a DSM-5 diagnosis of dissociative disorder? Why or why not?

• Are there any questions that may not be culturally sensitive? Why or why not?

• As a social worker working with a client, when would you decide it is necessary to use this scale?

• Based on the DSM-5 criteria, are there questions you would add to this scale?

References (use 3 or more)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. 

Bernstein E.M., & Putnam, F. W. (1986). Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) [Measurement instrument]. Retrieved from http://serene.me.uk/tests/des.pdf

Briere, J. (2006). Dissociative symptoms and trauma exposure: Specificity, affect dysregulation, and posttraumatic stress. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 194(2), 78–82.