As part of your internship, you will be able to conduct initial interviews of some of the jail detainees. You decide to prepare for these interviews by reviewing some of the basics of assessment and diagnosis with the Diagnostic Statistic Manual IV (DSM-IV).
a) Describe the role of the DSM-IV in making a diagnosis.
b) What factors should be considered in deciding whether behavior is within the "normal" range or whether it indicates a mental disorder requiring psychiatric care?
c) What are the different Axes referred to in the DSM-IV and how are they used in making a diagnosis?
d) What kind of information should be covered in an assessment interview?
e) Apply the principles of DSM-IV diagnosis to the example of diagnosing Major Depression.
o What are Mood Disorders?
o Give an overview of the criteria needed to diagnose depression.
o What makes the DSM-IV diagnosis of depression different than "normal" grief or sadness?
o What is the prevalence of depression in the United States?
o Are rates of depression different for men and women?