SNHU Assessment and Diagnostic Tools that Mental Health Professionals Use Discussion

Chapters 2 and 3 of Abnormal Psychology and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition) explore the various assessment and diagnostic tools that mental health professionals use, including the DSM-5. The DSM-5 has many strengths, weaknesses, and ethical concerns, including labeling, stigmatization, and comorbidity. After reading Chapters 2 and 3 and watching the video What’s So Funny About Mental Illness? address the following in your initial post:

• In your opinion, what is the most pressing ethical concern related to using the DSM-5 as a diagnostic tool? Why?
• Considering Ruby Wax in particular, how might have labeling, stigmatization, or comorbidity affected her own struggle with clinical depression? How might these conditions affect others with mental illness?
• Discuss one of the assessment tools that you read about in the text readings. How might you conduct a research study to determine whether or not your assessment is reliable and/or valid? That is, what sorts of designs or methodologies might be appropriate?

Cite directly from the text, the video, and the DSM-5 to support your responses.

In responding to two of your peers, focus on engaging with those who selected different ethical issues and assessments than you did so that you can broaden your overall body of knowledge on this week’s topics. How did the ethical issues that they explored in their posts differ from the ones you explored? Further, offer any suggestions you may have regarding their research design ideas.