Psychology Specialist Only and No Others

Co-morbid diagnoses are common throughout the life span. They may reflect a mix of purely "mental" disorders; a mix of substance abuse and various psychological disorders; or Mental Disorders Due to General Medical Conditions mixed with any and all of the above. Almost any co-morbid combination is possible, and you may well encounter far more than two disorders or disease processes impacting any given client. The diagnosis and treatment of co-morbid concerns can be particularly challenging and is far more common than we usually thought.

For this assignment, choose one of these four combinations of disorders that are likely to impact a geriatric population: 1) Alcohol dependence and Alzheimer's disease; 2) Personality change due to head injury (Labile type) and Parkinson's disease; 3) Major depression-recurrent, severe, and cannabis dependence; or 4) Delirium and major depression-single episode, severe.

· Compare and contrast the complicated differential diagnostic issues you would need to clarify in order to understand the relationship of these disorders. How would you go about doing this?

· How do these co-morbid disorders magnify and confuse the diagnostic and treatment picture?

· What medical, psychological, social, familial, employment, military, et cetera, history and information do you need to clarify the needs of a client diagnosed with these two disorders?

· What evaluative and assessment techniques would help you clarify the impact of these disorders?

· Briefly describe a basic intervention strategy for addressing both of these co-morbid concerns in the most appropriate integrated or sequential fashion, and cite reputable evidence-based practice research to support this treatment plan. If you cannot find support for your strategy, discuss the kinds of empirical research that would be needed to do so.