Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis in Social Work Practice

This revolutionary, user-friendly textbook not only guides social workers in developing competence in the DSM system of diagnosis, it also assists them in staying attuned during client assessment to social work values and principles: a focus on client strengths, concern for the worth and dignity of individuals, appreciation of environmental influences on behavior, and commitment to evidence-informed practice.

The authors, seasoned practitioner-scholars, provide an in-depth exploration of fourteen major mental disorders that social workers commonly see in practice, including anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. They skillfully integrate several perspectives in order to help practitioners meet the challenges they will face in client assessment. A risk and resilience framework helps social workers understand environmental influences on the emergence of mental disorders and the strengths that clients already possess. Social workers will also learn to apply critical thinking to the DSM when it is inconsistent with social work values and principles. Finally, the authors catalog the latest evidence-based assessment instruments and treatments for each disorder so that social workers can intervene efficiently and effectively, using the best resources available.

Students and practitioners alike will appreciate the wealth of case examples, evidence-based assessment instruments, treatment plans, and new social diversity sections that make this an essential guide to the assessment and diagnostic processes in social work practice.

• Explores in depth the major mental disorders that social workers commonly see, organized by when such mental disorders may emerge within the lifespan

• Guides students in the use of the DSM and critiques it where it inconsistent with social work values

• Presents a risk and resilience biopsychosocial approach to help social workers systematically assess for environmental influences and client strengths

• Catalogs evidence-based assessment instruments and interventions

Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis in Social Work Practice 2nd Edition is written by Jacqueline Corcoran; Joseph Walsh and published by Oxford University Press, USA. The Digital and eTextbook ISBNs for Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis in Social Work Practice are 9780195398861, 9780199899685, 0199899681 and the print ISBNs are 9780195398861, 0195398866