Unit 6 Case Management Seminar - Research Paper Example

1. Why is it necessary for case managers to know how to complete a provisional DSM Diagnosis? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM; APA, 2000) is a standardized compilation of diagnoses of mental disorders, characterized by distinct behaviors and symptoms that help in diagnosing individuals, discussing their symptoms and planning for their care. Case Managers are required to be familiar with the language and process of the DSM in order to recognize a mental disorder, communicate effectively and may even need to provide a provisional diagnosis in an emergency!

Our author states that “it is becoming common practice for insurance companies and other payers to require a diagnosis at the completion of intake” (Ch.17, p. 279), which may be performed by Case Managers. Thus, it is imperative for Case Managers to know how to complete a provisional DSM Diagnosis.2. What is a social history and how is it used in case management? A social history is an accurate account of the client’s family and societal background, educational level, whether special assistance was required in the past, information regarding alcohol or drug abuse or any legal problems associated with the client.

The Mental Status Examination (MSE) forms an integral part of the social history, capturing subtle visual and verbal attributes of the client. It involves observations based on our client’s general appearance, cognitive functioning, behavior intelligence, thought process and content, reality testing, affect, suicidal or homicidal ideation, impulse control, judgment and insight. As described in the text, it is useful in Case management by helping clinicians understand what has been going on with the client between sessions and to determine the best course to follow with each individual” (Ch. 18, p. 314). 3. How do case managers apply an ecological perspective to help create a strengths-based needs and goals assessment with the client?

 Case Managers are required to assess the client’s environment in order to understand their specific needs and goals. Our author mentions, “Sometimes you will be asked to go to someone’s home to do an assessment or to do an interview. People’s surroundings often hold clues to the way they are currently structuring their lives.” (Ch. 18, p.313). Case Managers need to carefully assess the appropriateness of the surroundings after proper inquiry, to order to judge the client’s needs.

Importantly, Case managers must look at the way the person keeps his home. Our author rightly adds that “this tells something about the person’s capacity to attend to the routine details of living, or it may indicate a debilitating mental illness, such as hoarding” (Ch. 18, p.313). Thus, an ecological perspective helps understand the client’s needs and accordingly define goals. Case Managers must make it a point to report such environmental cues that seem to support the MSE. 4. Describe a potential ethical problem that could develop during a client assessment if wasn’t closely monitored by the case manager.

 The text describes that an inexperienced worker may falsely assume that “the manifestations of poverty are the signs of a person who is mentally ill.” (Ch. 18, p.313). The author goes on to caution us to be very careful not to ascribe mental problems to someone who is actually too poor to live by middle-class standards. This is a potential ethical problem that could crop up during a client assessment, in the absence of close monitoring by a Case Manager.References:Textbook InformationTitle: Fundamentals of Case Management Practice, Skills for the Human Services4th edition, Chapters 17 & 18Author: Nancy SummersISBN-13: 978-0-8400-3369-7ISBN-10: 0-8400-3369-9