Psychological Diagnostic Evaluation of Dissociative Disorders - Coursework Example

The paper "Psychological Diagnostic Evaluation of Dissociative Disorders" is an engrossing example of coursework on psychology. This manual is aimed at mental health clinicians and primary health care providers (including general practitioners and nurses) who deal with clients on a daily basis and need to assess their problems accurately. The practitioner needs to be informed about all possible causes of the person’s problem, so as to make the most accurate assessment possible. Without the necessary background, the client’s symptoms may be misunderstood, and this can mean that incorrect treatment is given. The result of this is not only prolonged or perhaps even deeper suffering for the client, but it can also leave the practitioner open to legal problems concerning misdiagnosis and mistreatment.

The focus of this manual is on dissociative disorders. The dissociative spectrum is not very well understood by many mental health practitioners, and it has been the subject of much controversy. In addition, the more severe forms of dissociative disorder tend to require prolonged, intensive, and specialized therapy, which can be a daunting prospect for both the client and the practitioner. For these reasons, many practitioners shy away from diagnosing a client as having a dissociative disorder. However, this does not do the client a favor, since, with proper and prompt treatment, dissociative problems can often be alleviated to a large extent or completely. But before treatment can begin, an accurate diagnosis must be made.

Many people with dissociative problems present to primary health care providers such as family physicians or psychologists working in community mental health centers. However, clinicians in these settings are usually not specialists in the area of dissociative disorder or psychological trauma, and they may even be interns, who are generally inexperienced (Gold, 2004; Chaiken & Prout, 2004). Either way, their training may not have given them the necessary knowledge to recognize and assess dissociative symptoms. Such professionals may need to make an effort to educate themselves about this area of mental health. This manual aims to educate and sensitize health practitioners regarding dissociative symptoms and disorders, and to provide guidelines for assessing dissociative clients.