Application: Summary and Recommendations: Part 2
The summary and recommendations section of an assessment report is where all of the relevant
information, insights, and data come together. Rather than being a finishing point, this report and these
recommendations become a living document that ultimately will help an individual continue to forge a
path free from addiction.
Parts 1 and 2 of this assessment report provide an introduction to the skills required for good report
writing. For most locales, requiring licensing and credentialing, additional coursework, and experience
is needed to better develop report writing competency.
Appendix 3 in the course text will give you the basics about the DSM-IV-TR and how substance use
disorders are diagnosed. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.), the
appendix titled “Highlights of Changes from DSM-IV to DSM-5” illustrates the changes in SubstanceRelated and Addictive Disorders made in the DSM-5. Do not forget to look back over past readings,
because this Assignment will involve other professionals (people to whom you might want to refer the
client) in addition to a summary of the most critical parts of what you believe is going on with this
client.
To prepare:
Review the Learning Resources, including the following:
Essentials of Assessment Report Writing (Chapters 1–6)
Chemical Dependency Counseling: A Practical Guide
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.)
o
o
Appendix 3, “DSM-IV-TR Psychoactive Substance Use Disorder”
Appendix, “Highlights of Changes from DSM-IV to DSM-5”
The media from Week 3 titled Interviewing Techniques.
Assignment Directions:
Submit by Day 7 Part 2 of the assessment report, Summary and Recommendations, including the
following:
Section 1: Synthesize Assessment Findings (2–3 pages)
Summarize your impressions of the individual, discussing characteristics that
resemble DSM-5categories related to substance-related and addictive disorders.
Section 2: Referral Recommendations: Multidisciplinary Team Approach (1–2 pages)
o
Include a list of other professionals or organizations that may be enlisted to employ a
multidisciplinary team approach toward continuing or enhancing treatment for the individual.
Explain what each professional or organization might contribute.
Section 3: Confidentiality (2–3 paragraphs)
o
Based on the American Psychological Association and other governing standards,
describe how this report should be stored and disseminated in an ethical manner.
Week 6 Learning Resources
This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of
this week’s assigned Learning Resources.
Required Resources
Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course
Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
Readings
Perkinson, R. R. (2012). Chemical dependency counseling: A practical guide (4th ed.). Thousand
Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Appendix 3, “DSM-IV-TR Psychoactive Substance Use Disorder”
Focus on criteria for abuse versus criteria for dependence and information on tolerance and
withdrawal.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental
o
disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: Author.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
Appendix, “Highlights of Changes from DSM-IV to DSM-5”
Lichtenberger, E. O., Mather, N., Kaufman, N. L., & Kaufman, A. S. (2004). Essentials of
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assessment report writing. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Chapter 4, “Behavioral Observations”
Focus on tips for effective documentation of behavioral observations, including Rapid
Reference 4.1, “Samples of Behaviors, Interpretations, and How to Combine Them into a
Statement.
Chapter 5, “Test Results and Interpretation”
Focus on principles of organization, including establishing a basic format, moving from the
global to the specific and from standardized to informal results, and using global themes to
organize.
Chapter 6, “Diagnostic Impressions Summary”
Focus on the word impression and why it is so important to this chapter. Review the list of
five elements of a diagnostic impression.
Application: Summary and Recommendations: Part 2
The summary and recommendations section of an assessment report is where all of the relevant
information, insights, and data come together. Rather than being a finishing point, this report and these
recommendations become a living document that ultimately will help an individual continue to forge a
path free from addiction.
Parts 1 and 2 of this assessment report provide an introduction to the skills required for good report
writing. For most locales, requiring licensing and credentialing, additional coursework, and experience is
needed to better develop report writing competency.
Appendix 3 in the course text will give you the basics about the DSM-IV-TR and how substance use
disorders are diagnosed. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.), the
appendix titled “Highlights of Changes from DSM-IV to DSM-5” illustrates the changes in SubstanceRelated and Addictive Disorders made in the DSM-5. Do not forget to look back over past readings,
because this Assignment will involve other professionals (people to whom you might want to refer the
client) in addition to a summary of the most critical parts of what you believe is going on with this client.
To prepare:
Review the Learning Resources, including the following:
Essentials of Assessment Report Writing (Chapters 1–6)
Chemical Dependency Counseling: A Practical Guide
Appendix 3, “DSM-IV-TR Psychoactive Substance Use Disorder”
o
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.)
Appendix, “Highlights of Changes from DSM-IV to DSM-5”
o
The media from Week 3 titled Interviewing Techniques.
Assignment Directions:
Submit by Day 7 Part 2 of the assessment report, Summary and Recommendations, including the
following:
Section 1: Synthesize Assessment Findings (2–3 pages)
Summarize your impressions of the individual, discussing characteristics that
resemble DSM-5categories related to substance-related and addictive disorders.
o
Section 2: Referral Recommendations: Multidisciplinary Team Approach (1–2 pages)
Include a list of other professionals or organizations that may be enlisted to employ a
multidisciplinary team approach toward continuing or enhancing treatment for the
individual. Explain what each professional or organization might contribute.
