Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis in Social Work Practice

by Jacqueline Corcoran, Joseph Walsh

This user-friendly textbook not only guides social workers in developing competence in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) system of diagnosis, it also assists them in staying attuned during client assessment to social work
values and a focus on client strengths, concern for the worth and dignity of individuals, appreciation of environmental influences on behavior, and a reliance on evidence-based approaches.

The authors, seasoned practitioner-scholars, provide an in-depth exploration of fourteen major mental disorders that social workers commonly see in practice, integrating several perspectives in order to meet the challenges social workers 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 evidence-based assessment instruments and treatments 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, and treatment plans that make this an essential guide to the assessment and diagnostic processes in social work practice.

Genres: Social Work, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Textbooks

528 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Jacqueline Corcoran was born in England, but has lived in the U.S. for most of her life - in Boston, California, Michigan, Texas, and now in the Washington D.C. area with her husband, two children, and three rescue animals. She is a social worker, psychotherapist and professor (at the University of Pennsylvania), as well as an author. Her published work includes 17 textbooks, two non-fiction trade titles, and several novels.

Reviews

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wonderful. This is a reference book -- each chapter covering a specific mental disorder, outlining prevalence, course, protective/risk factors, interventions, etc. -- but the writing is so engaging that I ended up reading it cover-to-cover like a novel.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. The perspective put forward within these pages is exactly the one I needed in order to approach diagnosis. The incorporation of a holistic view of the person grounded in dignity and a strengths-based framework, along with a fair and never hyperbolic critique of DSM.

Would recommend for all clinicians, but especially clinical social workers.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those books that I foresee using for reference well into the future.

[Jon De · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information, going to keep the book.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've found this book useful and will probably keep it. That's about as good as my reviews for textbooks get!

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The DSM needs a touch of relatability. It can get too mindlessly objective. This books was a great introduction to the DSM for me.