Writing Homework Help

Search the literature on mental illness and mental disorders. Choose a mental disorder that has not previously been described in this forum (i.e., only one student may use each disorder for this assignment) AND:

• Create a FACT SHEET about the disorder that you choose:
• Briefly introduce your topic and explain why you chose to review the particular disorder that you did

Give a general overview of the disorder that includes:

• A brief description of the disorder (this may be a brief paragraph at the beginning)
• Most common symptoms
• How prevalent it is
• Common treatment approaches
• General prognosis (i.e., is it life long, highly treatable, longterm, etc.).

Do this in bulleted format – as you would see in a FACT SHEET (Begin with a brief introductory paragraph with your reason for choosing the disorder).

Include citations and references for your work

Your FACT SHEET should be a maximum of 300 words (equivalent to a one page overview/fact sheet), thus you must be brief, organized and careful to include the most important information!

Do NOT copy and paste from a website! Be sure to provide appropriate citations/references. You will not receive credit if you copy and paste your information from source material.

TOPIC WILL BE DEPRESSION

Here is an example with a different topic

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is classified as an anxiety disorder where one experiences recurring thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive actions (compulsions) that are often uncontrollable or unreasonable (National Institute of Mental Health, 2019). I find this disorder interesting because I suspect that one of my relatives has an underlying issue of OCD based on their everyday behavior and shared thoughts. I want to become more aware of common mental disorders to share this information with family, friends, colleagues, and even my patients who may think they are going through mental health changes. You are not alone!

Most Common Obsessive Symptoms:

• Germaphobe (Fear of germs)
• Having things in perfect order
• Forbidden or taboo thoughts (i.e., sex, religion, or harm)
• Aggressive thoughts about self or others

Most Common Compulsive Symptoms:

• Excessive cleaning or hand washing
• Ordering things in perfect order
• Checking on things repeatedly (i.e., checking if the door is locked)
• Compulsive counting

Prevalence:

• More than 2% of the U.S. population will be diagnosed with OCD
• 25% chance that one will have OCD with a family history
• More common in males

Common Treatment:

• Medication (antidepressants most commonly used)
• Psychotherapy
  • Exposure and response therapy (exposing person to the cause of their anxiety)
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (changing negative behavior/thought to positivity)
• Aerobic exercise

General Prognosis:

• Long-lasting disorder
• Symptoms may come and go

References

National Alliance of Mental Illness. (2015). OCD. https://www.nami.org/NAMI/media/NAMI-Media/Images/…

National Institute of Mental Health. (2019). Obsessive-compulsive disorder.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-c…