‫المملكة العربية السعودية‬

‫جامعة الملك سعود‬

‫كلية اآلداب‬

‫‪Social work research in the‬‬

‫‪Psychological field‬‬

‫إعداد الطالبات‪:‬‬

‫رحاب البراك ‪438200546‬‬ ‫ريما الحربي ‪438202476‬‬

‫ريم بن محارب ‪438202342‬‬ ‫عهد الضيدان ‪438202864‬‬

‫ساره السياري ‪438202721‬‬ ‫هيا الفواز ‪438200743‬‬

‫شعبة‪55399 :‬‬

‫اشراف الدكتورة‪:‬‬

‫د‪ .‬النا بن سعيد‬

‫استكمال متطلبات مقرر جمع ‪361‬‬

‫(نصوص خدمة اجتماعية بلغة اإلنجليزية )‬

‫الفصل الدراسي الثاني‬

‫(‪) 1442 – 1441‬‬

‫‪1‬‬
 College of literature

Tasks sheet

)Social work research in the psychological field)

Requirement for Social work texts in English language

Class: 55399

Supervised by: dr. Lana bin Saed

Done by the students:

Name and university ID Research subject Other tasks

if found
Ahad Aldhidan Phobia social and Depression Tasks sheet
438202864 mental illness + and 20
vocabulary
Reema Alharbi Introduction to the psychological Cover
438202476 field
Rehab Albarak 438200546 Anxiety and Obsessive- ------
Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
mental illness
Sara Alsayari Where does the psychiatric ------
438202721 social worker work
Haya Alfawaz Brief on the role of the social Contents
438200743 worker in the psychological field
Reem bin Muhareb Preparing a vocabulary book Organizing and
438202342 about the psychological field in collecting the
the English language Research

2
 Index

Page address number

number
5 Introduction to the psychological field 1

6 Where does the psychiatric social worker work 2

6 Brief on the role of the social worker in the psychological 3

field

7 Psychiatric diseases dealt with by the social worker 4

18 List of references 5

3
 Psychiatric social work

Psychiatric social work is a specialized type of medical social work that involves
supporting, providing therapy to, and coordinating the care of individuals who are
severely mentally ill and who require hospitalization or other types of intensive
psychiatric help. Psychiatric social workers complete a variety of tasks when working
with clients, including but not limited to psychosocial and risk assessments,
individualized and group psychotherapy, crisis intervention and support, care
coordination, and discharge planning services. Psychiatric social workers are
employed in a wide range of settings, ranging from intensive inpatient wards to
outpatient psychiatric clinics.( onlinemswprograms).

Psychiatric social workers provide mental health services to individuals with high
needs. They may perform psychotherapy and even diagnose mental illness. Duties
vary according to work setting. Social workers in inpatient settings often have
primary responsibility for putting together the discharge plan. This is not something
that is filled out right before discharge – it’s an ongoing process during much of the
time the person is hospitalized. The goal is ambitious: that the person will have the
resources to function optimally within the community. Hospital stays are shorter than
they were in the past, but patients sometimes need to transition to a residential care
center or a day program.(Social Work Licensure.org).

Psychiatric social work is a challenging and very demanding profession. Social

workers in this field must work closely with individuals suffering from complex and
hard to manage conditions, who are in deep emotional distress and/or who may be
a danger to themselves or others. Psychiatric social workers may also encounter
difficulties in getting clients the resources and support they need to fully address
their problems. However, some individuals gravitate to this work for its constant
intellectual and professional challenges, and for the opportunity to help deeply
vulnerable populations.( onlinemswprograms).

Social workers who are employed at psychiatric hospitals also do psychosocial

assessments and provide therapy. They are in frequent contact with the family

4
members of patients. They meet with other members of the mental health team
(psychiatrists, nurse practitioners etc.) to discuss patient care. If the patient is
involved in any legal procedures, the social worker may have a role in information
gathering.(Social Work Licensure.org).

Psychiatric social workers may also be employed in outpatient centers, working with
juveniles and adults. They perform psychotherapy and assessments, educate the
patient and his or her family, and make referrals as necessary. Mental health
therapies include more than just talk. Social workers may, for example, employ Eye
Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing with young trauma survivors.(Social
Work Licensure.org).

Master’s level social workers serve as case managers for individuals who have
severe needs, those who may require periodic hospitalization as well as intensive
use of community resources. Clients may include those with schizophrenia and
those with complex sets of co-occurring conditions. Governmental agencies and
residential care facilities are among the other employment options for psychiatric
social workers. Some eventually go into private practice as psychotherapists.(Social
Work Licensure.org).

Due to their intensive work with clients’ severe mental health and behavioral issues,
psychiatric social workers often need graduate-level training in clinical social work
methods, including psychotherapy, crisis interventions, group therapy, and
developing sound treatment plans in collaboration with mental health and medical
staff. Therefore, individuals interested in this field of work should strongly consider
earning a Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in clinical or psychiatric
.social work from a CSWE-accredited institution.( onlinemswprograms).

Where does the psychiatric social worker work?

Psychiatric social workers provide a wide array of services within psychiatric

departments or hospitals. Clinically trained social workers provide behavior
modification and supportive psychotherapy services. Some psychiatric social workers
primarily work with patients with substance use problems through counseling and

5
coaching. Psychiatric social workers are important members of multidisciplinary
health care teams. Those who provide psychosocial therapies to patients with
psychiatric disorders will evaluate patient, coordinates care and recommend
resources to clients. All psychiatric social workers must have the ability to provide
personalized care to patients experiencing a broad range of diagnostic conditions
and developmental stages. Work environments include primary care, urgent care
and specialty clinics.(Social Work Degree Guide)

Brief on the role of the social worker in the psychological field:

Psychiatric social workers provide mental health services to individuals with high
needs. They may perform psychotherapy and even diagnose mental illness.

Duties vary according to work setting. Social workers in inpatient settings often have
primary responsibility for putting together the discharge plan. This is not something
that is filled out right before discharge – it’s an ongoing process during much of the
time the person is hospitalized.

Social workers who are employed at psychiatric hospitals also do psychosocial

assessments and provide therapy. They are in frequent contact with the family
members of patients. They meet with other members of the mental health team
(psychiatrists, nurse practitioners etc.) to discuss patient care. If the patient is
involved in any legal procedures, the social worker may have a role in information
gathering.

Master’s level social workers serve as case managers for individuals who have
severe needs, those who may require periodic hospitalization as well as intensive
use of community resources. Clients may include those with schizophrenia and
those with complex sets of co-occurring conditions(socialworklicensure.org).

6
Psychiatric diseases dealt with by the social worker :

1- SOCIAL PHOBIA

Social phobia, also known as social anxiety dis- order, is a fear of social situations
and interactions. It is a fear of being judged negatively by others and leads to feelings
of inadequacy, embarrassment, humiliation, and depression (Den Boer, 1997). People
with social phobia may experience distress when being introduced to other people,
being teased or criticized, being the center of attention, or being watched while doing
something. Such people understand that their anxiety is irrational. The phobia may be
considered a mental disorder when it interferes significantly with the person's
interpersonal and social lives (American Psychiatric Association, 2001). Social anxiety
is distinguished from other anxiety disorders by its early age of onset, occasional
symptom remissions followed by relapses, and exclusive association with social and
performance situations (Liebowitz, 1999). The condition does not usually become
prominent until ages 15 to 20, with a mean age of onset of 16 years (Magee, 1996).

CAUSES OF SOCIAL ANXIETY

Social anxiety may have a variety of causes. Some researchers state that there is
an altered brain structure in people with many anxiety disorders, including social
phobia. LeDoux (1996) described the functional evolution of certain brain pathways
in which a stimulus can be apprehended as a threat before it regiters cognitively.
The amygdala, the portion of the brain associated with the alarm response, receives
a stimulus before the cortex, which governs cognitive function, receives a stimulus.

And we present a view of the etiology of social anxiety that incorporates biological,
psychological, and social influences. The condition may reflect an outcome of
situations in which a person's constitutional temperament interacts with family and
social factors such as chronic exposure to environmental stressors or experiences of
humiliation and criticism in early life. Social anxiety may be more or less severe
depending on the person's schema, comfort with various levels of external
stimulation, and reinforcement patterns (Joseph, 2002).

Medication:

7
Medication has become a primary, and sometimes the only, intervention for people
with social anxiety. One set of researchers laments that only one of six people with
the disorder receives medication (Stein, McQuaid, Laffaye, & McQuaidill, 1999).
Some physicians believe that the ability of general practitioners to assess social
anxiety is crucial, because this ability would allow the practitioners to pre- scribe
for other problems medication for social anxiety among people who seek treatment
(Spence et al., 1999). Others advocate for the medical profession's formal adoption
to further its "social phobia" rather than "of the term “social anxiety disorder
legitimacy as an illness requiring medication (Liebowitz, Heimberg, Travers & Stein,
2000).

The types of medication used to treat social anxiety include all classes of
antidepressants (that is, MAO inhibitors, cyclic drugs, and serotonin reuptake
inhibitors, or SSRIS), the benzodiazepines, and the beta-blockers (Bentley & Walsh,
2001)

Psychosocial Intervention

There is empirical evidence that medication is not sufficient, and may not be
necessary, as an intervention for adults and adolescents with social anxiety (Albano,
2000; Barlow, Esler, & Vitali, 1998). Cognitive and behavioral interventions have
consistently demonstrated effectiveness with these client (Plaud & Vavrosky,1998).
Clients who receive these interventions often have lower rates of relapse than those
who rely on medication alone (Liebowitz, 1999).

2- Depression

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness

that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately,
it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest
in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical
problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.

Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:

o Feeling sad or having a depressed mood.

8
o Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed.
o Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting.
o Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.
o Loss of energy or increased fatigue.
o Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., hand-wringing or pacing) or
slowed movements and speech (actions observable by others).
o Feeling worthless or guilty.
o Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions.
o Thoughts of death or suicide.

Symptoms must last at least two weeks for a diagnosis of depression.

Risk Factors for Depression

Depression can affect anyone—even a person who appears to live in relatively ideal
circumstances.

Several factors can play a role in depression:

o Biochemistry: Differences in certain chemicals in the brain may contribute to

symptoms of depression.
o Genetics: Depression can run in families. For example, if one identical twin
has depression, the other has a 70 percent chance of having the illness
sometime in life.
o Personality: People with low self-esteem, who are easily overwhelmed by
stress, or who are generally pessimistic appear to be more likely to
experience depression.
o Environmental factors: Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or
poverty may make some people more vulnerable to depression.

How Is Depression Treated?

Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders. Between 80 percent

and 90 percent of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment.
Almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms.

9
Before a diagnosis or treatment, a health professional should conduct a thorough
diagnostic evaluation, including an interview and possibly a physical examination. In
some cases, a blood test might be done to make sure the depression is not due to a
medical condition like a thyroid problem. The evaluation is to identify specific
symptoms, medical and family history, cultural factors and environmental factors to
arrive at a diagnosis and plan a course of action.

1- Medication: Brain chemistry may contribute to an individual’s depression and

may factor into their treatment. For this reason, antidepressants might be prescribed
to help modify one’s brain chemistry. These medications are not sedatives, “uppers”
or tranquilizers. They are not habit-forming. Generally antidepressant medications
have no stimulating effect on people not experiencing depression.

Antidepressants may produce some improvement within the first week or two of use.
Full benefits may not be seen for two to three months. If a patient feels little or no
improvement after several weeks, his or her psychiatrist can alter the dose of the
medication or add or substitute another antidepressant. In some situations other
psychotropic medications may be helpful. It is important to let your doctor know if a
medication does not work or if you experience side effects.

Psychiatrists usually recommend that patients continue to take medication for six or
more months after symptoms have improved. Longer-term maintenance treatment
may be suggested to decrease the risk of future episodes for certain people at high
risk.

2- Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” is sometimes used alone for

treatment of mild depression; for moderate to severe depression, psychotherapy is
often used in along with antidepressant medications. Cognitive behavioral therapy
(CBT) has been found to be effective in treating depression. CBT is a form of
therapy focused on the present and problem solving. CBT helps a person to
recognize distorted thinking and then change behaviors and thinking.

Psychotherapy may involve only the individual, but it can include others. For
example, family or couples therapy can help address issues within these close
relationships. Group therapy involves people with similar illnesses.

10
Depending on the severity of the depression, treatment can take a few weeks or
much longer. In many cases, significant improvement can be made in 10 to 15
sessions.

3- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): is a medical treatment most commonly used

for patients with severe major depression or bipolar disorder who have not
responded to other treatments. It involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain
while the patient is under anesthesia. A patient typically receives ECT two to three
times a week for a total of six to 12 treatments. ECT has been used since the
1940s, and many years of research have led to major improvements. It is usually
managed by a team of trained medical professionals including a psychiatrist, an
anesthesiologist and a nurse or physician assistant (American Psychiatric
Association).

3-Anxiety

Overview :

Occasional anxiety is an expected part of life. You might feel anxious when faced
with a problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision.
But anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For a person with
an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The
symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work,
and relationships.

Signs and Symptoms

Generalized Anxiety Disorder. (National institute of mental health)

People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) display excessive anxiety or worry,
most days for at least 6 months, about a number of things such as personal health,
work, social interactions, and everyday routine life circumstances. The fear and
anxiety can cause significant problems in areas of their life, such as social
interactions, school, and work.

Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms include:

11
 • Feeling restless, wound-up, or on-edge
• Being easily fatigued
• Having difficulty concentrating; mind going blank
• Being irritable
• Having muscle tension
• Difficulty controlling feelings of worry
• Having sleep problems, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep,
restlessness, or unsatisfying sleep

Separation anxiety disorder: Separation anxiety is often thought of as something that

only children deal with; however, adults can also be diagnosed with separation
anxiety disorder. People who have separation anxiety disorder have fears about
being parted from people to whom they are attached. They often worry that some
sort of harm or something untoward will happen to their attachment figures while
they are separated. This fear leads them to avoid being separated from their
attachment figures and to avoid being alone. People with separation anxiety may
have nightmares about being separated from attachment figures or experience
physical symptoms when separation occurs or is anticipated.

Selective mutism: A somewhat rare disorder associated with anxiety is selective

mutism. Selective mutism occurs when people fail to speak in specific social
situations despite having normal language skills. Selective mutism usually occurs
before the age of 5 and is often associated with extreme shyness, fear of social
embarrassment, compulsive traits, withdrawal, clinging behavior, and temper
tantrums. People diagnosed with selective mutism are often also diagnosed with
other anxiety disorders.

Risk Factors

Researchers are finding that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the
risk of developing an anxiety disorder. Although the risk factors for each type of
anxiety disorder can vary, some general risk factors for all types of anxiety disorders
include:

• Temperamental traits of shyness or behavioral inhibition in childhood

12
 • Exposure to stressful and negative life or environmental events in early
childhood or adulthood
• A history of anxiety or other mental illnesses in biological relatives
• Some physical health conditions, such as thyroid problems or heart
arrhythmias, or caffeine or other substances/medications, can produce or
aggravate anxiety symptoms; a physical health examination is helpful in the
evaluation of a possible anxiety disorder.

Treatments and Therapies

Anxiety disorders are generally treated with psychotherapy, medication, or both.

There are many ways to treat anxiety and people should work with their doctor to
choose the treatment that is best for them.

Psychotherapy:

Psychotherapy or “talk therapy” can help people with anxiety disorders. To be

effective, psychotherapy must be directed at the person’s specific anxieties and
tailored to his or her needs.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an example of one type of psychotherapy

that can help people with anxiety disorders. It teaches people different ways of
thinking, behaving, and reacting to anxiety-producing and fearful objects and
situations. CBT can also help people learn and practice social skills, which is vital
for treating social anxiety disorder.

Cognitive therapy and exposure therapy are two CBT methods that are often used,
together or by themselves, to treat social anxiety disorder. Cognitive therapy focuses
on identifying, challenging, and then neutralizing unhelpful or distorted thoughts
underlying anxiety disorders. Exposure therapy focuses on confronting the fears
underlying an anxiety disorder to help people engage in activities they have been
avoiding. Exposure therapy is sometimes used along with relaxation exercises
and/or imagery.

13
 CBT can be conducted individually or with a group of people who have similar
difficulties. Often “homework” is assigned for participants to complete between
sessions.

Medication:

Medication does not cure anxiety disorders but can help relieve symptoms.
Medication for anxiety is prescribed by doctors, such as a psychiatrist or primary
care provider. Some states also allow psychologists who have received specialized
training to prescribe psychiatric medications. The most common classes of
medications used to combat anxiety disorders are anti-anxiety drugs (such as
benzodiazepines), antidepressants, and beta-blockers.

4- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Overview:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic, and long-lasting

disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions)
and/or behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and
over.

Signs and Symptoms:

People with OCD may have symptoms of obsessions, compulsions, or both. These
symptoms can interfere with all aspects of life, such as work, school, and personal
relationships. . (National institute of mental health)

Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety.
Common symptoms include:

• Fear of germs or contamination

• Unwanted forbidden or taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, or harm
• Aggressive thoughts towards others or self
• Having things symmetrical or in a perfect order

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that a person with OCD feels the urge to do in
response to an obsessive thought. Common compulsions include:

14
• Excessive cleaning and/or handwashing
• Ordering and arranging things in a particular, precise way
• Repeatedly checking on things, such as repeatedly checking to see if the door is
locked or that the oven is off
• Compulsive counting

Not all rituals or habits are compulsions. Everyone double checks things sometimes.
But a person with OCD generally:

• Can't control his or her thoughts or behaviors, even when those thoughts or
behaviors are recognized as excessive
• Spends at least 1 hour a day on these thoughts or behaviors
• Doesn’t get pleasure when performing the behaviors or rituals, but may feel brief
relief from the anxiety the thoughts cause
• Experiences significant problems in their daily life due to these thoughts or behaviors

Some individuals with OCD also have a tic disorder. Motor tics are sudden, brief,
repetitive movements, such as eye blinking and other eye movements, facial
grimacing, shoulder shrugging, and head or shoulder jerking. Common vocal tics
include repetitive throat-clearing, sniffing, or grunting sounds.

Symptoms may come and go, ease over time, or worsen. People with OCD may try
to help themselves by avoiding situations that trigger their obsessions, or they may
use alcohol or drugs to calm themselves. Although most adults with OCD recognize
that what they are doing doesn’t make sense, some adults and most children may
not realize that their behavior is out of the ordinary. Parents or teachers typically
recognize OCD symptoms in children.

If you think you have OCD, talk to your doctor about your symptoms. If left
untreated, OCD can interfere in all aspects of life.

Risk Factors:

The causes of OCD are unknown, but risk factors include:

Genetics

15
Twin and family studies have shown that people with first-degree relatives (such as
a parent, sibling, or child) who have OCD are at a higher risk for developing OCD
themselves. The risk is higher if the first-degree relative developed OCD as a child
or teen. Ongoing research continues to explore the connection between genetics
and OCD and may help improve OCD diagnosis and treatment.

Brain Structure and Functioning

Imaging studies have shown differences in the frontal cortex and subcortical
structures of the brain in patients with OCD. There appears to be a connection
between the OCD symptoms and abnormalities in certain areas of the brain, but that
connection is not clear. Research is still underway. Understanding the causes will
help determine specific, personalized treatments to treat OCD.

Environment

An association between childhood trauma and obsessive-compulsive symptoms has

been reported in some studies. More research is needed to understand this
relationship better.

In some cases, children may develop OCD or OCD symptoms following a

streptococcal infection—this is called Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric
Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS). For more information,
please read NIMH's fact sheet on PANDAS.

Treatments and Therapies :

OCD is typically treated with medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the

two. Although most patients with OCD respond to treatment, some patients continue
to experience symptoms.

Sometimes people with OCD also have other mental disorders, such as anxiety,
depression, and body dysmorphic disorder, a disorder in which someone mistakenly
believes that a part of their body is abnormal. It is important to consider these other
disorders when making decisions about treatment.

Medication

16
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), which include selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to help reduce OCD symptoms.

17
References :

- American Psychiatric Association web Physician Review By: Ranna Parekh, M.D.,
M.P.H. January 2017. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-
families/depression/what-is-depression

- American Psychiatric Association. (2001). Diagnostic and statistical manual of

mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: Author.

- Albano, A. M. (2000). Treatment of social phobia in adolescents: Cognitive

behavioral programs focused on intervention and prevention. Journal of Cognitive
Psychotherapy, 14(1), 67-76.

- Barlow, D. H., Esler, J. L., & Vitali, A. E. (1998). Psychosocial treatments for
panic disorders, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder. In P. E. Nathan & J. M.
Gorman (Eds.), A guide to treatments that work (pp. 288-318). New York: Oxford
University Press.

- https://www.socialworkdegreeguide.com/faq/what-do-social-workers-who-
work-in-psychiatric-facilities-do/

-Introductory Guide to Psychiatric Social Work. 16/2/2020 Sunday.

https://www.onlinemswprograms.com/careers/types-of-social-work/guide-to-
psychiatric-social-work.html

- Joseph Walsh. Shyness and social phobia a social work Perspective on a Problem
in Living. HEALTH & SOCIAL WORK/VOLUME 27, NUMBER 2/ MAY 2002

- Liebowitz, M. R. (1999). Update of the diagnosis and treatment of social anxiety

disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 60(Suppl. 18), 22–26.

- Liebowitz, M, R., Heimberg, R. G., Travers, J., & Stein, M. B. (2000). Social
phobia or social anxiety disorder: Whať's in a name? Archives of General
Psychiatry, 57, 191–192.

18
- Magee, W. J. (1996). Agoraphobia, simple phobia, and social phobia in the
National Comorbidity Survey. JAMA, 75, 1046.

-National institute of mental health,29\3\2020,Sunday.at

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml

-National institute of mental health,1\4\2020,wednesday.at

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-
ocd/index.shtml.

- Plaud, J. J., & Vavrosky, K, G. (1998). Specific and social phobias. In B. A.

Thyer & J. S. Wodarski (Eds.), Handbook of empirical social work practice:
Volume 1. Mental disorders (pp. 327-341). New York: John Wiley & Sons.

- Psychiatric Social Workers and How to Become One. 20/3/2020 Friday:

https://socialworklicensure.org/types-of-social-workers/psychiatric-social-

worker/

-Psychiatric Social Workers and How to Become One, 16/2/2020 Sunday.

https://www.onlinemswprograms.com/careers/types-of-social-work/guide-to-
psychiatric-social-work.html

-Spence, S. H., Donovan, C., Brechman-Toussaint, M. (1999). Social skills,

social outcomes, and cogni- tive features of childhood social phobia. Journal
of Abnormal Psychology, 108, 211-221.

- Stein, M. B., McQuaid, J. R., Laffaye, C., & McCahill, M. E. (1999). Social
phobia in the primary care medical setting. Journal of Family Practice, 48,
514.

19