SOCIAL DEVIATION

AND
SOCIAL WORK
Module 3
1st Semester - LT2 - SY 2023-24
Module 3 : Behavioral Manifestations of People with Personality
and Behavioral Disorders and its implications to Social
Work Practice.

Objectives:

1. Describe the behavioral manifestations of people with personality and

behavioral disorders and implications to Social Work Practice.

2. Articulate appreciation of the learnings on behavioral manifestations of

personality and behavioral disorders.

3. Organize and present the distinct characteristics of personality and

behavioral disorders.
What Is "Personality"?
• Personality refers to a distinctive set of traits, behavior styles, and
patterns that make up our character or individuality. How we
perceive the world, our attitudes, thoughts, and feelings are all
part of our personality.

• People with healthy personalities are able to cope with normal

stresses and have no trouble forming relationships with family,
friends, and co-workers.

• Personality is vital to defining who we are as individuals. It

involves a unique blend of traits — including attitudes, thoughts
and behaviors — as well as how we express these traits in our
interactions with others and with the world around us.
What is a personality disorder?
• A personality disorder is a mental health condition that involves
long-lasting, all-encompassing, disruptive patterns of thinking,
behavior, mood and relating to others. These patterns cause a
person significant distress and/or impair their ability to function.

• Those who struggle with a personality disorder have great

difficulty dealing with other people. They tend to be inflexible,
rigid, and unable to respond to the changes and demands of
life. People with personality disorders tend to have a narrow
view of the world and find it difficult to participate in social
activities.
Personality disorders may cause distorted perceptions of reality,
abnormal behaviors and distress across various aspects of life,
including work, relationships and social functioning. Additionally,
people with a personality disorder may not recognize their
troubling behaviors or the negative effect they have on others.
What are the types of personality disorders?
• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-5), which is the standard reference publication
for recognized mental illnesses, organizes the 10 types of
personality disorders into three main clusters (categories). Each
cluster has different symptoms in common.
Cluster A personality disorders
• Cluster A personality disorders involve unusual and eccentric
thinking or behaviors. These include:
• Paranoid personality disorder: The main feature of this
condition is paranoia, which is a relentless mistrust and
suspicion of others without adequate reason for suspicion.
People with paranoid personality disorder often believe others
are trying to demean, harm or threaten them.
• Schizoid personality disorder: This condition is marked by a
consistent pattern of detachment from and general disinterest in
interpersonal relationships. People with schizoid personality
disorder have a limited range of emotions when interacting with
others.
Schizotypal personality disorder: People with this condition
display a consistent pattern of intense discomfort with and limited
need for close relationships. Relationships may be hindered by
their distorted views of reality, superstitions and unusual
behaviors.
Cluster B personality disorders
• Cluster B personality disorders involve dramatic and erratic
behaviors. People with these types of conditions display intense,
unstable emotions and impulsive behaviors. Cluster B personality
disorders include:
• Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD): People with ASPD show a
lack of respect toward others and don’t follow socially accepted norms
or rules. People with ASPD may break the law or cause physical or
emotional harm to others around them. They may refuse to take
responsibility for their behaviors and/or display disregard for the
negative consequences of their actions.
• Borderline personality disorder (BPD): This condition is marked by
difficulty with emotional regulation, resulting in low self-esteem, mood
swings, impulsive behaviors and subsequent relationship difficulties.
• Histrionic personality disorder: This condition is marked by
intense, unstable emotions and a distorted self-image. For
people with histrionic personality disorder, their self-esteem
depends on the approval of others and doesn’t come from a
true feeling of self-worth. They have an overwhelming desire to
be noticed by others, and may display dramatic and/or
inappropriate behaviors to get attention.

• Narcissistic personality disorder: This condition involves a

consistent pattern of perceived superiority and grandiosity, an
excessive need for praise and admiration and a lack of empathy
for others. These thoughts and behaviors often stem from low
self-esteem and a lack of self-confidence.
Cluster C personality disorders
• Cluster C personality disorders involve severe anxiety and fear. They
include:
• Avoidant personality disorder: People with this condition have
chronic feelings of inadequacy and are highly sensitive to being
negatively judged by others. Though they would like to interact with
others, they tend to avoid social interaction due to the intense fear of
being rejected.
• Dependent personality disorder: This condition is marked by a
constant and excessive need to be cared for by someone else. It
also involves submissiveness, a need for constant reassurance and
the inability to make decisions. People with dependent personality
disorder often become very close to another person and spend great
effort trying to please that person. They tend to display passive and
clinging behavior and have a fear of separation.
• Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD): This
condition is marked by a consistent and extreme need for
orderliness, perfectionism and control (with no room for
flexibility) that ultimately slows or interferes with completing a
task. It can also interfere with relationships.
• This is a separate condition from
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is classified as an
anxiety disorder. While people with OCD usually are aware that
OCD is causing their behavior and accept they need to change,
people with OCPD usually have little, if any, self-awareness of
their behaviors.
• People might have mixed symptoms of more than one
personality disorder.
Who do personality disorders affect?
• Anyone can have a personality disorder. But different types of
personality disorders affect people differently.

• Most personality disorders begin in the teen years when your

personality further develops and matures. As a result, almost all
people diagnosed with personality disorders are above the age of
18. One exception to this is antisocial personality disorder —
approximately 80% of people with this disorder will have started to
show symptoms by the age of 11.
Antisocial personality disorders are more likely to affect people
assigned male at birth. Borderline, histrionic and dependent
personality disorders are more likely to affect people assigned
female at birth.
How common are personality disorders?
• Approximately about 6% of the global population has a
personality disorder.

• Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality

disorder are the most frequently diagnosed personality
disorders.
SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES
What causes personality disorders?
Personality disorders are among the least understood mental
health conditions. Scientists are still trying to figure out the cause
of them.
So far, they believe the following factors may contribute to the
development of personality disorders:
• Genetics: Scientists have identified a malfunctioning gene that
may be a factor in obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Researchers are also exploring genetic links to aggression,
anxiety and fear, which are traits that can play a role in
personality disorders.
• Brain changes: Researchers have identified subtle brain
differences in people with certain personality disorders. For
example, findings in studies on paranoid personality disorder point
to altered amygdala functioning. The amygdala is the part of your
brain that’s involved with processing fearful and threatening
stimuli. In a study on schizotypal personality disorder, researchers
found a volumetric decrease in the frontal lobe of their brain.
• Childhood trauma: One study revealed a link between childhood
traumas and the development of personality disorders. People
with borderline personality disorder, for example, had especially
high rates of childhood sexual trauma. People with borderline and
antisocial personality disorders have issues with intimacy and
trust, both of which may be related to childhood abuse and
trauma.
• Verbal abuse: In one study, people who experienced verbal
abuse as children were three times as likely to have borderline,
narcissistic, obsessive-compulsive or paranoid personality
disorders in adulthood.
• Cultural factors: Cultural factors may also play a role in the
development of personality disorders, as demonstrated by the
varying rates of personality disorders between different
countries. For example, there are remarkably low cases of
antisocial personality disorders in Taiwan, China and Japan,
along with significantly higher rates of cluster C personality
disorders.
What are the symptoms of personality disorders?
• Each of the 10 types of personality disorders has its own specific
signs and symptoms.
• But, in general, personality disorders involve problems with:
• Identity and a sense of self: People with a personality disorder
generally lack a clear or stable image of themselves, and how
they see themselves often changes depending on the situation or
the people they’re with. Their self-esteem may be unrealistically
high or low.
• Relationships: People with a personality disorder struggle to
form close, stable relationships with others due to their
problematic beliefs and behaviors. They may lack empathy or
respect for others, be emotionally detached or be overly needy of
attention and care.
Another distinguishing sign of personality disorders is that most
people who have one often have little to no insight or self-
awareness of how their thoughts and behaviors are problematic.
Signs
• A personality disorder must fulfill several criteria. A deeply
ingrained, inflexible pattern of relating, perceiving, and thinking
serious enough to cause distress or impaired functioning is a
personality disorder.

• Personality disorders are usually recognizable by adolescence

or earlier, continue throughout adulthood, and become less
obvious throughout middle age.
How do you know if someone has a personality disorder?

• You can’t know for sure if someone has a personality disorder

unless they receive a professional, medical diagnosis.

• It’s important to understand the difference between personality

types and personality disorders. A person who is shy or likes to
spend time alone doesn’t necessarily have an avoidant or
schizoid personality disorder.
The difference between personality style and a personality
disorder can often be determined by assessing how the person’s
personality affects different parts of their life, including:

• Work.
• Relationships.
• Feelings/emotions.
• Self-identity.
• Awareness of reality.
• Behavior and impulse control.
Some general signs of people with a personality disorder include:
• Their behavior is inconsistent, frustrating and confusing to
loved ones and other people they interact with.
• They may have issues understanding realistic and
acceptable ways to treat others and behave around them.
• They may be unaware of how their behaviors cause
problems for themselves and/or others.
• If they’re a parent, their parenting style may be detached,
overemotional, abusive or irresponsible. This can sometimes
lead to physical, emotional or mental issues in their children.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS
How are personality disorders diagnosed?
• Personality disorders can be difficult to diagnose since most
people with a personality disorder don’t think there’s a problem
with their behavior or way of thinking.
• Because of this, people with a personality disorder typically don’t
seek help or a diagnosis for their condition. Instead, their loved
ones or a social agency may refer them to a mental health
professional because their behavior causes difficulty for others.
• When they do seek help, it’s often due to conditions such as
anxiety, depression or substance use, or because of the
problems created by their personality disorder, such as divorce or
unemployment, not the disorder itself.
Healthcare providers base the diagnosis of a specific personality disorder
on criteria provided in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

When a mental health professional, like a psychologist or , suspects

someone might have a personality disorder, they often ask broad, general
questions that won’t create a defensive response or hostile environment.
They ask questions that will shed light on:

• Past history.
• Relationships
• Previous work history.
• Reality testing.
• Impulse control.
• Because a person suspected of having a personality disorder
may lack insight into their behaviors, mental health
professionals often work with the person’s family, friends and/or
parole officers to collect more insight about their behaviors and
history.

• Personality disorders are generally underdiagnosed because

providers sometimes focus on the symptoms of anxiety or
depression, which are much more common in the general
population than personality disorders. These symptoms may
overshadow the features of any underlying personality disorder.
MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

How are personality disorders treated?

• Personality disorders are some of the most difficult disorders to treat
in psychiatry. This is mainly because people with personality
disorders don’t think their behavior is problematic, so they don’t often
seek treatment.

• And even if a person with a personality disorder seeks treatment,

modern medicine is still lacking in available treatment options —
there are no medications currently approved to treat any personality
disorder. But there are medications that can help with symptoms of
anxiety and depression, which are common in people with a
personality disorder.
But psychotherapy (talk therapy) can help manage personality
disorders. Psychotherapy is a term for a variety of treatment
techniques that aim to help you identify and change troubling
emotions, thoughts and behaviors. Working with a mental health
professional, like a psychologist or psychiatrist, can provide
support, education and guidance to you and your family.
The main goals of psychotherapy for treating personality
disorders include:
• Reducing immediate distress, such as anxiety and depression.
• Helping the person understand that their problems are internal and not
caused by other people or situations.
• Decreasing unhealthy and socially undesirable behavior.
• Modifying the personality traits that are causing difficulties.
There are several different types of psychotherapy, and each
personality disorder requires different types.

For example, studies show that dialectical behavior therapy

(DBT) is effective for treating those with borderline personality
disorder, and people with histrionic personality disorder often
benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT
PREVENTION
Can personality disorders be prevented?
• At this time, there’s no known way to prevent personality
disorders, but many of the related problems might be lessened
with treatment. Seeking help as soon as symptoms appear can
help decrease the disruption to the person’s life, family and
friendships.
OUTLOOK / PROGNOSIS
What is the prognosis (outlook) for personality disorders?
Since people with personality disorders often don’t seek proper medical
attention, the overall prognosis for personality disorders is poor.
• Untreated personality disorders may result in:
• Poor relationships.
• Occupational difficulties.
• Impaired social functioning.
Studies show that personality disorders are associated with elevated rates of:
• Unemployment.
• Divorce.
• Domestic abuse.
• Substance use.
• Homelessness.
• Crime (especially antisocial personality disorder).
• In addition, people with personality disorders are more likely to
visit the emergency room (ER), experience traumatic accidents
and have early deaths by suicide.

• Although the outlook is dire, studies show that collaborative care

management can greatly improve outcomes for people with
personality disorders if they stay committed to treatment.

• If you know someone who has or may have a personality

disorder, try to persuade them to seek treatment. It’s also
important to educate yourself about the nature of the specific
personality disorder so you can better understand what to expect.
SUMMARY;
• It’s important to remember that personality disorders are mental
health conditions. As with all mental health conditions, seeking
help as soon as symptoms appear can help decrease the
disruptions to your life. Mental health professionals can offer
treatment plans that can help you manage your thoughts and
behaviors.

• The family members of people with personality disorders often

experience stress, depression, grief and isolation. It’s important
to take care of your mental health and seek help if you’re
experiencing these symptoms.
Emotional/Behavioral Disorders
Definition
• Emotional disturbance is defined as: “…a condition exhibiting one or
more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and
to a marked degree that adversely affects a child’s educational
performance:
 (A) An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health
factors.
 (B) An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with
peers and teachers.
 (C) Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.
 (D) A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.
 (E) A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or
school problems.”
• As defined by IDEA, emotional disturbance includes schizophrenia but
does not apply to children who are socially maladjusted, unless it is
determined that they have an emotional disturbance.
Characteristics
• As is evident in IDEA’s definition, emotional disturbances can
affect an individual in areas beyond the emotional. Depending
on the specific mental disorder involved, a person’s physical,
social, or cognitive skills may also be affected. The National
Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) puts this very well:

• Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a

person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others
and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the
pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that
often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the
ordinary demands of life.
Some of the characteristics and behaviors seen in children who have
an emotional disturbance include:

• Hyperactivity (short attention span, impulsiveness);

• Aggression or self-injurious behavior (acting out, fighting);
• Withdrawal (not interacting socially with others, excessive fear or anxiety);
• Immaturity (inappropriate crying, temper tantrums, poor coping skills); and
• Learning difficulties (academically performing below grade level).
• Children with the most serious emotional disturbances may exhibit distorted
thinking, excessive anxiety, bizarre motor acts, and abnormal mood swings.
• Many children who do not have emotional disturbance may display some of
these same behaviors at various times during their development. However,
when children have an emotional disturbance, these behaviors continue
over long periods of time. Their behavior signals that they are not coping
with their environment or peers.
Causes
• No one knows the actual cause or causes of emotional disturbance,
although several factors—heredity, brain disorder, diet, stress, and
family functioning—have been suggested and vigorously
researched. A great deal of research goes on every day, but to date,
researchers have not found that any of these factors are the direct
cause of behavioral or emotional problems.

• According to NAMI, mental illnesses can affect persons of any age,

race, religion, or income. Further: Mental illnesses are not the
result of personal weakness, lack of character, or poor
upbringing. Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people
diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief
from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual
treatment plan.
Specific Emotional Disturbances
As we mentioned, emotional disturbance is a commonly used umbrella term for a
number of different mental disorders. Let’s take a brief look at some of the most
common of these.
Anxiety Disorders
• We all experience anxiety from time to time, but for many people, including children,
anxiety can be excessive, persistent, seemingly uncontrollable, and overwhelming.
An irrational fear of everyday situations may be involved. This high level of anxiety is
a definite warning sign that a person may have an anxiety disorder.
• As with the term emotional disturbance, “anxiety disorder” is an umbrella term that
actually refers to several distinct disabilities that share the core characteristic of
irrational fear: generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder
(also called social phobia), and specific phobias.
• According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, anxiety disorders are the
most common psychiatric illnesses affecting children and adults. They are also
highly treatable. Unfortunately, only about 1/3 of those affected receive treatment.
Bipolar Disorder
Also known as manic-depressive illness, bipolar disorder is a serious medical
condition that causes dramatic mood swings from overly “high” and/or irritable to sad
and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between.
Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood.
For most people with bipolar disorder, these mood swings and related symptoms can
be stabilized over time using an approach that combines medication and
psychosocial treatment.

Conduct Disorder
Conduct disorder refers to a group of behavioral and emotional problems in
youngsters. Children and adolescents with this disorder have great difficulty following
rules and behaving in a socially acceptable way. (14) This may include some of the
following behaviors:
• aggression to people and animals;
• destruction of property;
• deceitfulness, lying, or stealing; or
• truancy or other serious violations of rules.
Although conduct disorder is one of the most difficult behavior disorders to treat,
young people often benefit from a range of services that include:
• training for parents on how to handle child or adolescent behavior;
• family therapy;
• training in problem solving skills for children or adolescents; and
• community-based services that focus on the young person within
the context of family and community influences.

Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are characterized by extremes in eating behavior—either too
much or too little—or feelings of extreme distress or concern about body weight
or shape. Females are much more likely than males to develop an eating
disorder.
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the two most common types of eating
disorders. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-starvation and dramatic loss
of weight. Bulimia nervosa involves a cycle of binge eating, then self-induced
vomiting or purging. Both of these disorders are potentially life-threatening.
Binge eating is also considered an eating disorder. It’s
characterized by eating excessive amounts of food, while feeling
unable to control how much or what is eaten. Unlike with bulimia,
people who binge eat usually do not purge afterward by vomiting
or using laxatives.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association:

The most effective and long-lasting treatment for an eating
disorder is some form of psychotherapy or counseling, coupled
with careful attention to medical and nutritional needs. Some
medications have been shown to be helpful. Ideally, whatever
treatment is offered should be tailored to the individual, and this
will vary according to both the severity of the disorder and the
patient’s individual problems, needs, and strengths.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Often referred to as OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder is actually considered an anxiety

disorder (which was discussed earlier in this fact sheet). OCD is characterized by recurrent,
unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Repetitive
behaviors (handwashing, counting, checking, or cleaning) are often performed with the
hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away. Performing these so-
called “rituals,” however, provides only temporary relief, and not performing them markedly
increases anxiety.

A large body of scientific evidence suggests that OCD results from a chemical imbalance in
the brain. Treatment for most people with OCD should include one or more of the following:
• therapist trained in behavior therapy;
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT);
• medication (usually an antidepressant).
Psychotic Disorders

“Psychotic disorders” is another umbrella term used to refer to

severe mental disorders that cause abnormal thinking and
perceptions. Two of the main symptoms are delusions and
hallucinations. Delusions are false beliefs, such as thinking that
someone is plotting against you. Hallucinations are false
perceptions, such as hearing, seeing, or feeling something that is
not there. Schizophrenia is one type of psychotic disorder. There
are others as well.

Treatment for psychotic disorders will differ from person to person,

depending on the specific disorder involved. Most are treated with a
combination of medications and psychotherapy (a type of
counseling).
Behavioral Health
• Social work practice in behavioral health promotes well-being
through by assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of
mental illness, substance use, and other addictions. Social work
practice in behavioral health incorporates knowledge of human
behavior, sociology, psychiatry, psychology, and many other
social science disciplines. Individual, group and family therapy
are common treatment modalities.
• Social workers who provide behavioral health services may be
required to be licensed or certified in their jurisdiction of practice.
Behavioral health clinicians perform services in a variety of
settings including private practice, hospitals, community mental
health, primary care, treatment centers, and other agencies.
• Social workers provide a wide spectrum of direct services to the
public, from counseling students with behavioral problems to
developing treatment plans for those struggling with substance
abuse. This hands-on support has helped countless people from
diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds take charge of
their health and well-being, leading to a higher quality of life.

• While many equate social work careers with case management

and clinical settings, the field offers a variety of employment
options for those with the right qualifications. If you’re interested
in pursuing a career in social work and mental health, it’s
important to understand how these two disciplines are
intertwined and which roles will allow you to make a real
difference in your community.
Social Work and Mental Health

• From the beginning, social work and mental health have been inextricably linked.
The social work field can trace its roots back to the turn of the 20th century,
according to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). This is when
the first academic class in social work was offered at Columbia University.

• Less than a decade later, sweeping mental health reform in the U.S. drew greater
attention to psychological disorders, leading to the creation of the National
Committee for Mental Hygiene. This agency, later renamed Mental Health
America (MHA), helped facilitate more than 100 child guidance clinics and
advocated for mental illness awareness through research, public communication
and policymaking.

• Thanks to the MHA’s contributions, the U.S. successfully passed the National
Mental Health Act in 1947. The act established the National Institute of Mental
Health and brought significant attention to the study of psychological, behavioral
and emotional problems.
The Role of the Modern-Day Mental Health Social Worker

• In the years since its inception, the social work field has been on the
frontlines of countless cultural, economic and health-related causes,
including Social Security, unemployment benefits and disability pay.
Alongside advocating for fair and equitable health care programs, many
social work practitioners including mental health social workers, also
assess, diagnose and treat mental illnesses, behavioral disorders and
emotional issues. Some examples include:
• Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions
• Child abuse, neglect and behavioral problems
• Addiction, substance abuse and alcoholism
• Significant life events, including divorce, bereavement and terminal
illnesses
• Coping with unemployment, homelessness and long-term disabilities
• Mental health social workers support individuals, families and
communities as they seek to overcome challenges that negatively
impact individual and community well-being. For example, by
addressing a patient’s substance abuse issues, social workers can
help recovering addicts find new employment, obtain affordable
housing and take advantage of available mental health services.

• Since each client has different needs and preferences, social work
professionals need to focus on cultivating strong relationships built
on trust, transparency and compassion. This is particularly
important when treating people who have a diagnosed mental
illness, as they may be more sensitive to certain experiences and
forms of communication. While social workers of every type are
concerned with mental health, some roles come with specialized
requirements that fall outside the norm.
Mental Health Social Worker Job Description
• Mental health social workers engage mostly with clients struggling to
overcome addictive behaviors, such as drug or alcohol abuse, or
mental health conditions, such as eating disorders, clinical
depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PDSD) among
others. Although the exact daily duties of mental health social
workers can vary based on their employer and the patient population
they focus on, common responsibilities may include the following:
• Establishing rapport and building relationships with clients
• Assessing clients’ mental health needs
• Researching mental health resources for clients, such as substance
abuse rehabilitation programs and suicide prevention resources
• Providing clients with information about resources based on their
specific needs
Varying Roles of Social Work in Mental Health
• Social workers’ roles in mental health include mental health
research, treatment and prevention. Demand for social workers
who specialize in mental health and substance abuse is only
growing — employment in these roles is expected to increase
12% between 2020 and 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS).

• As more people seek treatment for their mental illnesses,

behavioral disorders and emotional hardships, the need for
qualified mental health professionals will continue to expand.
Research from the National Alliance on Mental Illness found that 1
in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, which raises
an important question: In what capacities do social workers
actively support the mental health of individuals and diverse
Substance Abuse Social Workers
• Substance abuse social workers specialize in diagnosing and
treating cases of addiction and dependency. They work with
patients to reduce drug and alcohol consumption, identify the
root causes of addiction and create detailed treatment plans.
Substance abuse social workers are often employed at
hospitals, detoxification centers and other mental health clinics
where recovering addicts may be staying, according to the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Professionals in these roles are well-versed in cognitive
behavioral therapy, crisis intervention, motivational interviewing
and trauma work, making them a core component of any drug
rehabilitation program or facility.
What Psychiatric Social Workers Do
• The
main goal of psychiatric social workers is to stabilize and support people experiencing intense psychologi
cal
distressExternal link:open_in_new or behavioral issues that are threatening their safety and well-being, or
the safety and well-being of others. Psychiatric social workers accomplish this through a combination of
diagnostic assessments (psychosocial and risk assessments), individual and group therapy, and care
coordination/case management services.
• Diagnostic Assessments
• One of psychiatric social workers’ most important tasks is conducting different diagnostic assessments of
patients’ mental health to determine their psychological issues and needs. The main assessment
psychiatric social workers conduct is the psychosocial assessment which requires the psychiatric social
worker to gather information, including but not limited to:
Primary and secondary psychological conditions (depression, severe anxiety, PTSD,
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc.).
Behavioral issues (substance abuse, violence, problems with emotional regulation, etc.).
Familial, social, cultural and occupational background.
Physical health status and medical treatment history.
Mental health status (measured by tests of mood, cognition, motor skills, perception,
etc.).
Mental health treatment history.
Current medications and treatment support systems.
• Psychiatric social workers may use information gained from the psychosocial assessment to also
complete risk assessments, which are targeted evaluations of whether an individual may
experience an adverse outcome in their current state and situation. Psychiatric social workers
use risk assessments to determine the level of care a patient needs (hospitalization, an inpatient
psychiatric hold, or intensive outpatient psychotherapy).
Care Coordination (Case Management)
• Once they have determined the mental health status and treatment history of their patients,
psychiatric social workers are responsible for overall case management (PDF, 200K).External
link:open_in_new This can include ensuring their patients receive the mental health support they
need by:
• Developing a patient treatment plan in collaboration with medical and mental health staff,
using information from the psychosocial assessment.
• Monitoring a patient’s progress throughout his or her treatment.
• Communicating with the treatment team as needed regarding developments in a patient’s
mental health status.
• Explaining different treatment options and plans to patients.
• Connecting patients to relevant resources within and outside the treatment facility.
• Coordinating safe and effective discharges when the time comes for patients to transition
to a different treatment facility or back home.
Psychiatric social workers are also often responsible for keeping medical and mental health
treatment records to ensure continuity of care if/when patients transition to different psychiatric
settings or providers.
Individual and Group Psychotherapy
• Depending on their work setting, psychiatric social workers may
deliver short- or long-term psychotherapy to patients, utilizing
different clinical social work methods according to each
patient’s psychological situation and needs. Psychotherapeutic
methods they may use include cognitive behavioral therapy,
harm reduction techniques (for behavioral issues such as
chemical dependency), motivational interviewing, dialectical
behavioral therapy, mindfulness training, and experiential
therapy.
POST TASKS:
Kindly reflect on the following questions which best describe or speak of you.
1. Mid Term Exam is on Monday, November 20, 2023 to start
at 2:00PM.
2. Go directly to your canvas and start answering your exam
which once done must be submitted thereto. Please no other
platform.
3. Coverage is Modules 1 to 3.
4. Good Luck!
REFERENCES:
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Anxiety Disorders Association of America
• American Academy of Adolescent and Child Psychiatry
• National Mental Health Information Center
• National Eating Disorders Association
• National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities