Psychopathology: A Competency-Based Assessment for Social Workers

The author draws on her practice experience by providing case vignettes for situations that social workers commonly encounter in clinical practice. Client stories are told in a style that helps social workers understand each client's unique experience with psychopathology. Cases focus on issues around cultural diversity, ethical issues and model standards of practice. They serve as a vehicle to look beyond signs and symptoms to understand human behavior in terms of biological, psychological and social influences.

Assessment questions are included to provide an opportunity for allow students to gauge their competency, while Practitioner Reflections introduce experiential activities aimed at fostering a deeper level of understanding of client disorders.

Part of the Cengage Empowerment Series for Social Work is fully aligned to the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Helping Hands visual cues within the narrative help to correlate the readings to EPAS.

Where appropriate, figures are provided to further clarify the diagnoses presented and highlight the competency-based assessment.