The document provides instructions for a final paper assignment requiring students to write a psychological report evaluating a character from an approved movie or historical case study. The report must follow specific sections in this order: identifying information, chief complaint, symptoms, personal history, family history, therapy history, medical conditions, substance use, collateral, results of evaluation, diagnostic impression with differential justification, and recommendations. The paper must be in APA format, include references, and integrate knowledge of the character's cultural background throughout the analysis.

1. Final Paper
For your Final Paper, you will demonstrate your knowledge of psychopathology and apply your
skills to a realistic scenario. Throughout this course, you have developed unique knowledge and
skill sets that will allow you to critically analyze depictions of psychopathology in popular media
and historical case examples from an informed point of view.
Your Final Paper will be a psychological report that may be based on a character from a movie
or a historical case study. Review the provided lists of movies and historical case studies that are
approved for use in this assignment. You must choose from these lists. You may not use
examples from your personal life in the psychological report since doing so would be unethical
(see Standards 2.04 and 9.01a in the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct).
As you create this report, you will be taking on the role of a clinician who is conducting an
assessment and providing treatment recommendations for a patient (a character from your
selected film or historical case study). Please note that a psychological report does not follow the
same structure for reports you may have used in other courses. Your report must follow the
format below and it must include each of the sections and their headings listed in this order:
I. Identifying Information
Within this section, you will describe basic information on your patient, including the
person’s name, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, race, occupation, and location of
residence (country, state, and region).
II. Chief Complaint/Presenting Problem
Within this section, you will include the patient’s primary complaint verbatim to identify
the main source of his or her distress and/or concerns. If there is no verbatim complaint,
include observable information to create an overall picture of the presenting problem.
Typically, this section within a psychological report seeks to address the following
question (further elaboration within this section is encouraged where possible):
o What are the patient’s complaints? (e.g., the patient might complain about
“feeling on edge” or experiencing stress)
III. Symptoms
Within this section, you will interpret specific behavioral issues and intrapsychic conflicts
as they relate to abnormal behavior, behavior patterns, maladaptive thought processes,
and potential unconscious conflicts. Interpret and comment on the patient’s chief
complaint and/or presenting problem in the context and language of the symptoms found
in the DSM-5. (e.g., the patient who complains about "feeling on edge" might actually be
experiencing symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder or generalized anxiety
disorder)

2. IV. Personal History
Within this section, you will analyze your patient’s personal background and history of
abnormal behavior(s) that inform your diagnostic impression. You will also gather
information about the patient’s cultural background and cultural norms.
Typically, this section within a psychological report seeks to answer the following
questions (further elaboration within this section is encouraged where possible):
 Where did the patient grow up?
 What cultures did the patient experience throughout life?
 What was the patient’s school life like?
 What were his or her grades? What is his or her highest level of education?
 What is the patient’s interpersonal relationship history?
 What was/is the patient’s romantic relationship history?
What was/is the patient’s friendship history?
V. Family History
Within this section, you will analyze the patient’s familial relationship(s) and identify any
abnormalities that might affect future treatment. You will also integrate information
about the patient’s family and cultural background to identify any maladaptive behaviors
and relational patterns.
Typically, this section within a psychological report seeks to answer the following
questions (further elaboration within this section is encouraged where possible):
 How old were the patient’s parents when the patient was born?
 Who were the patient’s primary caregivers?
 What was/is family life like? (Include any information relevant to your diagnostic
impression.)
 Did the family move often?
 What was/is the patient’s relationship with their siblings (if applicable)?
 What culture did/does the family come from?
 What belief systems are attached to that culture?
VI. Therapy History
Within this section, you will describe the patient’s therapy history to inform your
diagnostic impression. Analyze the patient’s therapy history to identify the effectiveness
of previous treatment(s). Analyze previous treatment interventions based on information
and knowledge of the patient’s cultural background.
Typically, this section within a psychological report seeks to answer the following
questions (further elaboration within this section is encouraged where possible):

3.  Who was the previous therapist (if applicable)?
 How long did the previous therapy/therapies last?
 What was the patient’s diagnosis?
 What interventions did the therapist(s) use?
 Were those interventions appropriate for the patient’s culture?
 Was treatment successful?
VII. Medical Conditions
Within this section, you will analyze the patient’s medical history and comment on any
possible medical conditions that could influence your diagnostic impression. Interpret
specific behavioral issues as they relate to salient medical conditions. If the person has
any medical conditions, indicate that in this section. Integrate information and knowledge
about the patient’s cultural background as it affects treatment options for medical
conditions.
VIII. Substance Use
Within this section, you will analyze and comment on the patient’s substance use to
identify any potential issues that could influence your diagnostic impression. Interpret
specific behavioral issues as they relate to substance use. If the person misuses specific
substances, indicate that in this section. Integrate information and knowledge about the
patient’s cultural background to inform your interpretation of substance misuse in this
patient’s case.
Typically, this section within a psychological report seeks to answer the following
questions (further elaboration within this section is encouraged where possible):
 Which substances does the patient use? (Include any over-the-counter, herbal, and/or
prescription medications.)
 For how long has the patient used the substance?
 What is the patient’s quantity and frequency of use?
IX. Collateral
Within this section, you will interpret specific collateral information as it relates to your
patient’s abnormal behavior and behavior patterns. You will also integrate information
and knowledge regarding the patient’s culture in your evaluation of the maladaptive
behavior as reported by the collateral sources.
Typically, this section within a psychological report seeks to answer the following
questions (further elaboration within this section is encouraged where possible):
 What do other people have to say about the patient’s behavior?
 Are there any commonalities between the collateral sources’ reports?
 Do the collateral sources have any psychological issues that might exacerbate the
patient’s problems?
 Are there any police reports?

4.  Are there any personality testing or intelligence testing reports available?
X. Results of Evaluation
Within this section, you will analyze the patient’s behavior and mental processes. There
are two parts to this section. To begin your analysis, you will write a brief evaluation of
each theory of personality development that you learned about in this course and
determine whether or not each theoretical orientation can be used to conceptualize the
patient’s current situation and treatment goals. Next, use one major theoretical orientation
to write an in-depth analysis for your results of evaluation section. Within the context of
this theoretical perspective, you will analyze all of the information from the previous
sections. Analyze specific behaviors, cognitions, and intrapsychic processes as they relate
to your diagnostic impression. Integrate knowledge of the patient’s cultural background
and norms withinthatculture asyou prepare yoursupportingevidence.
Typically, this section within a psychological report seeks to answer the following
question (further elaboration within this section is encouraged where possible):
Based on the information you gathered in the previous sections, what led to the patient’s
current state?
XI. Diagnostic Impression With Differential Justification
Within this section, you will provide your diagnosis for the patient. To demonstrate your
understanding of diagnostic procedure and justification, specifically address each
symptom that the patient displayed and relate each symptom to a diagnostic criterion in
the DSM-5. Analyze the patient’s behaviors and mental processes within your differential
justification. Clearly demonstrate that the patient meets criteria to be given a diagnosis. If
the patient does not meet criteria for any diagnosis based on your assessment, explain
why. Also, explore any alternative diagnoses and explain why these were not chosen.
XII. Recommendations
Within this section, you will you provide treatment recommendations for the person to
help them improve his or her quality of life. These recommendations must be based on
the theoretical orientation you used in your Results of Evaluation. Explain why you chose
your treatment intervention(s) and include peer-reviewed articles that support your
choice(s). If treatment is not necessary, explain why. Pay close attention to the person’s
culture since some treatment options may be insensitive to his or her culture or way of
living.
Writing the Final Paper
The Final Paper:
1. Must follow the report outline provided above with the requisite headings and be
formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
2. Must include a title page with the following:
a. Title of paper
b. Student’s name

5. c. Course name and number
d. Instructor’s name
e. Date submitted
3. Must address the assessment with critical thought.
4. Must use at least five peer-reviewed sources that were published within the last ten years,
in addition to the text, a minimum of four must be from the Ashford University Library.
5. Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
6. Must include a separate reference page that is formatted according to APA style as
outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
http://www.biography.com/people/abraham-lincoln-9382540#entering-politics