Discussion 1: Treatment Evaluation For Many Social Work Stud

Iscussion 1 Treatment Evaluationmany Social Work Students Dread Takin

Review this week’s Resources, including the course-specific case studies. Search the Mental Measures Yearbook database to identify potential scales that could be used to evaluate the treatment. Select one of the scales you identified and consider why it might be useful in evaluating treatment. Finally, think about the validity and reliability of that scale. Post a description of the scale you might use to evaluate treatment for the client in the case study you selected and explain why you selected that scale. Be sure to reference the case study you selected in your post. Finally, explain the validity and reliability of that scale.

Paper For Above instruction

In evaluating the effectiveness of social work interventions, selecting appropriate measurement tools is essential to ensure that clients' progress is accurately monitored and that treatments are evidence-based. This paper discusses a suitable assessment scale for Abdel’s case—a refugee survivor of war trauma—and analyzes its validity and reliability in the context of his treatment and goals.

Given Abdel’s traumatic experiences, ongoing emotional regulation challenges, and the goals he has set—such as completing a theology degree, establishing stable employment, and developing community ties—the optimal measurement tool should effectively assess psychological trauma, emotional regulation, and social functioning. One viable choice is the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). The PCL-5 is a standardized, self-report measure that evaluates the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, which are likely predominant in Abdel’s case considering his history of torture, imprisonment, and ongoing worries related to his trauma.

The PCL-5 consists of 20 items aligned with DSM-5 PTSD criteria, including intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and hyperarousal. It is widely used in clinical settings because it provides a quantifiable measure of symptom severity and can track changes over time, making it suitable for treatment evaluation. The tool has demonstrated strong psychometric properties, with high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha typically above 0.90) and good test-retest reliability, supporting its use in longitudinal assessments (Blevins et al., 2015).

In Abdel’s case, the PCL-5 would help clinicians systematically evaluate his PTSD symptoms' intensity before, during, and after therapeutic interventions. The scale's focus on symptom severity aligns with Abdel’s goal to manage his anger and emotional responses more effectively. As he engaged in trauma-informed therapy, reductions in his PCL-5 scores over time could provide objective evidence of progress, validating the effectiveness of the treatment approach.

Regarding validity, the PCL-5 exhibits strong content validity, given its alignment with DSM-5 criteria, and convergent validity has been established through correlations with other established PTSD measures (Weathers et al., 2013). Its criterion validity is supported by the fact that higher scores are associated with clinical diagnoses of PTSD. The scale's construct validity is further demonstrated through factor analysis confirming its ability to measure distinct PTSD symptom clusters.

Reliability of the PCL-5 is well-documented, with studies showing high internal consistency and stability over repeated administrations in diverse populations, including refugees and trauma survivors (Blevins et al., 2015). Its validated translations and adaptations for different languages and cultural contexts make it appropriate for Abdel, who is multilingual and from a diverse background.

In conclusion, the PCL-5 is an appropriate, valid, and reliable scale for evaluating Abdel’s PTSD symptoms, aiding in monitoring his progress and guiding adjustments in his treatment plan. Its systematic measurement of symptoms aligns well with Abdel’s goals of emotional regulation and social integration, providing concrete data to illustrate treatment efficacy and support evidence-based practice. Regular use of this scale in his ongoing care can help ensure that interventions remain responsive to his evolving needs.

References

• Blevins, C. A., Weathers, F. W., Davis, M. T., Witte, T. K., & Domino, J. L. (2015). The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5): Development and initial psychometric evaluation. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 28(6), 489–498.
• Weathers, F. W., Litz, B. T., Keane, T. M., Palmieri, P. A., Marx, B. P., & Schnurr, P. P. (2013). The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Scale available from the National Center for PTSD.
• Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Social work case studies: Foundation year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing.
• American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 72(5), 422–432.
• Hovens, J. G., et al. (2015). The psychometric properties of the PCL-5 in a sample of refugees. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 31, 102–109.
• Friedman, M. J. (2017). Posttraumatic stress disorder: Diagnosis and management. American Family Physician, 96(3), 170–176.
• Rosenblatt, A., et al. (2012). Trauma and mental health of refugees in the United States. Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies, 10(3), 245–266.
• Hoge, C. W., et al. (2014). Mental health outcomes in U.S. service members after combat. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 75(4), 433–441.
• Shriver, R., & Hogue, A. (2018). Trauma assessment in culturally diverse populations. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 25(2), 52–58.
• Levine, S., et al. (2019). Cultural considerations in trauma assessment tools. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 50(3), 321–337.