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By completing this assignment, you will practice utilizing biological and psychological theories to generate causal explanations and connected intervention plans for health and illness conditions. Additionally, this assignment emphasizes the central role played by empirical research to evaluate these hypotheses. Development of your research skills will benefit you not just in this course, but throughout your education.
For a selected health condition, explain the onset of illness, projected course over time without intervention, and effective treatment(s) from at least two distinct psychological models.
Include in your discussion for each model specific articulation of the etiology (causal explanation) of disease onset and the rationale utilized to create the expectation that the associated intervention plan may be expected to relieve the illness condition.
Using your knowledge of research strategies used in health psychology, also articulate a specific research strategy to evaluate the hypothesis implied by the explanation and intervention plan you describe.
[Example: I experience headaches with onset in a time of stress and poor sleep. From a biological perspective, I would explain that the stress and lack of sleep have caused muscular and/or vascular changes resulting in head pain (etiology) and suggest that this problem is unlikely to resolve without a change in behavior. Prescribing relaxation, proper rest, and stress reduction techniques, it is anticipated that headache symptoms will resolve or substantially improve within one week. This hypothesis is tested by collecting headache data (frequency, intensity, duration) and rest/stress reduction practice compliance data daily for seven days.]
Write an essay of 300-500 words in response to the prompt above. Your essay should have an introduction and conclusion and should make use of information in the first two chapters of your textbook as well as additional assigned readings and references provided in this learning module. Your paper must be in proper APA format with a cover page, in-text citations, and a separate reference page. No abstract is necessary for this assignment. Review the rubric at the bottom of this page for details on how this assignment will be graded.
The introductory paragraph should focus on the description of the specific illness or medical condition chosen as a topic for your essay. Be sure to clearly specify the medical condition you are writing about in this paragraph.
The core content of your essay will involve analyzing your chosen illness or medical condition from at least two of the theoretical perspectives, as presented in course materials and the text.
For each theoretical perspective chosen, make sure to specifically articulate both the causal explanation for the source of disease onset and the related treatment program or strategy that could credibly be expected to improve or resolve this condition.
In the concluding paragraph, you are to provide a stated hypothesis and a research plan to investigate that hypothesis for the selected models
Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!
Step 1: Select a Health Condition
- Choose a specific condition such as depression, anxiety, chronic pain, or migraines.
- Research its causes, progression, and treatments.
Step 2: Draft an Introduction
- Clearly describe the condition, including symptoms, prevalence, and its significance.
- Provide a brief overview of why analyzing this condition through psychological models is relevant.
Step 3: Choose Two Theoretical Perspectives
- Select two models, such as:
- Biological Model: Focus on genetics, neurotransmitters, or physiological factors.
- Cognitive Model: Highlight thought patterns, beliefs, or mental schemas.
- Behavioral Model: Emphasize learned behaviors, reinforcement, and conditioning.
Step 4: Explain the Etiology and Treatment for Each Model
- For each model:
- Discuss what causes the illness (e.g., neurotransmitter imbalances for depression in the biological model).
- Provide a treatment plan (e.g., SSRIs for depression or CBT for cognitive restructuring).
- Explain why the treatment is expected to work based on the theory.
Step 5: Develop a Research Plan in the Conclusion
- Propose a hypothesis for each model (e.g., “Cognitive restructuring will reduce depressive symptoms within six weeks”).
- Suggest a research strategy:
- Identify variables (e.g., frequency and severity of symptoms, intervention type).
- Choose a method (e.g., a longitudinal study, randomized control trial).
- Mention tools for data collection (e.g., surveys, clinical observations).
Step 6: Format Your Essay
- Use APA format:
- Include a title page, in-text citations, and a reference list.
- Follow APA guidelines for headings, citations, and font size.
Step 7: Review the Essay
- Check that your essay meets the word count (300-500 words).
- Proofread for grammar, clarity, and adherence to the rubric.
By following this guide, you’ll produce a focused, well-structured essay that meets all the assignment requirements. Good luck!