The Alternative Lenses of Assessment

Abstract

The use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) as a teaching tool for social workers to understand mental illness has been debated for many years. The general consensus is that social workers need to be “familiar” with this classification system. Social Work's person in environment perspective, however, requires additional tools of assessment. This article provides the Alternative Lenses of Assessment as one such tool: Developmental-Adaptive lens, Political- Economic lens, Sociocultural lens, Neurobiological lens, and Situational- Environmental lens. A pedagogical method for presenting these lenses through clinical vignettes is provided. Student response to the Lenses using student-authored clinical vignettes is also discussed.

Key Words:

• Assessment
• diagnosis
• psychopathology
• social work