Research Prospectus
English 5003
    I propose to write a research paper about personality disorders, specifically analyzing and contrasting The 11 mental disorders that reside under the heading of Axis II in the DSM-IV (1994).  Various personality disorders frequently blend into one another, and many people are diagnosed with
several of the disorders rather than just one.  Research conducted by Smith and Jones (1998), Carerra and Baker (2000), and Harrigan (1998), indicates that this overlapping of disorders can create inconsistencies in diagnosis. Moreover, Wilson (1999) theorizes that some people fail to receive effective treatment or do not receive early intervention because of those inconsistencies.

    I am interested in evaluating the stability of personality disorder diagnosis based on DSM-IV criteria because preliminary investigation suggests a need for consideration of alternative approaches to assessing mental disorders so that effective and timely treatment can be offered. Therefore, my paper will focus on the following thesis: Professionals in the mental health field must be aware of possible inconsistencies in diagnosis of mental disorders and should consider alternative approaches to assessing these disorders so that they can ensure appropriate treatment for clients.