For your Final Paper, select one of the following disorders to investigate: 

1. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
2. Pathological Gambling
3. Factitious Disorder by Proxy
4. Substance Dependence
5. Borderline Personality Disorder

Present a thorough overview of the chosen disorder.  Your audience has no prior knowledge of this disorder; therefore, be sure your explanations are relevant to your audience.  When writing your paper, it is critical that you convey all the necessary information in a straightforward manner using non-technical language.  Support your analysis with at least five scholarly, peer-reviewed sources (not including the course text) that were published within the last five years.  Your Final Paper must include the following:

1. Define the disorder and its main symptoms.
2. Describe the relationship between this disorder and other disorders.
3. Describe who is most likely to have this disorder with regard to age, gender, social class and ethnicity.
4. Summarize the risk factors (biological, psychological, and/or social) for this disorder. If one of the categories is not relevant, address this within the summary.
5. Evaluate recommended treatments for the disorder and the likelihood of success or possible outcomes for each treatment.
6. List five references (include both print and web-based sources) that would provide more information for individuals with this  disorder. Give the reference for the source as well as a two to three sentence description for each resource. This list of support resources will not count toward the required resources for your paper.
7. Apply what you have learned throughout the course to your career (present and future).  What information have you found to be the most useful or relevant? 

The paper must be eight to ten pages (excluding title and reference pages) and include a minimum of five scholarly, peer reviewed sources that were published within the last five years.  All sources must be formatted according to APA guidelines as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. 

Writing the Final Paper

The Final Project:

1. Must be eight to ten double-spaced pages in length, and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
2. Must include a title page with the following:
   1. Title of paper
   2. Student’s name
   3. Course name and number
   4. Instructor’s name
   5. Date submitted
3. Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
4. Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
5. Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
6. Must use a minimum of five scholarly, peer-reviewed sources published within the last five years (not including the course
7. Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
8. Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.