Question

For this discussion you will take on the role of a clinical psychologist treating clients for depression. You are interested in doing research on effective treatments for a chronic form of depression called dysthymia. In the DSM-5, it is referred to as persistent depressive disorder. The DSM-5 is listed in your recommended resources, and details regarding the disorder can be found in section 300.4(F34.1).

In your review of the current materials, you find that most of the previous research on this disorder has been done using quantitative methods. Identify an aspect of this topic you feel should be studied using qualitative methods. Apply the scientific method to this research issue and develop a specific research question. Compare the characteristics and appropriate uses of various qualitative research designs and choose an appropriate qualitative design for this research question. Create a feasible research design that includes plans for the sample selection, data collection, and data analysis. Apply ethical principles to your design by explaining how this type of qualitative design may affect the participants in your study and how you will deal with sociocultural issues.

Answer 1

Dysthymia has been renamed in the updated DSM-5 and it includes both chronic major depressive disorder and the previous dysthymic disorder. If the mood is depressed for most of the day than it is indicated by either subjective account or observation by others. It is usually accompanied by poor sleep, loss of appetite, weight loss, hopelessness, and often with suicidal ideas.

Talking more about the research, it has to be conducted using qualitative methods. In qualitative the subject number is very small and it is done in depth.

So the methods we can use in qualitative method are focus groups (group discussions), individual interviews, and participation/observations.

We can conduct a group discussion from which we can gather samples(people) who are facing with dysthymic disorder and later we can have a individual interview with the samples which lead to observation and we can find out the root cause of the disorder.

the disorder is dangerous as it can lead to suicide, Dysthymia still largely goes undiagnosed and untreated. As many as three percent of Americans struggle with dysthymia, while less than half ever seek treatment.