This document outlines the requirements for a final project on a selected neuropsychological disorder. Students must write a 10-12 page paper that 1) introduces the disorder, including diagnostic criteria and epidemiology, 2) discusses the disorder's signs/symptoms, diagnosis/management, risk factors, neurological involvement, and current/future treatments, and 3) concludes by reaffirming the thesis. The paper must be supported by at least six scholarly sources within the past five years, with a minimum of four peer-reviewed research studies.

1. In your this Project, you will synthesize an overview of the
major theories relating to the pathology of a disorder as well as
provide a detailed discussion of the etiology (causes) and
clinical interventions, using research to support your analysis.
Your topic will be the neuropsychological disorder that was
selected and approved by the instructor in your Week One
assignment, and for which you provided an outline in the Week
Two assignment.
In keeping with the focus of this class, the emphasis of your
paper will be on the neuroscience aspects of the disorder, to
include:
Theories of etiology (causes)
Associated factors in development of the disorder (genetic,
environmental, familial, lifestyle)
Pathology (abnormalities of physical structure and function,
including genetic and biochemical aspects)
Treatment options (pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic,
with rationales for use based on current understanding of the
disorder)
Diagnostic and research technologies employed in clinical
diagnosis, care, and basic science research
Your research will include a minimum of six to eight peer-
reviewed sources, which provide evidence-based information

2. regarding the biological and psychological features of the
disorder and were published within the last five years. At least
four of your references should be peer-reviewed publications of
original research studies. To justify your assertions, provide in-
text citations for all factual statements taken from your
research, with corresponding references drawn from scholarly
sources. All citations and sources are to be documented
according to APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing
Center, and should support and enhance your analysis of the
selected disorder. Sources may include review articles, original
research articles, information from government agencies (e.g.,
National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, Food
and Drug Administration, Drug Enforcement Administration) or
professional societies (e.g., professional society position papers
or clinical practice guidelines).
Final Project- Components
Section I: Introduction
This section should provide a general introduction to the topic
as well as an overview of the background and history of the
disorder. Further, it should provide a succinct thesis statement
of the purpose and overall direction of the paper. For instance,
if your paper will have a large focus on the role of particular
neurotransmitters in the etiology of the disorder as a rationale
for treatment options, you should indicate this in the
introduction. Finally, this section should provide demographic
data that indicates the prevalence of the disorder in both general
and specific populations.
Specific required components of the Introduction:

3. Succinct thesis statement (one or more sentences detailing
the focus of your Final Project and informing the reader
about your topic and the scope of your paper)
Define the type of disorder
Neurological
Psychological
Neuropsychological
Diagnostic criteria
What components must be present for the disorder to be
diagnosed?
Include physical and psychological signs and symptoms.
Reason(s) why you chose this topic
Personal experience
Professional experience
Other reason

4. Epidemiology
Who is affected?
Are they young/old?
Male/female
Rural/urban
Ethnicities
Section II: Discussion
This section should make up the majority of the Final Project in
terms of size. Here, you will expand upon the main aspects of
the disorder and provide details relating to the disorder and its
management. This section should provide specific and detailed
information (Reminder: All statements of fact require an in-text
citation). Cited/referenced sources should be used to support
your analysis of the components of the discussion.
Specific required components of the Discussion section:
Detailed description of the disorder

5. Signs and symptoms
Epidemiology
Any subtypes of the disorder
Detailed description of the natural history of the disorder
How the disorder develops over time with treatment
How the disorder develops over time without treatment
Methods used to diagnose, evaluate, and manage the
disorder
Initial diagnosis (e.g., physical exam, imaging and/or
laboratory testing, special studies, psychological evaluation,
psychometric testing)
Ongoing management (e.g., physical exam, imaging and/or
laboratory testing, special studies, psychological evaluation,
psychometric testing)
Risk factors
Genetics

6. Lifestyle
Environmental factors
Other causative factors
Known
Theorized
Nervous system structures and/or pathways involved in the
disorder (detailed information regarding the underlying
pathology as it applies to these structures and functional
pathways)
Neurotransmitter(s) and receptor system(s) involved in the
pathology of the disorder
Current treatment options
Drug (pharmacologic) therapies
Nonpharmacologic therapies (including psychological and
other therapeutic services)
Type of care providers (e.g., medical, nursing, therapists)
Type of healthcare setting (e.g., hospital, home, outpatient,
nursing facility)

7. Future areas of research
Treatment options
Evaluation and diagnostic methods for initial diagnosis
Increasing knowledge relating to etiology and pathologic
processes
Section III: Conclusion
Provide a concluding summary of your findings regarding your
selected disorder. The conclusion is a summarization of
information that has already been presented. Typically, if you
mention something in the conclusion section of an academic
paper, you should have already mentioned this aspect of the
topic earlier in the paper.
Specific required components of the Conclusion section:
The conclusion reaffirms your initial thesis statement.
The conclusion may be one or more paragraphs. Use the
material you have discussed in the paper to support the
validity of your synthesis and elaborate on the theme of your

8. paper.
Writing the Final Project
The Final Project:
Must be 10 to 12 double-spaced pages in length, and
formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford
Writing Center.
Must include a title page with the following:
Title of paper
Student’s name
Course name and number
Instructor’s name
Date submitted
Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a
succinct thesis statement.
Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
Must include section headings, formatted according to APA
style, to organize your paper. Each paragraph must have a
minimum of three full sentences.

9. Must include in-text citations for all statements of facts
obtained through your research.
Remember that direct quotes (identical phrases or sentences
taken from a source) require in-text citations with
appropriate formatting.
Statements of opinion should be clearly stated as such, and
include a rationale to support why you hold this opinion
(e.g., personal or professional experience, your research
findings).
Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
Must use at least six to eight scholarly sources that were
published within the last five years, including a minimum of
four peer-reviewed original research studies.
In general, dictionaries and encyclopedias are not
considered appropriate resources for academic writing.
Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the
Ashford Writing Center.
Must include a separate reference page, formatted according
to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.