Literature Search Library’s E-Resources Assessment

Cochrane Library

You should have access to the Cochrane library which publishes state-of-the-art reviews on management of common illnesses including psychological disorders

NOTE: These reports are scientifically rigorous, thorough, and lengthy. Try not to get lost in the detail. Drill down to summaries and conclusions.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

The NICE is a top-notch UK Institute that, in many ways, serves similar roles as the Cochrane library. NICE produces scientifically rigorous, thorough, state-of-the art literature reviews and draws out implications and recommendations for clinical practice.

Google Scholar

You can search for literature on your topic on Google Scholar.  Google Scholar will provide you with information from reliable sources such as peer-reviewed articles and less reliable sources. Further, whilst you will often be able to access the abstract of the article published, you may not be able to access the entire article.

Limited e-resources available through our library

The library has posted information on how to access some e-resources currently still available. The link below will provide you additional details

Condition (state your own heading here relevant to your topic)

Review of psychological treatments (state your own heading here relevant to your topic) (Guide: 800-900 words if you also include the descriptions of the interventions in this section)

Literature review

Students are required to write a narrative review article that describes TWO current psychological treatments for ONE of the conditions listed in the DSM-5-TR outlined in the unit, describing how the chosen psychological treatments may aid in the management of the condition.

The review article should assess recent (within the last 10 years) quality, peer reviewed research articles regarding the chosen area of focus (population and condition) and then provide a summary of the research findings in relation to the chosen psychological interventions, describing how they assist in managing the condition and how effective they are considering any limitations, then making further suggestions for future research. Please make sure you review the Subject Outline for more detailed information on your review and what is required.

Also see the attached marking criteria

 Students can expect to receive written feedback and marks within 4 weeks via Turnitin.

There is a 10% leeway for this assignment (you must not go over 10% for this assignment - more than 150 words).

The assessment requires students to write a narrative review article that critically evaluates two current psychological treatments for one selected condition from the DSM-5-TR. The review must:

• Select one DSM-5-TR condition (e.g., depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, etc.).

• Identify and describe two current psychological interventions used to manage the condition.

• Critically review recent, peer-reviewed literature (last 10 years) from reliable sources such as Cochrane Library, NICE, Google Scholar, and limited library e-resources.

• Summarize the effectiveness, limitations, and outcomes of these treatments.

• Discuss future research needs and recommendations for practice.

• Word count: 1,350–1,650 words (within 10% leeway).

• Proper academic referencing (APA 7th edition).

Key Pointers:

1. Choose one condition (DSM-5-TR).

2. Select two psychological treatments.

3. Conduct a literature search using Cochrane, NICE, and Google Scholar.

4. Write a structured review including introduction, treatment descriptions, evidence review, limitations, and future directions.

5. Ensure critical analysis, not just description.

How the Assessment Was Approached 

Step 1: Understanding the Task

The academic mentor began by clarifying the assignment requirements, ensuring the student understood the difference between a literature review and a simple descriptive essay. The mentor highlighted the importance of integrating critical evaluation and not just summarizing studies.

Step 2: Choosing the Condition

The mentor guided the student to select a DSM-5-TR condition that had sufficient available research. For example, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) was chosen due to the abundance of literature and the global relevance of the condition.

Step 3: Selecting Interventions

The student was advised to focus on two evidence-based treatments widely recognized in research. For depression, these included:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

The mentor explained why these were appropriate: CBT is a gold-standard intervention, while MBCT represents an emerging, mindfulness-based approach.

Step 4: Literature Search Strategy

The mentor demonstrated how to:

• Access Cochrane Library for systematic reviews.

• Explore NICE guidelines for clinical recommendations.

• Use Google Scholar effectively while distinguishing between peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed sources.

• Evaluate article quality and relevance based on recency (last 10 years), population studied, and outcomes measured.

Step 5: Structuring the Review

The mentor suggested the following structure:

1. Introduction – Introduce the condition, its prevalence, and the need for psychological interventions.

2. Description of Interventions – Outline CBT and MBCT, their principles, and techniques.

3. Review of Research Findings – Critically assess evidence from multiple studies regarding their effectiveness, strengths, and limitations.

4. Comparison and Analysis – Compare outcomes between CBT and MBCT, noting contexts in which each works best.

5. Limitations of Current Research – Identify sample size, cultural applicability, and methodological issues.

6. Future Research Suggestions – Highlight gaps such as long-term outcomes or applicability in diverse populations.

7. Conclusion – Summarize findings and clinical implications.

Step 6: Writing the Draft

The student was instructed to integrate discipline-based vocabulary (e.g., efficacy, remission rates, meta-analysis, cognitive restructuring). The mentor emphasized the use of APA 7th in-text citations for every referenced claim.

Step 7: Critical Thinking and Ethical Awareness

The mentor guided the student to link findings with ethical practice, such as respecting cultural variations in therapy applicability, ensuring accessibility, and aligning interventions with WHO mental health principles (e.g., universal health coverage, evidence-based practice).

Step 8: Reviewing and Refining

The mentor encouraged the student to re-read their draft, check for logical flow, coherence, and adherence to word count, and then refine referencing. A Turnitin check was recommended for academic integrity.

Final Outcome

• Assessment Requirements Achieved: The student selected Major Depressive Disorder as the condition and critically reviewed CBT and MBCT using high-quality sources from Cochrane Library, NICE, and Google Scholar.

• Process Outcome: The mentor’s structured guidance allowed the student to build a coherent, evidence-based, and critically analytical review.

• Learning Objectives Covered:

  • Application of literature review skills using reliable academic sources.

  • Development of critical thinking through comparing and contrasting interventions.

  • Improved academic writing and referencing (APA7).

  • Understanding of the link between psychological treatment research and real-world mental health practice.

The student’s final work not only met the assignment criteria but also demonstrated strong academic engagement with research evidence and reflective practice.

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