Clinical and Counseling Assessment

What is the primary focus of clinical psychology?

Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of abnormal behavior.

Where do clinical psychologists typically work?

Hospitals, mental health centers, independent practice, and academia.

What distinguishes counseling psychology from clinical psychology?

Counseling psychology focuses on more everyday concerns, while clinical psychology focuses on severe forms of behavior pathology.

How have the roles of clinical and counseling psychologists changed in recent years?

The lines between the two disciplines have blurred considerably, with significant overlap in activities.

What tools are commonly used in clinical assessment?

Interview, case history, and psychological tests.

In what contexts can clinical assessment be applied?

Forensic work, custody evaluations, and evaluations of child abuse and neglect.

What is the role of the DSM-5 in diagnosing mental disorders?

It provides criteria for diagnosing mental disorders and allows clinicians to communicate using standardized language.

What does DSM-5 stand for?

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition.

What types of data are gathered during a clinical interview?

Interview data, case history data, and relevant records from family, friends, or professionals.

What might a clinician inquire about in an interview with a patient suspected of dementia?

The patient's current level of functioning and compare it with others of the same age.

Why is it important to track a dementia patient's test performance over time?

To observe progressive cognitive decline and guide treatment and activity recommendations.

What is the significance of cultural aspects in psychological assessment?

They influence how mental disorders are defined and the appropriateness of interventions.

What is the biopsychosocial assessment approach?

An evaluation that considers biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to a problem.

What role does structured interview play in psychological assessment?

Provides standardized exploration and evaluation method for diagnostic decision-making.

What is the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID)?

A semi-structured interview designed to assist in diagnosing mental disorders.

How do stress interviews differ from typical interviews?

They intentionally induce stress to assess personality traits under pressure.

What is the purpose of a mental status examination?

To screen for intellectual, emotional, and neurological deficits.

Give an example of a question used in a mental status examination.

What is your name?

What is inter-rater reliability?

The degree to which different raters give consistent estimates of the same phenomenon.

What is the significance of psychological tests in clinical settings?

They provide objective data which may supplement subjective clinical impressions.

What is the importance of using a test battery in assessments?

It gathers comprehensive information from multiple tests rather than relying on a single test.

Why is culturally informed psychological assessment critical?

It ensures that evaluations are aware of and responsive to cultural factors impacting the assessment process.

What is the ADRESSING acronym in regard to cultural factors?

Age, Disability, Religion, Ethnicity, Social status, Sexual Orientation, Indigenous heritage, National origin, and Gender.

What challenges are faced in assessing child abuse?

Difficulty in identifying psychological and behavioral indicators accurately.

What are some signs of elder abuse?

Negative changes in appearance, lifestyle changes, and discrepancies in accounts between elder and caregiver.

What is the role of clinicians in abuse cases?

Mandatory reporters who must report suspected abuse to authorities.

What are common psychological tests used in custody evaluations?

Tests assessing parenting ability, family dynamics, and child preferences.

What is the importance of structured play exercises in assessing children?

They can help gauge children’s preferences and feelings about custody arrangements.

What is one key takeaway regarding the relationship between military culture and PTSD?

Military masculinity ideals may prevent individuals from seeking help for mental health issues.

How does stigma affect treatment-seeking behaviors in veterans?

Stigma may prevent individuals from admitting to needing help or reporting mental health issues.

What defines competency in a legal context?

The ability to understand the charges and assist in one’s own defense.

What is the M’Naghten standard?

A legal standard for insanity based on the inability to understand the nature of the act owing to a mental disorder.

What tools are used to assess competency to stand trial?

Competency Screening Test, Fitness Interview Test, and MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool.

What is forensic psychological assessment?

The application of psychological evaluation and measurement within legal contexts.

Why is it critical to consider cultural factors in PTSD assessment?

Cultural factors impact the understanding and presentation of PTSD symptoms.

What assessments may be performed for suicide risk?

Interviews, psychological tests, and direct inquiries about suicidal thoughts and plans.

What constitutes emotional injury in legal contexts?

Mental suffering, pain and suffering, and emotional harm caused by others.

What common elements are included in a psychological report?

Demographics, reason for referral, tests administered, findings, recommendations, and summary.

What is the Barnum effect in psychology?

The tendency for people to accept vague and general personality descriptions as uniquely applicable to themselves.

What role does clinical judgment play in psychological assessments?

Clinical judgment involves interpreting data based on training and experience.

What benefits does mechanical prediction offer over clinical judgment?

Typically more accurate as it relies on statistical rules and probabilities.

What is the criticism of the clinical versus mechanical prediction debate?

That clinical information is often subjective and prone to error compared to statistical methods.

How can cultural competence be achieved in assessments?

Through education and experience focusing on cultural issues and training opportunities.