PSCI 150C - Week 2, Clinical Interviewing + IQ and Neuro Assessment

Intake interviews

The first meeting where a therapist gathers a client’s information to thoroughly assess and treat the client.

Diagnostic interviews

Interviews used to develop a comprehensive mental health diagnosis.

Mental status exam (MSE)

Interviews used to evaluate how a client is functioning.

• Established after intake interview

Problem-referral interviews

Interviews used to answer problem-referral questions.

Crisis interviews

Interviews used to address an urgent problem and identify if immediate intervention is needed.

What kind of assessment techniques are used for assessments and interviews?

• Validity

• Reliability

• Clinical utility

Rapport

The positive, comfortable relationship between interviewer and client.

What are the three interview formats?

• Unstructured

• Semistructured

• Structured

What are the two key components of an interview?

Rapport and technique

What are the four types of interviews?

• Intake interviews

• Diagnostic interviews

• Mental status exam

• Problem-referral interviews

• Crisis interviews

What are the main skills and techniques for clinical interviews?

• Open-ended and close-ended questions

• Ask clarification questions

• Confrontation

• Paraphrasing

• Reflect empathy

• Summarize what you’ve learned about the client

What is the main goal of intake interviews and what are the main aspects of them?

• Main Goal: What is the best treatment for this patient?

• Important aspects:

  • Providing rapport and resources

  • Gathering information

  • Identify problems

  • Address any symptom

  • Case formulation

What is the main goal of diagnostic interviews and what are the main aspects of them?

• Main Goal: Provide a comprehensive assessment of diagnoses

• Important aspects:

  • Semi-structured interview format

  • Evaluation and gathering of background information

  • Close-ended questions

Why is empathy important in clinical psychology?

• Building a personal + professional rapport/relationship with the client

• Every clients’ experience with diagnosis is different

• Compassion is needed therefore clients will want to return to therapy

What are the key dos with interviewing and expressing empathy toward a client?

• Asking clarifying questions

• Reflecting emotions

• Express empathy

Why is empathy important in clinical psychology?

• Building a personal + professional rapport/relationship with the client

• Every clients’ experience with diagnosis is different

• Compassion is needed therefore clients will want to return to therapy

Validity

The measure of accuracy and truthfulness.

What kind of responses are needed to contribute with showing empathy toward a client?

Verbal and non-verbal responses

What are the key don’ts with interviewing and expressing empathy toward a client?

• Minimizing the client’s feelings and experiences

• Giving straightforward advice

Unstructured Interview

An interview that is flexible and uses open-ended questions.

• Advantages: Allows more rapport between the clinician and client

• Disadvantages: Important topics might not be addressed

Semi-structured Interview

An interview that uses a balance of guiding questions and specific questions.

• Advantages: Rapport, coverage of important topics

• Disadvantages: Not reliable for research purposes

Structured Interviews

An interview that uses a specific set of questions in a set order.

• Advantages: Systemic, less prone to error

• Disadvantages: Can make the client feel alienated.

What are tests?

A systematic procedure for observing and describing a person’s behavior in standard situations.

What are referral questions and what is the importance of them? 

• Referral questions are questions that have a specific reason to get help

• Needed to select the right tests 

• Recommendations for treatment

Intelligence tests

The measurement of intellectual abilities.

Achievement tests

The measurement of accomplishments in academic areas.

Neuropsychological tests

The measurement of focus on cognitive dysfunction (especially from brain injury or illness).

What is the purpose of psychological tests?

To evaluate different aspects of cognitive functioning

What are the three types of psychological tests?

• Intelligence tests

• Achievement tests

• Neuropsychological tests

General intelligence theory (Spearman, 1904)

The theory of intelligence that states that one underlying factor of intelligence accounts for different intellectual tasks

Multiple intelligences theory

The theory of intelligence that states that different kind of intelligence exist rather than one singular one.

Hierarchal model of intelligence

The theory of intelligence that states that intelligence is organized into levels which combines general intelligence and multiple intelligences; cognitive abilities are organized in layers which help define the “g”

Fluid Intelligence

The ability to solve new problems without relying on knowledge from previous experiences.

Crystallized intelligence

The knowledge that is acquired through one’s own personal skills and experiences.

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

An IQ test that uses subtests and four different index scores and is designed for adults ages 16-90.

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V)

An IQ test for children ages 5-15 years old that uses subtests and is based on five factor scores.

Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence Fourth Edition (WPPSI-VI)

An IQ test for children ages 2 years 6 months to 7 years 7 months including different index scores.

What are the 4-5 index scores that are on the Wechsler intelligence tests?

• Verbal comprehension

• Perceptual organization

• Working Memory

• Processing Speed 

What is the scoring and interpretation of the Wechsler tests?

• Full-scale IQ

• Index scores

• Set of normative data

Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scales

An IQ test that measures overall intellectual ability functioning across the entire lifespan.

How does the Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scales differ from the Wechsler scales?

• The Stanford-Binet scale measures across an entire lifespan

• Measures both low and high intelligence

• Factors/index scores are different 

  • Fluid Reasoning

  • Knowledge

  • Quantitative reasoning

  • Visual-Spatial processing

  • Working memory