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Clinical and Counseling Assessment

  • Clinical Psychology
    • the branch of psychology that has its primary focus on the prevention diagnosis, and treatment of abnormal behavior with a focus on the more severe forms of psychopathology
    • clinical psychologists receive training in psychological assessment and psychotherapy
    • these professionals are employed in hospitals, mental health centers, independent practice and academia
  • Counseling Psychology
    • a branch of psychology that shares similar concerns with clinical psychology, but instead focuses on the more “everyday” concerns of human life
    • the tools employed by both branches of psychology overlap considerably

An Overview

  • various questions addressed through the use of assessment tools in clinical or counseling psychology include
    • Does this patient have a mental disorder?
    • clinical assessment may be undertaken for various reasons and to answer a variety of questions
    • for clinical psychologists, assessment tools may be used to clarify the problem, make a diagnosis, or design a treatment plan
    • data derived may confirm or refute a clinician’s preliminary hypotheses based on the clinical interview
    • What is the diagnosis?
    • What is this person’s current level of functioning?
    • Premorbid Functioning: the level of psychological and physical performance prior to the development of a disorder, illness, or disability
    • How does their current level of functioning compare with others in their cohort?
    • What type of treatment can benefit this individual?
    • not all individuals that seek psychotherapy are suffering from a mental disorder
    • many people seek psychotherapy for purposes of personal growth or support in coping with a difficult life circumstance
    • How can this person’s personality best be described?

The Diagnosis of Mental Disorders

  • Frequently, assessment tools are used to make diagnoses
  • The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Statistic Manual (DSM) is the primary reference source for diagnosis

The Interview in Clinical Assessment

  • a clinician interview may be conducted for several reasons
    • to arrive at a diagnosis
    • to pinpoint areas that must be addressed in psychotherapy
    • to determine whether an individual will harm himself or others
    • to guide decisions about what else needs to be done to assess an individual
  • General Interview Questions
    • demographic data
    • reason for referral
    • medical history and present medical conditions
    • familial medical history
    • psychological history and present psychological conditions
    • history with medical or psychological professionals
  • Mental Status Examination
    • an examination intended to screen for intellectual, emotional, and neurological deficits
    • appearance, behavior, orientation, psychomotor activity, state of consciousness, thought content, thought processes, judgment, sensorium, affect, mood, personality, memory, intellectual resources, and insight