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