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

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