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

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?

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

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