Assessment L3 - BDI, BAI & DASS

Question 1

What are the 3 classification systems?

Answer 1

• Categorical Approach
• Dimensional Approach
• State vs Trait Approach

Question 2

What is the categorical approach?

Answer 2

• Makes distinctions among members of different categories are QUALITATIVE
• all or none. hard cuts in between.
• Reliable, but less powerful at describing phenomena
• it gives a snapshot in time

Question 3

What is the dimensional approach?

Answer 3

• focusses on the level of characteristics
• places a specific characteristic along an ordered sequence
• allows you to include normal people, and monitor change across time.
• DECONSTRUCTS syndromes into SYMPTOMS!!!!!!
  gives the idea that conditions consist of symptoms which co-occur in many conditions - maybe the same neutral structures are involved.

Question 4

What is the state vs trait approach?

Answer 4

• state - how i am at the moment

- trait - how i am by disposition

Question 5

What is the current approach in the categorical classication system?

Answer 5

That diagnoses are composed on symptoms - and symptoms can occur in more than 1 diagnosis, as they may share neural mechanisms.

eg. Hallucinations - doesn’t have to be schizophrenia, can be another disorder with halluciations - either way, give D2 receptor blockers!

Question 6

What does the classification system require for a diagnosis of depression?

Answer 6

1. depressed mood or apathy/loss of interest
2. 4 or more of: appetite change, worthlessness, exec dysfunc, suicidal ideation, sleep disturbances, psychomotor agitation, fatigue

Question 7

What are the classes of symptom?

Answer 7

1. Physical - appetite and sleep - respond best to antidepressants
2. Cognitive & Behavioural - responds best to psychological intervention strategies

In Recovery - appetite and sleep tend to improve first, behaviour second while thoughts and feelings improve last.

Question 8

What is hypomania

Answer 8

super high mood

Question 9

What’s dysthymia

Answer 9

persistently low mood

may not lead to pathology but combined with an event can trigger depression

Question 10

What are the relevance of informant reports?

Answer 10

• the convergence between self reports and informant reports of personality are an important aspect of validity.

shows if the client knows themselves, if they are good at judging other’s, and what are valid and invalid cues of personality? IS THE PERSON SUFFICIENTLY PSYCHOLOGICALLY MINDED TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IN A WAY THAT IS PSYCHOLOGICALLY MEANINGFUL?

Question 11

What is a self-report and what does it assume?

Answer 11

• Assumes that people are able to report their personality accurately (self-knowledge)
• Assumes that people are willing to report their personality accurately (no effect of social desirability?)
• Can’t be used with individuals in situations that dont meet assumptions
• people are sometimes unable to report their own mental processes bc theyre not aware of how they think

Question 12

What is Beck’s Depression Inventory-II?

Answer 12

• 21 item self report depression screening measure
• each item rated on a 4 port likert type scale ranging from 0-3
• higher scores= higher level of depression
• measure asks respondents to endorse statements characterising how they felt throughout past 2 wks

max score = 63

minimal depression - 0-13
mild - 14-19
moderate 20-28
severe 29-63

Question 13

BDI psychometric properties?

Answer 13

• meta-analysis showed “not bad” internal consistency - mean of .86
• test retest reliability is low, may be affected by states. Depression is not stable, so it could be a situational variable - test retest subject to variability due to trait vs state.
• Evaluation of content, concurrent and discrim validity and factor analysis = favourable
• concurrent validity suggeste d to be high to mod
• Mod correls have been found with similar scales that also measure depression - convergent validity
• discriminates between psychiatric and non psychiatric populations
• measures primary factor variously referred to as a general depressive factor, or cognitive factor, however, additional factors have also been observed - somatic symps

Question 14

What is the controversy associated with the use of BDI

Answer 14

• Debate as to whether it measures state or trait
• if it measures a state - then wide fluctuations are expected
• trait = should not be fluctuating.

should be measuring state not trait

Question 15

What are some sources of error in measuring depression?

Answer 15

• Hard to choose one number on a 0-3 response scale –> random error
• unwillingness to tell interviewer, poor memory of feelings –> random error
• measure misses culturally bound symptoms —> systematic error. - nature of depression will be contingent on the culture from which they are from - how they respond to the questions

Question 16

What does measuring the depressive symptoms in an asian man tell us?

Answer 16

• Demonstrates that we can’t really rely too much on the instrument - can’t use it to make diagnosis.
• Self report instruments are flawed, may actually miss depression in some clients.
• Only depicts the illness the way the client communicates it to you

Question 17

when is anxiety most likely to develop?

Answer 17

1. Faces performance demanded that are both testing, and critical significance for his/her self esteem
2. Has relatively low self-esteem or high self-imposed performance demands that are both testing and of clinical significance to his/her self-esteem
3. Perceives the probability of failure to be high, but not impossibly high
4. Has a low threshold of activation of the fear system

Question 18

what has changed with anxiety disorder categorisation in the dsm-5

Answer 18

• some disorders included in the broad category of anxiety disorders are now in 3 sequential chapters - anxiety disorders, Obsessive compulsive and related disorders, and trauma and stressor related disorders.

emphasises the distinctiveness of each category whilst signally their interconnectedness.

• the DSM-5 has a developmental approach - examining disorders across the lifespan - some conditions are grouped together as syndromes bc symptoms are not sufficiently distinct to separate the disorders. others have been split apart into distinct groups.

Leads to LOW RELIABILITY. lots of conflation between disorders.

Question 19

What is the BAI?

Answer 19

• Beck anxiety Inventory
• 21 item self report scale
• 2 factors - somatic and subjective anxiety/panic
• good internal consistency, test-retest reliability and convergent/divergent validity.

0-7 minimal anxiety
8-15 mild anxiety
16-25 moderate
26-63 severe

Question 20

What is the DASS?

Answer 20

• Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales
• A set of 3 self report scales to measure depression anxiety and stress
• designed to emphasise STATES rather than TRAITS.
• developed with NONCLINICAL samples - suitable for screening normal population
• lower age limit 17

Question 21

What are the 3 diff scales on the DASS?

Answer 21

• dEPRESION SCALE
• Anxiety Scale
• Stress scale

Question 22

Describe the depression scale on the DASS

Answer 22

self disparaging; dispirited, gloomy, blue; convinced that life has no meaning or value; pessimistic about the future; unable to experience enjoyment or satisfaction; unable to become interested or involved; slow, lacking in initiative.

Question 23

Describe the anxiety scale on the DASS

Answer 23

Apprehensive, panicky; trembly, shaky; aware of
dryness of the mouth, breathing difficulties, pounding of the heart, sweatiness of the palms; worried about performance and possible loss of control

Question 24

Describe the stress scale on the DASS

Answer 24

Overall hours, tense; unable to relax; touchy,

easily upset; irritable; easily startled; nervy, jumpy, fidgety; intolerant of interruption or delay.