Chapter 2 vocabulary Flashcards
unstructured interview
type of clinical interview in which interviewers determine which questions to ask rather than following a standard interview format
semi-structured interview
type of clinical interview in which interviewers are guided by a general outline but are free to modify the order in which questions are asked and to branch off in other directions
structured interview
means by which an interviewer obtains clinical information from a client by asking a fairly standard series of questions concerning such issues as the client’s presenting complaints or problems, mental state, life circumstances, and psychosocial or developmental history
mental status examination
structured clinical evaluation to determine various aspects of a client’s mental functioning
objective tests
tests that allow a limited, specified range of response options or answers so that they can be scored objectively
forced-choice formats
method of structuring test questions that requires respondents to select among a set number of possible answers
validity scales
groups of test items that serve to detect whether the results of a particular test are valid or whether a person responded in a random manner or in a way intended to create a favourable or unfavourable impression
neuropsychological assessment
methods of psychological assessment used to detect signs of underlying neurological damage or brain defects
psychometric approach
method of psychological assessment that seeks to use psychological tests to identify and measure the reasonably stable traits in an individual’s personality that are believed to largely determine his or her behaviour
behavioural assessment
approach to clinical assessment that focuses on the objective recording or description of problem behaviour rather than on inferences about personality traits
behavioural interview
approach to clinical interviewing that focuses on relating problem behaviour to antecedent stimuli and reinforcement consequences
baseline
period of time preceding the implementation of a treatment. used to gather data regarding the rate of occurrence of the target behaviour before treatment is introduced
behavioural rating scale
method of behavioural assessment that involves the use of a scale to record the frequency of occurrence of target behaviours
electrodermal response
changes in electrical conductivity of the skin following exposure to a stimulus
galvanic skin response
measure of the change in electrical activity of the skin caused by increased activity of the sweat glands that accompanies a state of sympathetic nervous system arousal, such as when a person is anxious
culture-bound disorders
patterns of behaviour that are found within only one or a few cultural contexts
taijin-kyofu-sho
psychiatric syndrome found in Japan that involves excessive fear of offending or causing embarrassment to others
psychotherapy
method of helping involving a systematic interaction between a therapist and a client that brings psychological principles to bear on influencing the client’s thoughts, feelings, or behaviours to help that client overcome abnormal behaviour or adjust to problems in living
psychopharmacology
field of study that examines the effects of drugs on behaviour and psychological functioning and explores the use of psychoactive drugs in the treatment of emotional disorders
displacement
in psychodynamic theory, a type of defence mechanism that involves the transferring of impulses toward threatening or unacceptable objects onto more acceptable or safe objects
systematic desensitization
behaviour therapy technique for overcoming phobias by means of exposure to progressively more fearful stimuli while one remains deeply relaxed
gradual exposure
in behaviour therapy, a method of overcoming fears through a stepwise process of direct exposure to increasingly fearful stimuli
person-centred therapy
Carl Roger’s method of psychotherapy, emphasizing the establishment of a warm, accepting therapeutic relationship that frees clients to engage in a process of self-exploration and self-acceptance
nonspecific treatment factors
characteristics that are not specific to any one form of psychotherapy but tend to be shared by psychotherapists, such as the attention a client receives from a therapist and the therapist’s encouragement of the client’s sense of hope and positive expectancies
civil commitment
legal process involved in placing an individual in a psychiatric institution, even against his or her will
legal commitment
legal process involved in confining a person found “not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder” in a psychiatric institution
