Chapter 3: Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis

Question 1

What are the 3 goals of clinical assessment?

(how, why)

Answer 1

How and why a person is behaving abnormally, how that person can be helped, evaluation of treatment process

Focus is idiographic - on an individual person

Question 2

What 3 concepts determine the value of assessments?

Answer 2

Reliability (consistent measurement), validity (measures what it’s supposed to), and standardization (application of certain standards to ensure consistency across measurements)

Question 3

What is the purpose of a clinical interview?

(hint - gathering information on…)

Answer 3

Gathers info on current and past behaviour, attitudes, emotions + detailed history of one’s life and the presenting problem (onset)

Question 4

What is the ‘mental status exam’?

(5 components; what you assess when looking for psychological disorders)

Answer 4

Systematic observation of an individual’s behaviour (appearance, behaviour, thought process/attitudes, mood, intellectual functioning, sensorium.)

sensorium = awareness of surroundings

Question 5

What does behavioural assessment refer to?

ABC’s of behaviour

Answer 5

targeting identifed and observed behaviours;

ancedents, behaviours, concequences

Question 6

What’s the difference between naturalistic observation and analog observation?

Answer 6

Naturalistc = natural setting, analog = artficial setting

Question 7

What is informal observation?

Answer 7

Observation subject to the observer’s interpretation, relies on memory to take notes later

Question 8

What is formal observation?

Answer 8

Identifying specific behaviours (that are observable and measurable) when they occur to find a behavioural pattern

proceed to then design treatment based on patterns

Question 9

What does reactivity refer to?

Answer 9

The awareness that you are being observed

May increase desired behaviours or decrease undesired ones

Question 10

What do psychological tests aim to measure?

(3 components)

Answer 10

Cognition, emotion, and behaviour

Question 11

What are the 3 types of psychological tests?

Answer 11

Projective, objective (personality), and intelligence

Question 12

What is a projection test?

Answer 12

A projection test is a type of personality test designed for patients to project internal feelings/thougts onto ambiguous stimuli

Has questionable validity and reliability

Question 13

What are personality inventories?

i.e., ‘objective tests’

Answer 13

Psychological tests that aim to measure and evaluate individual traits

may be too standardized and biased depending on design

Question 14

What are two popular forms of intelligence testing?

Answer 14

Standford-Binet test (for children), Wechsler scales

Verbal/performance scales

May be culturally biased

Question 15

Diagnosis is to prognosis…

Answer 15

…as identification is to prediction

Question 16

Prognosis is to etiology…

Answer 16

…as outcome is to cause

Question 17

What is taxonomy?

(hint - science)

Answer 17

Classification in a scientific context

Question 18

What are the three approaches to classifying disorders?

Answer 18

Classical-categorical approach, dimensional approach, prototypical approach

Question 19

What is the classic categorical approach to diagosis/classification?

Answer 19

Approach that assumes each disorder is unique, and only one set of criteria is needed

i.e., to recieve a diagnosis, you must meet all criteria

Question 20

What is the dimensional approach to diagnosis/classification?

hint - multiple dimensions

Answer 20

Spectrum based; utilizes statistics (bellcurve) and dimensions (i.e., anxiety, mood variation, personality traits, etc.)

Question 21

What is the prototypical approach to diagnosis/classification?

Answer 21

The most ‘typical’ display of symptoms in which other behaviours are compared to- the prototype behaviour

Question 22

What is nosology?

Answer 22

The study/science of classifying disorders/diseases

Question 23

What does etiology refer to?

Answer 23

Causes/origins of a disease/disorder.

Question 24

What did the DSM-III and DSM-III-R do differently from the 2nd one?

2 major changes

Answer 24

Atheoretical approach to diagnosis (etiology, psychoanalytics, etc.), detailed criteria (i.e., multi-axial appraoch)

Question 25

What does the ‘multi-axial’ format refer to?

Answer 25

Apporach that emphasizes consideration on the whole individual rather than a focus on the disorder

Question 26

What are the 5 axes of the multi-axial format?

Answer 26

1. clinical disorders 2. personality disorders 3. general medical disorders 4. psychosocial/environmental factors 5. global assessment of functioning

Question 27

Whatare the axes for the non-axial system?

3 categories

(seperate notations axes for 4 and 5)

Answer 27

1. clinical disorders 2. personality disorders 3. general medical disorders

Question 28

Which DSM versions integrated a section for cultural influences in diagnosis?

Answer 28

DSM-IV, DSM-V

Question 29

What is the main issue/criticism with the DSM-V?

Answer 29

Comorbidity; creates blurred edges between disorders