Clinical Assessment

Question 1

What is the difference between structured, semi-structured and unstructured clinical interviews?

Answer 1

Structured: Fixed set of questions, more reliable
Semi-structured: Combo of both, specific questions to guide interview, freedom to ask relevant questions
Unstructured: asks whatever may seem appropriate, free, may not get all the info

Question 2

What is the goal of case formulation (3)?

Answer 2

1. Integrate info from the clinical interview into a cohesive whole
2. Formulate hypotheses
3. Goals for treatment

Question 3

What’s important in building rapport and why is it important?

Answer 3

• Client must trust clinician in order to disclose personal info
• Foundation = important for progress during therapy

Question 4

When is a physical exam needed?

Answer 4

• Possibility that psychological problems could be due to physical problems
• When physical symptoms are part of presenting clinical picture

Question 5

Why would a neurological examination be needed?

Answer 5

For neurological conditions (memory or motor deficits)

Question 6

What do CAT scans tell?

Answer 6

Get picture of brain and show large anomalies (stroke, brain damage)

Question 7

What do MRI scans tell?

Answer 7

Detects subtle brain changes

Question 8

What can EEG scans tell?

Answer 8

Electrical brain activity through electrodes (used in dementia)

Question 9

What can PET scans tell?

Answer 9

Determines radioactive activity injected into bloodstream and which area of the brain it accumulates

Question 10

What can fMRI scans tell?

Answer 10

Changes in flow to different brain regions (see where is activated)

Question 11

What do neuropsychological examinations assess (cognitive)? 5

Answer 11

1. General intelligence
2. Learning and memory
3. Language
4. Visuospatial skills
5. Attention and executive functioning

Question 12

What is the purpose of neuropsychological examinations?

Answer 12

Provide information about dysfunction

Question 13

What’re the 3 procedures commonly used in psychosocial assessments?

Answer 13

1. Assessment interviews
2. Clinical observation of behavior
3. Pscyhological tests

Question 14

What do you analyze for observation of behaviour?

Answer 14

• Personal hygiene, emotional responses, physical mannerisms

Question 15

What does the client do when self-monitoring?

Answer 15

• Observe and report behaviour, thoughts, and emotions in various natural settings

Question 16

What is the goal of self-monitoring?

Answer 16

Helps to identify problematic situations in daily life

Question 17

When do we use intelligence tests?

Answer 17

Only if cognitive factors are thought to play a role

Question 18

Why don’t we use intelligence tests regularly?

Answer 18

They are long and expensive

Question 19

What is the purpose of a projective personality test?

Answer 19

Projections reveal hidden motives

Question 20

What is 2 examples of a projective personality test?

Answer 20

Rorschach test (inkblots)
Thematic apperception test (TAT)

Question 21

What are some problems of projective personality tests?

Answer 21

Questionable validity, interpretation is highly subjective, focuses on uncovering psychodynamic issues, lacks reliability

Question 22

Describe the Rorschach test.

Answer 22

• Blots
• Free response format: what the blots resemble
• Systematic questioning: what about the blot respond that way

Question 23

Describe the TAT test.

Answer 23

• Pictures (of different situations)

- Make up a story about the picture

Question 24

What is the MMPI-2 test?

Answer 24

True/false: looking for patterns of response to compare to criterion groups

Question 25

What are the 3 scales?

Answer 25

1. Validity (lie) scale
2. Clinical scale
3. Special scales

Question 26

What is the MMPI used for?

Answer 26

To suggest diagnostic classifications or general areas of difficulty