CLINICAL ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS

Question 1

The systematic evaluation and measurement of psychological, biological, and social factors in an individual presenting with a possible psychological disorder.

Answer 1

Clinical Assessment

Question 2

The process of determining whether the particular problem afflicting the individual meets all criteria for a psychological disorder, as set forth in the fourth edition, of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-IV- (American Psychiatric Association).

Answer 2

Diagnosis

Question 3

A judgment or an interpretation by an observer based on the speech, ideas, behaviors, and experiences of the patient.

Answer 3

Diagnosis of mental illness

Question 4

The degree to which a measurement is consistent.

Answer 4

Reliability

Question 5

Is whether something measures what it is designed to measure—in this case, whether a technique assesses what it is supposed to.

Answer 5

Validity

Question 6

The process by which a certain set of standards or norms is determined for a technique to make its use consistent across different measurements.

Answer 6

Standardization

Question 7

The core of most clinical work used by psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals. The interview gathers information on current and past behavior, attitudes, and emotions, as well as a detailed history of the individual’s life in general and of the presenting problem.

Answer 7

Clinical interview

Question 8

It involves the systematic observation of an individual’s behavior. This type of observation occurs when any one person interacts with another.

Answer 8

Mental status exam

Question 9

It can be structured and detailed, but mostly they are performed relatively quickly by experienced clinicians in the course of interviewing or observing a patient.

Answer 9

Mental status exam

Question 10

The clinician notes any overt physical behaviors such as:
- leg twitch
- the individual’s dress general appearance
- posture and facial expression.

Answer 10

Appearance and behavior

Question 11

What is the rate or flow of speech? Does the person talk quickly or slowly? What about continuity of speech?

Answer 11

Thought processes

Question 12

A disorganized speech pattern

Answer 12

Loose association or derailment

Question 13

Distorted views of reality

Answer 13

Delusions

Question 14

Which someone thinks people are after him and out to get him all the time

Answer 14

Delusions of persecution

Question 15

Which one individual thinks she is all-powerful in some way.

Answer 15

Delusions of grandeur

Question 16

Does the person appear to be down in the dumps or continually elated? Does the individual talk in a depressed or hopeless fashion? How pervasive is this mood? Are there times when the depression seems to go away?

Answer 16

Mood and affect

Question 17

The predominant feeling state of the individual.

Answer 17

Mood

Question 18

Refers to the feeling state that accompanies what we say at a given point.

Answer 18

Affect

Question 19

When you feel emotions but show practically nothing visually.

Answer 19

Flat affect

Question 20

Refers to feelings/emotions but only showing some of what you’re feeling.

Answer 20

Blunted affect

Question 21

Do they seem to have a reasonable vocabulary? Can they talk in abstractions and metaphors (as most of us do much of the time)? How is the person’s memory? Clinicians usually make a rough estimate of intelligence that is noticeable only if it deviates from normal, such as concluding the person is above or below average intelligence.

Answer 21

Intellectual functioning

Question 22

Refers to our general awareness of our surroundings.

Answer 22

Sensorium

Question 23

Does an individual know what the date is, what time it is, where he or she is, who he or she is, and who you are?

Answer 23

Sensorium

Question 24

Are made up of questions that have been carefully phrased and tested to elicit useful information in a consistent manner so that clinicians can be sure they have inquired about the most important aspects of particular disorders .

Answer 24

Semistructured interviews

Question 25

(Overactive thyroid gland), may produce symptoms that mimic certain anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder.

Answer 25

Hyperthyroidism

Question 26

(Underactive thyroid gland) might produce symptoms consistent with depression.

Answer 26

Hypothyroidism

Question 27

Method used in clinically assessing and diagnosing behavior by using direct observation in order to assess formally an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior in specific situations or contexts. This may be more appropriate than any interview in terms of assessing individuals who are not old enough or skilled enough to report their problems and experiences.

Answer 27

Behavioral assessment

Question 28

(ABC’s of observation) What happened just before the behavior?

Answer 28

Antecedent

Question 29

(ABC’s of observation) Actual behavior manifested.

Answer 29

Behavior

Question 30

(ABC’s of observation) What happened afterwards?

Answer 30

Consequence

Question 31

These include specific tools to determine cognitive, emotional, or behavioral responses that might be associated with a specific disorder and more general ones that assess longstanding personality features, such as a tendency to be suspicious.

Answer 31

Psychological tests

Question 32

Determines the structure and patterns of cognition.

Answer 32

Intelligence testing

Question 33

Determines the possible contribution of brain damage or dysfunction to the patient’s condition.

Answer 33

Neuropsychological testing

Question 34

Uses sophisticated technology to assess brain structure and function.

Answer 34

Neuroimaging

Question 35

Swiss psychiatrist named Hermann Rorschach developed a series of inkblots, initially to study perceptual processes, then to diagnose psychological disorders. Individuals are asked to formulate an unstructured response to some form of ambiguous stimuli.

Answer 35

Projective tests

Question 36

• I feel that my father seldom… talks in
  Tagalog (He’s Japanese).
• When the odds are against me… I’m against them too.
• I always wanted to… travel.
• If I am in charge… I would change the
  world.
• To me the future looks… very futuristic.

Answer 36

SSCT ( Sack Sentence Completion Test)

Question 37

It was developed in 1935 by Christiana Morgan and Henry Murray at the Harvard Psychological Clinic

Answer 37

TAT(Thematic Apperception Test)

Question 38

Were developed for one specific purpose: to predict who would do well in school.

Answer 38

Intelligence testing

Question 39

Measure abilities in areas such as receptive and expressive language, attention and concentration, memory, motor skills, perceptual abilities, and learning and abstraction in such a way that the clinician can make educated guesses about the person’s performance and the possible existence of brain impairment.

Answer 39

Neuropsychological testing

Question 40

Child is given a series of cards on which are drawn various lines and shapes. The task is for the child to copy what is drawn on the card. This can be useful for psychologists, because it provides a simple screening instrument that is easy to administer and can detect possible problems.

Answer 40

Bender Visual–Motor Gestalt Test

Question 41

Used in visualizing the structure and function of the brain divided into two categories. (1) Procedures that examine the structure of the brain, such as the size of various parts and whether there is any damage. (2) Procedures that examine the actual functioning of the brain by mapping blood flow and other metabolic activity. e.g. CT scan, PET, MRI, CAT among others

Answer 41

Neuroimaging

Question 42

Refers to measurable changes in the nervous system that reflect emotional or psychological events. The measurements may be taken either directly from the brain or peripherally from other parts of the body. E.g. EEG/ECG/GSR

Answer 42

Psychophysiology

Question 43

A technique by which patients monitor their own bodily functions in an attempt to alter those functions. Primarily used in treating painful or stress-related conditions, biofeedback helps a patient control physiological processes that are normally considered involuntary.

Answer 43

Biofeedback

Question 44

Individual’s unique personality, cultural background or circumstances. This information lets the clinician tailor their treatment to the person.

Answer 44

Idiographic Strategy

Question 45

To determine a general class of problems to which the presenting problem belongs. Clinician is attempting to name or classify the problem.

Answer 45

Nomothetic Strategy

Question 46

Originates in the work of Emil Kraepelin (1856–1926) and the biological tradition in the study of psychopathology. Here we assume that every diagnosis has a clear underlying pathophysiological cause, such as a bacterial infection or a malfunctioning endocrine system, and that each disorder is unique.

Answer 46

Classical (or pure) categorical approach

Question 47

The clinician notes the variety of cognitions, moods, and behaviors with which the patient presents and quantify them on a scale. For example, on a scale of 1 to 10, a patient might be rated as severely anxious (10), moderately depressed (5), and mildly manic (2) to create a profile of emotional functioning (10, 5, 2).

Answer 47

Dimensional approach