Clinical Assessments Flashcards
What are the 4 primary types of psychological assessment tests? What can this be broken down into?
4 primary types: clinical interview, assessment of intellectual or other domains of functioning (IQ, memory), personality assessment or behavioural assessment
This can be broken down further into 9 types: intelligence tests, personality tests, attitude tests, achievement tests, aptitude tests, neuropsychological tests, vocational tests, direct observation tests
What are formal tests? What are non-reformed tests?
Psychologists use formal tests in assessments e.g. questionnaires, checklists
Non-reformed tests: tests are standardised, so test-takers are evaluated in a similar way no matter who administers the test or where you live
What is the assessment process?
Clinician must ensure the question is clear and select the best assessment type
Gather data of historical interviews, observations and tests
Integrate all this information into a coherent assessment
Clinician communicates the conclusions and provides recommendations that is clear and helpful to the patient
What questions do clinician’s need to clarify before beginning an assessment? Why are these needed?
The question being asked will lead to the type of assessment and will also indicate if any tests are needed (e.g. what do we need to know?)
Clarify the referral question before beginning the assessment
If the question is broad, sometimes more assessments are needed
If the question is specific e.g. learning disabilities, then a targeted assessment will be needed
Why are the aims of a clinical assessment? How long are they?
Diagnostic classification
Treatment planning
Form clinical judgements
To cover specific content concerns e.g. history of the presenting problem, current risk concerns, anything that has or hasn’t worked in the past
Usually take 1 or 2 sessions, any longer and it becomes an extended assessment
Are clinical assessment’s always confidential?
At the start of the assessment, confidentiality needs to be explained and the limitations of it. Sometimes clinicians need to discuss the patient with a team about risks and safe guarding
What clinical tools aid assessments?
Genograms
Timeline
Rating scale
Screening questionnaires
When are observations used in assessments? What do clinician’s observe?
A part of the session or a more formal process e.g. school observations form a part of the ADHD assessment
In a formal assessment, one part of the assessment is to observe how the individual interacts, behaves and engages
What is the ABC assessment tool? What are the 3 contingencies? Are there 4 contingencies?
Observations can form the main body of the assessment when using the ABC assessment tool (antecedent, behaviour, consequence)
These are three term contingencies
4 term contingencies are also available, for clinician’s who want to observe motivations, motivations, antecedents, behaviour and consequences
They can also be for setting events such as sleep quality and relationships with support workers
In a revised framework, what are the vulnerability factors, maintaining processes and impacts that cause challenging behaviour?
Vulnerability factors: biological (autism, additional syndromes, physical health issues)
psychological (lack of communication skills, negative life events, family stress, mental health issues)
Maintaining processes: pain reduction, positive automatic reinforcement, other people’s behaviour
Impact: biological (effects of psychotropic medication, harm to self)
psychological (exclusion, harm to others and mental health issues)
What is Wechsler’s adult intelligence test called? Who can use it? How long does it take? What scores does it generate?
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) is an IQ test designed to measure intelligence and cognitive ability in adults and older adolescents
From 16 to 90 years old
45-65 mins to administer
Generates an IQ score
4 index scores (verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory and processing speed)
This is a fourth edition. A shortened abbreviated version is called the WASI-II (2nd edition)
What is the Wechsler’s intelligence test for children called? What ages can use this test? How long is it? What scores are generated?
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)
From 6 to 16 years
45 to 65 minutes to administer
Generates an IQ score
4 index scores (verbal comprehension, visual spatial index, fluid reasoning index, working memory index and processing speed index)
Relevant to assess and identify learning disabilities, particularly dyslexia and dyscalculia
There is a 5th edition of this, called the WISC-V
What are the types of tests used for neuropsychological assessments? What do neuropsychological assessments measure?
Brain damage is caused by lesions, strokes or injuries from a car accident
Brain damage can cause cognitive impairments
Comprehensive neuropsychological tests must reflect the specificity and include tasks that focus on specific cognitive functions in addition to the complex cognitive skills
Can also include assessments such as the WAIS-V, WASI-II, WIAT (Wechsler individual achievement test)
