M9 Clinical Psychology 1

Question 1

Explain what clinical assessment is.

Answer 1

Refers to prevention assessment diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders from mild to severe

Question 2

What does clinical assessment achieve? (5)

Answer 2

Establishes a diagnosis and rules out alternatives - Do they have a mental disorder, what is their functioning level? what treatment would be best? how does their personality influence them?
Gathers baseline data
Evaluates progress and treatment outcomes
Detects relapse

Question 3

What are two research questions inform clinical treatment?

Answer 3

Which treatment approach will be the most effective?

What kinds of clients tend to benefit most from a particular treatment?

Question 4

What are some changes to the DSM-5 that can be considered strengths

Answer 4

• Has removed expectable bereavement, socially deviant behaviour and individual/society conflicts like anti-social disorder are no longer mental disorders
• Has removed subtypes from schizophrenia definition eg paranoid, catatonic, residual – because they were easy to assign the person to one or the other

Moved more to a dimensional approach
o Eg for autism – now autism spectrum disorder

Cultural factors expanded to include
o Cultural syndromes – invariant symptoms occurring in specific groups or cultures
o Cultural idioms of distress – how group describes and communicates about their suffering?
o Cultural explanation or perceived cause – aetiology of symptoms or distress
- Utilises self-report to be able to understand the person from their own perspective.

Question 5

Outline 6 referral question types that can be answer in clinical settings

Answer 5

1. Diagnosis – description or formulation of pattern of current behaviours Eg is this child showing a pattern that is representative of autism spectrum disorder
2. Aetiology or case formulation – causes of observed behaviour eg Why is this person experiencing this disorder
3. Prognosis – course or changes anticipated over time
4. Which treatment – ways patterns can be modified
5. Degree of functional impairment – patterns & areas of deficit
6. Patterns of Strengths and adaptive Capacities

Question 6

Advantages of semi structured and structured clinical interviews

Answer 6

Advantages

• Standardised, straightforward
• Assist in arriving at diagnosis
• Greater inter-rater reliability than clinical interviewer conducting assessments without them
• Ensure all relevant criteria are asked about
• Well suited for research

Question 7

Disadvantages of semi structured and structured clinical interviews

Answer 7

Disadvantages

• Often lengthy, time consuming
• Requires substantial training
• No shortcuts for experienced diagnosticians
• Rigid structure may impair rapport building
• Questions persist about validity

Question 8

Outline Engel’s biopsychosocial perspective for clinical assessment?

Answer 8

Engel’s Biopsychosocial perspective
Aims to understand why this person is presenting with this problem at this time in this setting? What made them vulnerable? What brought it on and keeps it going? How do they explain what is happening and how do they cope with it or view appropriate treatment?
- Biological – genetics, medical illnesses
- Psychological – personality, coping skills, attachment, trauma
- Social – social supports, poverty, prejudice, stigma
- Culture – ethnicity, spirituality