Characteristics of Psychological Assessments Psychological assessment is a procedure in which a clinician provides a formal evaluation of an individual's cognitive, personality, and psychosocial functioning A broad range of measurement techniques, all of which involve having people provide scorable information about their psychological functioning Intelligence Tests (1) Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test, fifth edition (SB5) Average deviation IQ score is set at 100 with a standard deviation of 15 SB5 yields scores on measures of scales labeled fluid reasoning, knowledge, quantitative reasoning, visual-spatial reasoning, and working memory Deviation intelligence (IQ): An index of intelligence derived from comparing the individual's score on an intelligence test with the mean score for that individual's reference group Psychological Testing What Makes a Good Psychological Test? Reliability Consistency of the scores it produces. Validity Extent to which a test measures what it is designed to measure Standardization A psychometric criterion that clearly specifies a test's instructions for administration and scoring Evidence-Based Assessment To ensure that they are using the best assessment methods possible, clinicians should adhere to the principles of evidence-based assessment, which include: 1. Relying on research findings and scientifically viable theories 2. Using psychometrically strong measures 3. Empirically evaluating the assessment process Clinical Interview (1) A series of questions that clinicians administer in face-to-face interaction with the client Unstructured interview: involves a series of open-ended questions Information sought through interviews Reasons for being in treatment Symptoms Health status Family background Life history Clinical Interview (2) Structured interview: consists of a standardized series of questions with predetermined wording and order Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders (SCID-5): A structured clinical interview developed to assess DSM-5 symptoms Table 2: Areas Covered in a Clinical Interview Topic Age and sex Reason for referral Education and work history Current social situation Physical and mental health history Drug/alcohol use and current medication Family history Behavioral observations Purpose Obtain basic demographic Information. Hear client's reason for seeking treatment, in his or her own words. Obtain socioeconomic status and determine whether client is still working. Find out whether client is currently in a relationship and how much social support is potentially available. Determine whether client has any medical illnesses and whether there has been a recent change in health. Find out about history of present problem including past diagnoses and treatments and whether treatment was helpful or not. Ascertain whether client is using psychoactive drugs (including alcohol and caffeine). Obtain list of medications to avoid potential interactions with any psychopharmacological interventions. Find out whether client's family has medical and psychological disorders, particularly any relevant to client's current symptoms. Note behaviors, including nonverbal behaviors, which indicate whether client is experiencing anxiety or altered mood. Also note whether client seems to be experiencing difficulties in attention or compliance. Attempt to determine client's mental status. Compare client's appearance with stated age. Determine whether client is oriented to time, place, and person. Observe any unusual motor behaviors. Mental Status Examination A method of objectively assessing a client's behavior and functioning in a number of spheres, with particular attention to the symptoms associated with psychological disturbance Appearance Attitudes Areas Assessed in the Mental Status Exam Thought processes Content of thought Behavior Perception Mood and affect Cognition Speech Insight Judgment Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) Structured tool that clinicians use as a brief screening device to assess neurocognitive disorders The clinician administers a set of short memory tasks and compares the client's scores to established norms If the client scores below a certain cutoff, the clinician then continues to more thorough testing to determine the nature and extent of potential cognitive impairments Intelligence Testing Uses include: Overall cognitive evaluation Diagnosis of learning disabilities Determination of giftedness Prediction of intellectual disability Prediction of future academic achievement Diagnosis of neurological and psychiatric disorders Evaluation of the potential of employees