Data Gathering Approach

Considering the drawbacks inherent in simply accepting a client's self-report:

• Select a diagnostic category (a psychological diagnosis) of interest to you from anywhere along the life span of an individual, male or female. For this, use the diagnosis Gender Dysphoria.
• Choose this individual's current age and the culture from which they emigrated, and assume that this individual immigrated to the U.S. in the last two years. The individual name is Maria Moore; she's is 16 years old and is Muslim.
• Keeping these factors in mind, describe an optimal multiple source data-gathering approach designed to focus and clarify the diagnosis of this individual. (Be very specific as you respond to each of these questions or issues):
  • What kinds of information will be most useful for clarifying the diagnostic and treatment issues important to this individual's diagnosis?
  • From what "ideal" array of sources would you gather this information?
  • What factors suggest this will be an improvement over self-report?
  • How could these "ideal sources" create complications for your task?
• If you can find any research that speaks to the usefulness (or uselessness) of particular data sources, cite and describe it.
• Finally, assume a managed care company will attempt to scale back reimbursement for the optimal data-gathering method you have developed. To respond effectively to their demands you will need to prioritize your approach.
  • How would you rank order the usefulness and diagnostic utility of the differing data-gathering methods in your ideal method?
  • Justify your reasoning for these decisions. Be sure to provide references and citations.