Assessment & Diagnosis, Stress & Mental Health

Question 1

Basic Elements in Assessment

Answer 1

1. major symptoms client is presenting
2. clinical knowledge of disorders & treatment options available
3. Cultural competence

Question 2

Assessments should assess…

Answer 2

1. behavioral history
2. intellectual functioning
3. personality characteristics
4. environmental pressures
5. Resources

Question 3

Assessment of the physical organism

Answer 3

1. physical
2. neurological exam (EEG, fMRI, CAT)
3. neuropsychological exam

Question 4

what is a neuropsychological exam?

Answer 4

detect extent/location of brain damage/dysfunction using cognitive, perceptual, and motor performance

Question 5

Interviews (Psychosocial Assessment)

Answer 5

can be structured with predetermined questions (more reliable) or unstructured no predetermined questions (difficult to compare to other clients)

Question 6

Types of assessment

Answer 6

1. Medical (physical & brain scans)
2. interviews (structured or not)
3. Observation (direct, self-monitoring, rating scales)
4. Psychological tests
5. Personality tests

Question 7

Several factors to consider in evaluation

Answer 7

1. cultural bias in the instrument or clinician
2. theoretical orientation
3. underemphasis on the external situation
4. insufficient validation
5. inaccurate data

Question 8

the aim of a projective personality test is to…

Answer 8

assess the way a patient perceives ambiguous stimuli

Question 9

What is true about reliability and validity?

Answer 9

Valid tests are usually reliable

Question 10

The 6 key factors of stressors are…

Answer 10

1. The severity
2. It’s chronicity
3. timing
4. How closely it affects our own lives
5. How expected it is
6. How controllable it is

Question 11

Validity of a test

Answer 11

measures what it is designed to measure

Question 12

Reliability of test

Answer 12

whether results can be reproduced under the same conditions

Question 13

Treatment for stress

Answer 13

1. emotional disclosure
2. Biofeedback
3. Relaxation & Medication
4. Reframing tress as challenge

Question 14

Adjustment Disorder

Answer 14

significant behavioral or emotional impairment in response to a stressor (onset 3 months of the stressor)

stressors ex: death of a loved one, going away to college, divorce

Question 15

PTSD criteria

Answer 15

1. Significant distress and impairment
2. Reexperiencing trauma (flashbacks)
3. avoidance of stimuli associated w/ trauma
4. state of alert
5. negative mood

must last one month consecutively