PSYCH 270 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Inter-Rater Reliability, Concurrent Validity, Predictive Validity
CH3: Clinical Assessment & Diagnosis
ASSESSING PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
➢Clinical assessment→ Systematic evaluation & measurement of psych/bio/social
factors in an individual presenting with a possible psych disorder
➢Diagnosis→ Determining whether a problem meets all the criteria of a psych disorder
○Based on criteria given in DSM-5
KEY CONCEPTS IN ASSESSMENT
➢Process of clinical assessment= FUNNEL
○Clinician begins by collecting lots of info then narrows the focus→ Rules out
problems & concentrating on relevant areas
➢Three basic concepts that determine value of assessments:
○Reliability→ Degree of consistency
■We expect that you will receive the SAME diagnosis from diff physicians
■Psychologists create assessment devices to ensure “interrater reliability”
■Test-retest reliability→ Techniques are consistent OVER TIME
○Validity→ Whether the technique assesses what it is supposed to
■Comparing the results of an assessment measure with the results of other
that are better proves validity
■EX: A standard, long IQ test gives the same results as a new, briefer
version→ Concurrent validity
■Predictive validity→ How well the assessment tells you what will happen
in the future
!EX: Does it predict who will succeed in school & who will not (One
of the goals of an IQ test)?
○Standardization→ Process by which a certain set of standards is determined for
a technique to make its use consistent across diff measurements
■EX: Comparing results of people like you
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THE CLINICAL INTERVIEW
➢Clinical interview→ Gathers info on current/past behavior, attitudes, emotions & a
detailed history of patient’s life and presenting problem
➢Clinicians determine WHEN the problem started & identify other events (ex: life stress,
trauma, physical illness) that might have occurred at the same time
I. The Mental Status Exam
➢Mental Status Exam→ Systematic observation of an individual’s behavior
➢FIVE CATEGORIES:
○Appearance & Behavior
■Overt behaviors
■Attire
■Appearance, posture, expressions
○Thought Processes
■Rate of speech
■Continuity of speech
■Content of speech
!Delusions
!Hallucinations
!Ideas of reference
○Mood & Affect
■Mood→ Predominant feeling state of the individual
■Affect→ Feeling state accompanying what individual says
!Appropriate vs inappropriate
○Intellectual functioning
■Type of vocabulary
■Use of abstractions and metaphors
○Sensorium
■Awareness of surrounding in terms of person (self and clinician), time,
and place → “Oriented times 3”
➢Patients usually have a good idea of their major concerns (ex: “I’m depressed”), but
sometimes have trouble giving personal/sensitive info
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Clinical assessment systematic evaluation & measurement of psych/bio/social factors in an individual presenting with a possible psych disorder. Diagnosis determining whether a problem meets all the criteria of a psych disorder. Clinician begins by collecting lots of info then narrows the focus rules out problems & concentrating on relevant areas. Three basic concepts that determine value of assessments: We expect that you will receive the same diagnosis from diff physicians. Psychologists create assessment devices to ensure interrater reliability . Test-retest reliability techniques are consistent over time. Validity whether the technique assesses what it is supposed to. Comparing the results of an assessment measure with the results of other that are better proves validity. Ex: a standard, long iq test gives the same results as a new, briefer version concurrent validity. Predictive validity how well the assessment tells you what will happen in the future.
