Question 1

There are two general categories of psychological tests used in clinical practice. They are

Accepted Answer

The two general categories of psychological tests used in clinical practice are intelligence tests and personality tests. Projective tests and sentence completion tests are types of personality tests, while neuropsychological tests and standardized tests can fall under the category of intelligence tests. Rating scales are typically used to assess symptoms or behaviors and do not fit into either of these two categories.

Question 2

The reliability of the assessment interview may be enhanced by the use of

Accepted Answer

The use of rating scales can provide a more standardized and objective approach to the assessment interview, allowing for more reliable ratings of certain constructs. Flexible, open-ended interviews may increase the potential for interviewer bias, while the TAT and Rorschach test rely on subjective interpretation of ambiguous stimuli, which can lead to low reliability.

Question 3

Shanna goes to Dr. Henderson for a first interview. He diagnosis her with a depressive disorder. She then goes to Dr. Smithson, because her friend recommended her. Dr. Smithson diagnoses Shanna with an anxiety disorder. This demonstrates a problem with

Accepted Answer

The differing diagnoses from two professionals suggest a lack of consistency, indicating a problem with reliability in the diagnostic process.

Question 4

In which of the following circumstances would a psychosocial assessment clearly need to be used?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In which of the following circumstances would...

Question 5

Danielle is having problems with drinking. She goes to a psychologist who gives her a form to fill out. It has a list of statements about drinking and problems associated with drinking. She is to rate each item between 1 and 3 - 1 meaning it is not a problem for her, 3 meaning it is a very big problem for her and 2 is in- between. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a rating scale, where Danielle rates the severity of her drinking problems on a numerical scale.

Question 6

Reasons individually administered IQ tests may not be used include all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Individually administered IQ tests are generally considered to have high reliability, so low reliability is not a reason for not using them.

Question 7

Joanne says that she cannot say "no" to her intrusive mother. Her therapist has her pretend to engage in such an interaction to assess how weak Joanne's assertiveness skills really are. This illustrates the use of

Accepted Answer

Role-playing is a therapeutic technique where clients act out or simulate real-life scenarios in a safe and controlled environment. In this case, Joanne's therapist uses role-playing to assess Joanne's assertiveness skills when interacting with her mother. This technique can help Joanne practice and improve her assertiveness skills in a safe and supportive setting.

Question 8

A clinical psychologist notes that a client wears his clothes inside out, that his hair is matted, and there is dirt under his fingernails. This information is known as

Accepted Answer

Clinical observation involves gathering information about a client's behavior, appearance, and other observable characteristics. In this scenario, the psychologist is making clinical observations about the client's appearance, which may be helpful in understanding their overall functioning and potential areas of concern. Self-monitoring, a dynamic formulation, and an observational decision tree are not relevant to this particular situation.

Question 9

A behaviorally oriented clinician tells her alcohol dependent client: "Here is a checklist I want you to fill out each day. Whenever you feel you need a drink, you should indicate what you were thinking, where you were, who you were with, and whether you went ahead and drank." What procedure is the clinician using?

Accepted Answer

The clinician is using self-monitoring, which involves tracking one's own thoughts, feelings, or behaviors to identify patterns and triggers. The checklist is a tool for the client to track their own behavior and identify potential trigger situations for drinking.

Question 10

A clinical research subject is given a beeper that produces a soft tone at unexpected intervals. This assessment tool, unlike clinical observations, allows for the measurement of

Accepted Answer

This method, often referred to as experience sampling or ecological momentary assessment, captures thoughts and feelings in real-time and in natural settings, providing insights into the subject's experiences as they occur in their daily life.

Question 11

Dr. Lo asks Julie to pretend that he is her father as part of his psychosocial assessment of Julie. Which of the following would this be an example of?

Accepted Answer

An analogue situation involves simulating a real-life situation to observe how a person might behave, which is what Dr. Lo is doing by asking Julie to pretend he is her father.

Question 12

Under what circumstances is a structured interview most likely to be used?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Under what circumstances is a structured interview...

Question 13

Psychological tests

Accepted Answer

While psychological tests have been found to have good reliability and validity overall, their accuracy is still dependent on the competence of the clinician who interprets them. They are also not necessarily superior to clinical observation or interviews, as all forms of assessment have their strengths and limitations. Therefore, option B is the most accurate statement.

Question 14

The use of standardized psychological tests

Accepted Answer

Standardized psychological tests provide a reference group that allows clinicians to compare a client's behavior, thoughts, and emotions with a normative sample. While these tests are helpful, they are not a replacement for clinical observation, and it requires professional training and expertise to draw accurate conclusions from their results. Additionally, the diagnosis of mental illness remains a complex and subjective process, requiring consideration of multiple factors beyond just test scores.

Question 15

A psychosocial assessment typically begins with

Accepted Answer

A psychosocial assessment typically begins with an interview to gather comprehensive information about the individual's psychological, social, and functional status.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a reason for using rating scales in clinical observation and self reports?

Accepted Answer

Rating scales are used to increase objectivity, not decrease it, by providing a consistent framework for evaluation.

Question 17

Dr. White is doing research in which she must diagnose clients at a mental health clinic. Because diagnostic reliability is of great concern in research, she will most likely establish diagnoses by using

Accepted Answer

Standardized structured interviews provide a standardized set of questions to assess for criteria of specific mental disorders. This method ensures that all clients are assessed in the same way, increasing diagnostic reliability for research purposes. Open-ended interviews may result in variability in questioning and potential diagnostic errors, while the mental status exam and time-limited interviews may not cover all necessary criteria for a comprehensive diagnosis.

Question 18

In which of the following circumstances would a clinician be most likely to use self-monitoring?

Accepted Answer

Self-monitoring is often used to identify specific situations or triggers that elicit problematic behavior, allowing for better understanding and management of the behavior.

Question 19

What would determine whether the WISC-III or the WAIS-III is used to test intelligence?

Accepted Answer

The WISC-III is used for children aged 6-16, while the WAIS-III is used for adults aged 16-89. The choice depends on the age of the client.

Question 20

Intelligence and personality tests can best be described as

Accepted Answer

Intelligence and personality tests do not directly observe behavior, but rather gather information indirectly through responses to questions or task performance. This makes them an indirect means of assessing psychological characteristics.

Quiz 4: Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis