GUIDELINES IN MAKING PSYCHOLOGICAL REPORT

·         Avoid mentioning general characteristics which could describe almost anyone unless the particular importance in the given case is made clear.

·         Describe the particular attributes of the individual fully, using as distinctive as possible.

·         Simple listing of characteristics is not helpful; tell how they are related and organized in the personality.

·         Information should be organized developmentally with respect to the timeline of the individual life.

·         Many of the problems of poor reports such as vague generalization, overqualification, clinging to the immediate data, stating the obvious, and describing stereotypes are understandable but undesirable reacts to uncertainty.

·         Validate statements with an actual behavioral response.

·         Avoid, if possible, the use of qualifiers such as “it appears,” “it seems,” “more likely” for these convey the psychologists’ uncertainties and indecisions.

·         Avoid using technical terms. Present them using layman’s language.

PSYCHOLOGICAL REPORTING IN CLINICAL SETTING

A.    The psychological report must meet the following criteria:

1.      Clarity- written language that can be easily understood

2.      Meaningfulness of the report- perceived by the reader as clear and is clearly understood by the gender

3.      Synthesis of the report

B.     Aids in Communication

1.      Language can be understood by the intelligent lay person

2.      Individualized report – particular to the client

3.      Level of the detail – in general, there should be a mixture of abstract generalities, specific behavioral illustrations and some testing detail (allow evaluations)

FORMAT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL REPORT: (There is no universal format, it may vary)

a.       Personal Information

b.      Referral Question

c.       Tests Administered

d.      Behavioral Observation (Tests and interview)

e.       Test Results and Interpretation

f.       Summary Formulation

g.      Diagnostic Impression

h.      Recommendation

INTERPRETATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT RESULTS

A.    Levels of Interpretation

1.      Level I

2.      Level II

3.      Level III

B.     Avoiding Errors in Clinical Interpretations

A.    Levels of Interpretation

Level I

·         There is minimal amount of any sort of interpretation

·         There is a minimal concern with intervening process

·         Data are primarily treated in a sampling or correlate way

·         There is no concern with underlying constructs

·         Found in large-scale selection testing

·         For psychometric approaches

Note: There is no underlying guilt or unresolved conflict associated with this level; job application in industrial setting, school admission tests, and PNP selection procedure are examples

Level II

            There are two kinds of interpretation

·         Descriptive generalization. For example, seeing an aggressive client and making generalization about it (but, it should be done with careful observation and must be corroborated by other findings)

·         Hypothetical construct. The assumption of an inner state which goes logically beyond the description of visible behavior. For example, frequent handwashing might mean an unconscious attempt to expiate one’s guild and sins. (Again, this is just an example and there are other examples)

Note: Clinical approaches to psychological assessment mean using clinical interviews and projective technique

Level III

·         This is a level that utilizes idiographic approach. The idiographic approach is being specific in analyzing the client by studying his uniqueness.

·          The effort is to develop a coherent and inclusive theory of the individual life of the patient/client.

·         In terms of general theoretical orientation, the clinician attempts a full-scale exploration of the individual personality, psychosocial situation, and development history

·         Clinical approach

B.     Avoiding Errors in Clinical Interpretations

·         Information-overload

·         Schematization. Simplify the information to the point of disregarding important aspects of the person that might help the clinician understand the behavior of the client.

·         Insufficient internal evidence for interpretation. For example, administering one test and make generalizations about it is inadequate. Thus, insufficient internal evidence that explains the actual behavior of the person. We need to prevent this by providing enough number of tests to suffice the internal evidence.

·         Insufficient external verification of interpretation. Always bear in mind that tests should be complementary and must also consider the actual display of behavior. We need to interview the significant people of the client or consider looking at previous records to verify the results of the test.

Note:

Aggressiveness of the client

“The psychological test results showed…as evidenced by his frequent bullying and quarrels at home…”

·         Overinterpretation. For example, long nose from the drawing of the client was interpreted by the test examiner as sexual preoccupation or aggression without considering the fact that the client’s long nose represents his actual nose.

Note: Always interpret the results against the background of the client. There is no universal interpretation for all people.

·         Lack of individuation. Writing a psych report that can describe anyone such as “a patient has anxiety and insecurity” and “has aggressive tendencies.” All people, to some extent, has anxiety, insecurity, and aggressive tendencies. Note: “Barnum Effect”

·         Lack of integration. Do not use conflicting statements. Try to see the common theme. If you administered different tests, just get the common theme.

·         Over “pathologizing.” Avoid using too many negative statements. Remember, even the most disliked person possess some innate goodness. Include positive traits that you observed because these positive traits can be used in developing a treatment plan.

·         Over “psychologizing.” For example, your client scratched his nose and interpreted as anxious, nervousness, or tension when in fact it’s just a scratch due to itch.

BABY STEP TO RPsy: ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE BY ATTENDING SEMINARS

I just attended the seminar earlier entitled: COMMUNICATING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT RESULTS, a lecture series by UST Psychotrauma Clinic. Our  Resource Person is Prof. Rosalito de Guzman, PhD, RP, CSCLP. 

The topic outline was divided into four parts:

I. Psychological Assessment

A. Principles in the use of tests as diagnostic tool

B. Criteria for selection

C. Need for battery testing

II. Interpretation

A. Levels of Interpretation

B. Avoiding errors in clinical interpretation

III. Communicating Results

A. Considerations on Psychological Report in Clinical Setting

B. Aids in communication

B.1 Language

B.2 Individualized Report

B.3 Levels of Details

IV. Guidelines in Making Psychological Report

This is a long post so I will create a separate blog post. I hope you enjoy! Please read it if you intend to take the psychometrician board examination or psychologist board examination. This is a nice topic to understand the basic concepts of psychological assessment and its importance.

BABY STEP TO RPsy: TALK TO YOURSELF

Tip: Talk to yourself.

Right now, I discuss what I learned from reading the 27% material of "Civilization and Its Discontents." I relate it to the society and to some of Freud's concepts. I recalled some of his examples and try to create my own version of explaining it. Most of the time, I do this to hear myself out and to make sure that I learned the material. It was proven by studies. Hahaha. *please check some references on retention*

This strategy continue to help me in becoming a better lecturer and future psychologist. :)
#Talk101 #OnRetention

CHEERS TO 75 THOUSAND BLOG VIEWS!

I am inspired to blog about the things that others might find helpful to them. In 2017, I will be posting more blogs about my journey in becoming a psychologist. I will document everything. My thoughts, pains, sadness, celebration, joys, etc. 

How I plan to lose some things in my life by weighing a lot of things, the responses I got from others because of my decisions, how I manage to overcome my predicaments, how to keep my sanity in spite of my own struggles that I never shared with anyone except for the someone I love, and  my strategies in time- management, studies, etc.

I just hope all hard work will be paid off soon. I hope you will join me in my rough road to fulfilling my dreams.

Sito Longges