Week 2 – Classification and Assessment of b.

Changes in classification of mental

Abnormal Behavior disorders
c. Changes in diagnostic criteria for
DSM – introduced in 1952
particular disorders
 2013 – latest version; DSM-5 d. Process of development

International Statistical Classification of

Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) –
Advantages and Disadvantages of DSM System
compendium of both mental and physical
disorders  Designation of specific diagnostic
criteria
 DSM is compatible with ICD
Sanism – counterpart of other forms of
Mental Disorders – involve emotional distress,
prejudice, such as racism, sexism, and ageism
significantly impaired functioning or behavior
that places people at risk for personal suffering,
pain, disability, or death
Standard of Assessment
Features of the DSM
Reliability
 It is descriptive, not explanatory
 Internal consistency – different parts of
- It describes symptoms
the test yield consistent results
Categorical model of classification – uses yes-no  Test-retest reliability – yields similar
type of judgment about whether the disorder is results on separate occasions
present  Interrater reliability – relies on
judgments from observers or raters
Culture-Bound Syndromes
Validity
 Occur in some cultures
 Reflect exaggerated forms of common  Content validity – assessment
folk superstitions and belief patterns technique is the degree to which its
within a particular culture content represents the behaviors
associated with the trait in question
Reliability and Validity
 Criterion validity – degree to which the
Reliable if – different evaluators using the assessment technique correlates with
system are likely to arrive at same diagnoses an independent, external criterion of
when they evaluate what the technique is intended to
access
Valid if – diagnostic judgments correspond with - Predictive validity – type of criterion
observed behavior validity
Predictive validity – ability to predict the course - Sensitivity – degree to which a test
the disorder is likely to follow or its response to correctly identifies people who
treatment have the disorder
- False negatives – individuals
Controversy about the DSM-5 identified as not having the disorder
a. Expansion of diagnosable disorders who truly do have the disorder
 - Specificity – degree to which the Unstructured interview – adopts his/her own
tests avoids classifying people as style of questioning rather than following a
having a particular disorder who standard format
truly do not have the disorder
 Spontaneity and conversational style
- False positives – people identified
as having the disorder who truly do Semistructured interview – follows a general
not have the disorder outline of questions designed to gather
 Construct validity – degree to which a essential information but is free to ask the
test corresponds to the theoretical questions in any particular order and branch off
model of the underlying construct or into other directions to follow up on important
trait it purports to measure information
Methods of Assessment  Provides more structure and uniformity
 Interviews Structured interview (standardized interviews)
 Psychological testing – follows a preset series of questions in
 Self-report questionnaires particular order
 Behavioral measures
 Provides highest level of reliability
 Physiological measures
Psychological Tests – structured method of
Provides a wealth of information about the
assessment used to evaluate reasonably stable
clients’ personalities and cognitive functioning
traits
Clinical Interview
 Usually standardized
Clinical interview – widely used means of
Intelligence tests – used to diagnose intellectual
assessment
disability/impairment
 Face-face contact with a client
 IQ – person’s scores in intelligence tests
Topics covered by interviews:  100 IQ – mean
1. Identifying data – information regarding Objective Tests – self-report personality
the clients’ sociodemographic inventories that use items similar to the ones
characteristics just listed to measure personality traits
2. Description of the presenting problem –
how the client perceives the problem  Minnesota Multiphasic Personality
3. Psychosocial history – information Theory (MMPI) – 567 true-false
describing the client’s developmental statements that assess interests, habits,
history family relationships, physical health
4. Medical/psychiatric history – history of complaints, attitudes, beliefs and
treatments and hospitalizations behaviors characteristics of
5. Medical problems/medication – present psychological disorders
problems and treatments  The Million Clinical Multiaxial Inventory
(MCMI) – help clinicians formulate
Interview formats diagnoses, especially for personality
disorders; focuses on personality
disorders
  Evaluation of Objective Tests – self-  Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological
report tests are relatively easy to Battery – to study brain-behavior
administer; clients complete the tests relationships among organically
unattended impaired individuals
1. The category test – measure
Projective Tests – offers no clear, specific field
abstract thinking ability
response options
2. Rhythm test – concentration and
 These personality tests derive from the attention
psychodynamic belief that people 3. Tactual performance test –
impose their own psychological needs measures visual memory
 Rorshach Inkblot Test – developed by
Behavioral Assessment
Swiss Psychiatrist, Hermann Rorshach
(1884-1822)  Treats test results as samples of
- Make interpretations on the basis behavior that occur in specific
of the content and the form of the situations rather than signs of
responses underlying personality traits
- Reality testing – revealing  Focuses on clinical or behavioral
intelligence and creativity observation of behavior in a particular
 The Thematic Apperception Test – setting
developed by psychologist Henry - Functional analysis – analysis of the
Murray (1930s) problem behavior in relation to
- Apperception – French word that antecedents that trigger it, and
can be translated as “interpreting consequences, or reinforcements
on the basis of existing ideas and that maintain it
past experience” - Behavioral interview – poses
 Evaluation of Projective Techniques questions to learn more about the
history and situational aspects of
Neuropsychological Assessment
problem behavior
 Involves the use of tests to help - Direct observation – hallmark of
determine whether psychological behavior assessment; observe and
problems reflect underlying quantify problem behavior
neurological impairment or brain Reactivity – tendency for the behavior being
damage observed to be influenced by the way in which
- Neurologist – doctor who it is measured
specializes in disorders of the
nervous system Observer drift – tendency of observers to
- Neuropsychologist – administers deviate from the coding system in which they
neuropsychological assessment were trained as time elapses
techniques
Self-Monitoring
 Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test –
consists of geometric figures that  Clients assume the responsibility for
illustrate various principles of assessing the problem behavior in the
perception settings in which it naturally occurs
 Electromyograph (EMG) – monitor muscle
tension through sensors attached to targeted
Analogue measures – intended to simulate
muscle groups
the setting in which the behavior naturally
takes place but are carried out in laboratory Electroencephalograph (EEG) – measures brain
waves by attaching electrodes to the scalp
Behavioral rating scales – checklist that
provides information about the frequency, Brain imaging and recording Techniques
intensity, and range of the problem
Brain waves – minute amounts of electrical
behaviors
activity in the brain
Problem behaviors are the ff:
Computed tomography (CT) scan – x-ray beam
a. Refuses to eat is aimed at the head; reveals abnormalities in
b. Disobedient the brain shape and structure that may be
c. Hits suggestive of lesions, blood clots, etc.
d. Uncooperative
Positron emission tomography – used to study
e. Destroys own things
the functioning of various parts of the brain
Cognitive assessment
- Positrons – positively charged
 Measure of cognitions particles
 Cognitions – thoughts, beliefs, and
Magnetic resonance imaging – donut shaped
attitudes
tunnel; reveals brain abnormalities associated
Common entries to diaries by clients: with psychological disorders

1. Situation in which the emotional state - Functional magnetic resonance

occurred imaging (FMRI) – used to identify
2. Automatic or disruptive thoughts that parts of the brain that become
passed through the client’s mind active when engaged in particular
3. Type of category of disordered thinking tasks
that the automatic though represented
4. Rational response to the troublesome
thought Sociocultural factors in Psychological
5. Emotional outcome or final emotional Assessment
response

Psychological Measurement

Psychological assessment – study of people’s

psychological responses

Galvanic skin response (GSR) – named after

Luigi Galvani; measures the amount of
electricity that passes through two points on
the skin