Explore BrainMass

Explore BrainMass

    Assessing and Diagnosing Abnormality

    Assessing and diagnosing abnormality is extremely important for the treatment of mental disorders and involves examining symptoms and their causes in order to group these symptoms together into a diagnosis of the problem. This is obviously a very important aspect of abnormal psychology, as conditions can be diagnosed and further researched in order to develop treatments for individuals sufferring from the disorder.

    Assessments used in abnormal psychology include measurements of biological functioning, cognitive functioning, emotional regulation, personality, and social functioning. Information can be collected and assessed by examining symptoms and history of the individual, including onset of the symptoms and any environmental or psychological factors that may have occurred throughout their life. Then, information can be assessed in more depth through clinical interviews or through an assortment of tests, including personality tests, intelligence tests, brain imaging techniques, and questionnaires to determine symptomatology. Behavioural tests and self-monitoring using methods such as a journal can also be used.

    Image credit: Erin Kohlenberg

    Diagnosis is then determined based on the results of these assessments and used to treat the individual. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is the most widely used classification of symptoms and disorders; however, while it is beneficial to diagnose someone with a disorder in order to treat them and provide consistency among health care providers and research, it can cause difficulties in assessment/diagnosis, including stigmatization within society. Furthermore, diagnoses may not take into consideration cultural differences.

    © BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com March 18, 2024, 5:36 pm ad1c9bdddf

    BrainMass Categories within Assessing and Diagnosing Abnormality

    Difficulties in Assessment/Diagnosis

    Solutions: 77

    Problems in assessment are related to cultural differences impairing the ability to diagnose a disorder along with problems in diagnosing children.

    BrainMass Solutions Available for Instant Download

    Rationale & Procedures: Conducting a Mental Status Examination

    Mental Status Examinations are used in many settings to determine if there are any conditions that are would prevent a client/patient from participating in their own care. A Mental Status Examination can help an intake worker to determine the level of care that would be most appropriate for the client. More importantly, it can

    Psychological Assessment Evaluations

    Eight year-old Sean Brody is a third grader with many challenges. Due to his parent's impending divorce, for the past 6 months he has had to split his time between their separate households, as they negotiate a custody agreement. Prior to the separation, Sean's biggest obstacle was his hearing impairment. He is currently enro

    Bulimia vs. Anorexia

    Eating Disorders There are many obvious similarities between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The differences that do exist between the two help to differentiate them. In addition to anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, there are other specified and unspecified eating disorders that have clinically significant symptom

    Traumatic Brain Injury Diagnosis

    Confirming a Diagnosis in the Case "Hit on the Head With a Rake" As explained in this week's Learning Resources, changes in cognition can be signs of a medical condition that affects the brain's functioning. However, cognitive deficits usually are accompanied by other problems such as depression or mood disorders. Looking for c

    DSMV Diagnosis Criteria: Avoidant Personality Disorder

    Please use APA style my last assignment you completed came back 71percent plagrism . Thank you in advance for your help . This Week's Readings Please note that Chapter 11 in the Abnormal Psychology text uses terminology that applies to the DSM-IV-TR diagnoses. Be sure that you use the DSM-V as the primary source for diagn

    Psychological Testing versus Assessment

    Distinguishing Between Psychological Assessment and Psychological Testing As you reviewed in this week's readings, one major purpose of psychological assessment is to assess a client's needs and to determine what types of treatment or support might benefit that client. A psychological test is "one small part of an assessment" (

    Interesting facts related to Autism Spectrum Disorder

    I need a sentence or two to add to my introductory sentence. The sentence or two should be something with an attention-grabbing element related to Autism Spectrum Disorder. The sentences can be a surprising fact, or an insightful question that I can use to catch the readers' attention. This is my introduction sentence which s

    DSM-5 Classification

    What aspects of the DSM-5 classification process might be beneficial to clients and professionals? What aspects might be potentially harmful?

    The Brain's Ability to Compensate for Memory Decline

    The fact that we are all in this, studying and reading a lot is good for our brains. I went to a great workshop about a year and half ago about learning and memory given by one of my heroes, Dr. Cecil Reynolds. He has written numerous books and articles about intelligence, memory, personality and lots of other things. He told th

    Challenges in Assessing the IQ of an Individual with ADHD

    I frequently test children who have been diagnosed with ADD and ADHD. The children with ADD usually do quite well in a little quiet room with no distractions. I watch their behavior during testing. If they "space out" during a timed test, I write that in the report. People with ADD usually have a hard time in a large group setti

    Threats to Test Validity

    Using the correct standardization group is very important! The researchers select what is called a "stratified" random sample from several locations: urban, rural, metropolitan, etc. Researchers make sure that a certain number of examinees are from each subgroup. Their raw scores are then averaged to create the norm of the test.

    Poverty and School Performance

    This year, many of the well-known IQ tests will be come out with revised editions (Wechsler, 2014). I am wondering if they will have many test questions referring to the internet or the use of use of computers or ipads. It is a tough call because believe it or not, there are many students too poor to have the internet at home. L

    Differential Treatment of Individuals within Society

    When I was a graduate student in my Master's program, I was required to complete several "pilot" studies which contained research papers in APA format and some test construction. For these studies, I first had to do a lot of research on the topics in the library. My favorite study looked at sex differences in the treatment of me

    "g" and "s" factors in intelligence theory

    Explain the difference between the "g" factor and the "s" factor in intelligence theories. Discuss and briefly explain Spearman's intelligence theory. Discuss and briefly explain Gardne's itelligence theory. How does Spearman's intelligence theory differ from Gardner's multiple intelligences theory?

    Keys to Developing Simplified Psychological Assessment Tests

    (Simplicity in assessment testing). Give an example of how Hogan's experience would make valid test construction easier. Compare to what Hogan has listed below This is what Hogan say's about simplifying assessment test: Aim for simplicity. "Clever" items often don't work. Also, Hogan states that simple items almost always w

    Intelligence testing and cultural difference

    There are many skills necessary to live and adapt effectively in certain environments. Tests are sometimes constructed and then "local norms" are created for that area. Many parts of the world do actually have very similar IQ tests to those used in the United States and Canada. They are created and normed on their own continent.

    Intelligence testing and cultural competence

    There always error in every test when there are multiple cultural influences in a unique population group. Sometimes specific tests need to be tailored to that group. That is where the training to completely understand a test comes in: examiner competence. "Examiner Competence" is an ethical standard in psychological testing

    The Key to Happiness and Success Factors

    Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment by Seligman (2002) and Outliers: The story of success by Gladwell (2008). Both authors focus on the positive ways of looking at life and the factors that influence the lives of successful people rather that dwelling on the negative. There are

    Bullying and depression article

    Search Terms: Type in a broad category such as: depression assessment, team building assessment, autism assessment, teaching styles assessment, school climate assessment, employee testing, etc. Also, add some specific area to narrow down the search criteria. (Your choice of a topic). Scan recent journal articles relating to

    Country Test Comparison Flaws

    There are reports every year that compare countries and indicate that some countries are "behind" or "ahead" in math or science and other skills. Think about if completely different tests with a completely different norming sample can be compared and found to be valid. If we are taking a different test, can it be perfectly compa

    Developing a Good Survey

    It takes time to understand the meaning of survey tests and we all have a natural inclination to try to figure out what they are asking for on a test! These tests are now being created in the thousands so it is actually a growing area for employment. Within the interest and attitude category, many political organizations and

    How Cultural Biases affect IQ Scores

    The first major category of assessment described in Hogan (2007) is intelligence tests. For this reason, there is a multitude of research on the topic. According to Flynn (2009), the "Flynn effect" examines the flaws within IQ tests. Flynn wrote his first book about increasing IQs in the early 80's. He estimates that average I

    Achievement Between Wealthy & Poor School Districts

    There is a striking advantage that wealthy private schools and some public schools have over poor and middle class school districts in the country. The past 30 years of research on the predictors of student achievement or behavior on the SAT or state testing programs has indicated that 70% of the variance is the wealth and educa

    Diagnosing Socially Anxious Man

    I need help with a diagnosing a case study using the DSM5. I need a primary diagnosis, and secondary's, and rationale as to why the diagnosis was given. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. Here is the case study... Jim was a nice looking man in his mid-30's. He could trace his shyness to boyhood and his social anxi

    Diagnosing an Attorney with Marriage/Work Problems

    I need help with some thoughts to a diagnosis using the DSM5. I need primary, secondaries, and rationale for the diagnosis. Here is the case: George is a 45-year-old attorney who has made an initial appointment only because his wife has insisted. She has thrown down the relational "gauntlet", telling him that she is fed u

    Discussion Analysis

    Could you please do an "objective" conversational response on how this person has done on their discussion on their chosen research article? Your expert objective response should contribute thoughtful, unique and interesting information to add to their discussion. This is their discussion: Hi all, I used the words "In

    Ethical Decision-Making Case

    Can someone help with an explanation of the ethical dilemmas involved in the case study below? Based on the attached ethical decision-making, can someone help me with what might be done by using one of the decision-making models attached, the possible outcomes for each individual in the case, and the benefits and limitation of t

    Theory Outline

    I need help on writing an essay on 'Psychoanalytic, Neoanalytic, Jungian and Individual Psychology.' I need to include: - key concepts - key theorists - therapist and client roles - therapy limitations - is the theory research based?

    Diagnostic Presentation

    Roger is a 19 year old young man born and raised in Arkansas. He is brought into treatment by his parents. The parents are present in the initial interview session. Mother tells you that Roger, "is no longer the sweet gentle boy I raised." Roger's father is a minister and tells you that he had always hoped that Roger would one d

    Disorders and Exceptionalities

    With the notion of informed consent consider the following scenario: You are a counselor who is developing a therapy group for girls and boys ages 10-12. Each group member has a diagnosis of either Conduct Disorder or Oppositional Defiant Disorder and has been selected to participate in a Gifted and Talented program at school