PSY 110 – ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
Clinical assessment (Psychological Disorders) Psychological Testing
- involves a systematic approach to 1. Objective Tests (e.g., MMPI) are
understanding an individual’s psychological standardized, with clear scoring rules.
functioning. 2. Projective Tests (e.g., Rorschach
Inkblot Test) involve ambiguous stimuli
KEY CONCEPTS:
and are interpreted by the individual
1. Reliability ensures that an assessment tool Neuropsychological Testing
consistently produces the same results
under similar conditions. - assess various cognitive functions such as
2. Validity refers to whether a test measures memory, attention, language, and executive
what it is intended to measure function.
3. Standardization involves using uniform
procedures for administering and scoring
Neuroimaging: Pictures of the Brain
a test.
1. Structural Imaging (e.g., MRI, CT
CLINICAL INTERVIEW: scans) provides detailed images of brain
1. Structured Interviews are highly anatomy, which can help identify
standardized, with predetermined structural abnormalities.
questions. 2. Functional Imaging (e.g., fMRI, PET
2. Semi-Structured Interviews allow scans) measures brain activity during
flexibility while maintaining some specific tasks, providing insights in
structure. relation to behavior and emotions.
3. Unstructured Interviews provide the Psychophysiological assessments measure
clinician with the flexibility to explore bodily responses such as heart rate, skin
topics in depth based on the individual’s conductance, and muscle tension.
responses.
4. The clinical interview is foundational in
understanding the client's history, Before 1980- classification of psychological
symptoms, and functioning. disorders was less standardized.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: DSM (DSM-I in 1952 and DSM-II in 1968)-
were heavily influenced by psychoanalytic
- can rule out medical conditions that may theory.
present with psychological symptoms. DSM-III(1980) - marked a significant shift in
Neurological examinations may be necessary if the classification of psychological disorders:
there are signs of brain dysfunction. Operational Criteria: DSM-III
introduced operational criteria for each
Behavioral Assessment
disorder, which improved reliability by
- involves observing the individual in providing specific.
specific contexts, either in natural Multiaxial System: The DSM-III- also
settings or in a clinical environment. introduced a multiaxial system.
Functional analysis examines the antecedents DSM-III-R (1987)- made adjustments to
and consequences of behaviors to understand the criteria and added new disorders
their purpose. based on emerging research.
PSY 110 – ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
DSM-IV (1994 & DSM-IV-TR (2000)
emphasized the empirical basis for
diagnostic criteria,.
included a cultural formulation outline,
recognizing the role of cultural context
The multiaxial system was retained.
DSM-5(2013)
represented another major evolution in
the classification of psychological
disorders:
removed the multiaxial system.
introduced dimensional assessments for
some disorders.
Several new disorders were added and
some diagnoses were revised or
reclassified.
Creating a Diagnosis
1. Symptom Checklists: Clinicians use
symptom checklists that align with the
criteria set out in the DSM. These
checklists ensure that all relevant
symptoms are considered.
2. Rule-Outs: ruling out other potential
causes of symptoms to ensure that the
correct disorder is identified.
3. Clinical Judgment- crucial in applying
the criteria to individual cases,
considering the full context of the
patient’s life and experiences.
Beyond DSM-5: Dimensions and Spectra
Dimensional Approaches- which consider the
intensity and frequency of symptoms rather than
their mere presence or absence.
Research Domain Criteria (RDoC): The RDoC
initiative by the National Institute of Mental
Health (NIMH) is an example of moving
beyond the DSM’s categorical approach,
focusing on understanding mental disorders
through dimensions of observable behavior and
neurobiological measures.
