Psychological Assessment

Question

Loyd is a 14 year old adolescent with a complex family dynamics. He was referred for a psychological evaluation to determine his current cognitive and emotional status. Michael has a long history of poor school performance and behavioral problems. Despite extensive private tutoring and accommodations from his school, he has failed to succeed academically. In order to come up with a comprehensive assessment and correct diagnosis given the situation below, answer the following:

1.   Outline your assessment procedures.

2. What are the tools will you employ and explain why it is necessary to employ these tools.

3. What information you hope to get or measure for each of the tools you will employ.

4.   What are the ethics you need to observe for each tool you will use. Explain your answer.

5. What possible malpractice can occur in doing and reporting the results of the assessment?

Please enlighten me.

Answer 1

Question 1

For a psychological evaluation of Loyd, I would likely follow a multi-method approach, which involves gathering information from various sources and using multiple assessment tools. This can include:

Clinical interview: This involves talking with Loyd and his parents or guardians to gather information about his history, current functioning, and any concerns or problems they have noticed.

Psychological testing: This could include the use of standardized tests to assess Loyd's cognitive abilities, personality, and emotional functioning. These tests may include measures of intelligence, achievement, personality, and emotion regulation.

Observations: I may also observe Loyd in different settings (e.g., at home, in school) to get a sense of his behavior, social skills, and overall functioning.

Review of records: It can be helpful to review Loyd's academic and medical records to get a better understanding of his history and any previous interventions or treatments that have been tried.

Question 2

Some tools that I might use in this evaluation could include:

Clinical interview: This could involve structured or unstructured interviews with Loyd and his parents or guardians, using open-ended questions and standardized assessment measures to gather information about his history, current functioning, and any concerns or problems they have noticed.

Psychological tests: These could include measures of intelligence (e.g., Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale), achievement (e.g., Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement), personality (e.g., Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory), and emotion regulation (e.g., Emotion Regulation Checklist).

Observations: I might observe Loyd in different settings (e.g., at home, in school) to get a sense of his behavior, social skills, and overall functioning.

It is necessary to employ these tools in order to gather a comprehensive and accurate understanding of Loyd's cognitive and emotional functioning. Each tool provides valuable information that can help to identify strengths, areas of concern, and potential interventions or treatments that may be helpful.

Question 3

For each of the tools I will employ, I hope to gather the following information:

Clinical interview: From the clinical interview, I hope to gather information about Loyd's history, including any medical or mental health concerns, as well as his current functioning and any problems or concerns his parents or guardians have noticed.

Psychological tests: With psychological testing, I hope to assess Loyd's cognitive abilities, personality, and emotional functioning, and identify any areas of strength or concern.

Observations: Through observations, I hope to get a sense of Loyd's behavior, social skills, and overall functioning in different settings.

Question 4

Some ethical considerations that I would need to observe in conducting this evaluation could include:

Informed consent: It is important to ensure that Loyd and his parents or guardians fully understand the purpose and nature of the evaluation, and give their consent to participate.

Confidentiality: The results of the evaluation should be kept confidential, and information should only be shared with individuals or agencies who have a legitimate need to know.

Respect for autonomy: It is important to respect Loyd's autonomy and ensure that his opinions and preferences are taken into account in the evaluation process.

Question 5

Some possible malpractice that could occur in doing and reporting the results of the assessment could include:

Misinterpreting or misusing assessment results: It is important to carefully interpret and use the results of the assessment appropriately, and to consider other factors (e.g., cultural or contextual factors) that may affect the interpretation of the results.

Sharing confidential information without permission