Data gathering, Clinical
judgment and data synthesis
Asst. Prof. Tanmay L. Joshi
M:9890614667
https://www.chaitanyapsychology.com
Basic principles of psychodiagnostics
• Diagnosis can shift: Character change can occur as a result of therapy intervention;
symptoms can be alleviated; states of remission can be achieved; or pathology can
intensify.
• A relationship obtains between the presenting problem and the diagnosis: The
presenting disturbance is usually an example in microcosm of the underlying
personality problem.
• Pathology may be acute or chronic: The duration of the symptom complaint is the
key question. Generally, an acute diagnosis suggests a better prognosis.
• There are levels of diagnosis: Diagnosis can refer to characterology, anxiety or
neurotic symptoms, psychotic, and organic phenomena, as well as to any incipient
pathological process. The prominence of any of these four levels also corresponds to
the principle of the diagnostic shift.
• The levels of diagnosis should be integrated. This integration is made with
reference to character structure, anxiety disorders, or even underlying
incipient psychotic states. The diagnosis can refer to:
✓Behavioural manifestations;
✓Internal phenomena involving deficits, anxiety, idiosyncratic ideation, and
mood;
✓Character structure—the enduring network of traits and dispositions of the
personality;
✓Psychotic or organic features.
• The pathological context is related to diagnosis: The pathological process
in which the presenting problem is embedded should constitute a major part
of the diagnostic picture.
Data Gathering and Synthesis
1. Rapport building
2. Observation
3. Case history taking
4. Interview
• Open ended questions
• Close ended questions
• These interpretations can be influenced by a combination of personality theory,
research data, and the clinician’s professional and personal experience.
• Officer: I’ve read your application form and have gone
over your qualifications. Would you now please outline
your educational experiences, beginning with high
school?
• Maria: I graduated from high school in June 1990 with a
major in history and social studies.
• I began attending college in September 1990. I
graduated in June 1995 with a major in psychology and
minor in business management. I then entered the
university’s graduate program in business. I obtained my
master’s degree in business administration in 1997.
• Officer: What is your work history? Begin with your first
full-time employment.
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✓ How do your education and experience relate to
the job for which you are applying?
✓ What educational experiences have you had that
might help you function in the job for which you
are applying?
✓ What employment experiences have you had that
might help you function in the job for which you
are applying?
✓ Identify any deficiencies in your educational and
work experiences.
✓ What educational and work experiences have you
had that might impair your ability to function in
the job for which you are applying?
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• Psychologist: Maria, why don’t you tell me a little bit about
yourself.
• Maria: Where do you want me to begin?
• Psychologist: Oh, it doesn’t matter. Just tell me about yourself.
• Maria: I graduated from high school in June of 1990. I majored
in history and social studies.
• Psychologist: Yes, I see.
• Maria: I then attended college and finally finished graduate
school in 1997. My master’s degree should help me to assume
the duties of the new position.
• Psychologist: You feel that your master’s degree is a useful
asset in your application.
• Maria: Yes, my graduate experiences taught me how to work
with others.
• Psychologist: With these graduate experiences, you learned the
art of working with other people.
• Maria: Well, I guess I didn’t learn it all in graduate school. I’ve
always managed to get along well with others.
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• Psychologist: As far as you can tell, you work pretty well with
people.
• Maria: That’s right. As the oldest of four children, I’ve always
had the responsibility for supervising others. You know what I
mean?
• Psychologist: Being the oldest, you were given extra
responsibilities as a child.
• Maria: Not that I resented it. Well, maybe sometimes. It’s just
that I never had much time for myself.
• Psychologist: And having time for yourself is important to you.
• Maria: Yes, of course it is. I guess everybody needs some time
alone.
• Psychologist: As a person who deals with others all day long,
you must treasure those few moments you have to yourself.
• Maria: I really do. Whenever I get a chance I like to drive up to
the lake all by myself and just think.
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Clinical judgment
• Human interaction: Mutual & continually changing perceptions.
• Clinical judgment: A special instance of perception in which the clinician attempts to use
whatever sources are available to create accurate descriptions of the client.
• These sources may include test data, case history, medical records, personal journals, and verbal
and nonverbal observations of behavior.
• Relevant issues and processes involved in clinical judgment include data gathering, data
synthesis, the relative accuracy of clinical versus statistical /actuarial descriptions, and judgment
in determining what to include in a psychological report.
• This sequence also parallels the process clinicians go through when assessing a client.
• * The Resident patient- Sherlock Holmes
MAILING ADDRESS
[email protected] [email protected] Thank you! Psychology: Applied Perspective
https://www.chaitanyapsychology.com 10
PHONE NUMBER
9890614667/ 7020736225
