Systematic collection of information is a necessary first step for the diagnosis or accurate identification of psychiatric disorders in primary care. This involves several different tools that together help psychologists decide what disorder or disorders are shown by specific patients. Psychologists want to accomplish mush more than simply identifying (diagnosing) various mental disorders. In addition, they want to understand the causes of such disorders— why they occur in the first place? This is one of the most important reasons why psychologists conduct research scientists attempt to answer various questions.
The specific assessment tools used by psychologists for identification of psychiatric disorders in primary care:
Life Records: One source of information is life records— basic information on an individual’s past experiences such as school grades, police reports, medical records etc. This information can get the process started by indicating when a problem may have originated, how long it has persisted and how it has affected the individual’s life. Unfortunately, life records are hard to obtain and mat be distorted by patients who attempt to put themselves in a favorable light. Still, they can be helpful as an initial step.
Assessment Interviews: As experts in human behavior, psychologists realize that much can be learned from direct interactions with individuals who seek their help. Thus, they often conduct assessment interviews in which they seek information about the individual’s past and present personality behaviors, current problems, interpersonal relations and personality. Such interviews can be structures, in which case psychologists follow a detailed set of questions prepared in advance and known to get at the information they want, or semi-structural, in which psychologists follow an outline of major topics but do not have a list of specific questions. Through such procedures a psychologist can learn a great deal about a person and can formulate hypotheses concerning the origins of the individual’s problems.
Psychological Tests: These involve standardized procedures for observing behavior. Such tests can provide information on cognitive functioning (e.g. intelligence), personality, interests, attitudes and all of this information can help psychologists understand the problems being experienced by individuals who seek their help. Some psychological disorders are liked to the brain or other portions of the nervous system. Thus, in their research psychologists sometimes use neuropsychological tests that are measures specifically designed to assess nervous system damage and brain functioning. One such test is the Halstead Reitan Neuropsychological Battery that consists of many tests of auditory, visual and psychomotor functioning. The pattern of scores obtained by an individual can point to the presence of specific forms of brain damage.
Observations of behavior: This involves observation of behavior, particularly, behavior relevant to problems suggested by other assessment tools. This often involves observing individuals in natural situations: at school, at work, in interactions with spouses and other family members and so on. This may also involve observing the individual’s reactions to a video showing objects or situations they fear.
Biological Measures: Revealing information is often provided by various neuroimaging techniques such as computerized tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positive emission tomography (PET) scans. These tools are often used by psychologists to study the biological basis of various psychological disorders.
