Prior To Beginning Work On This Discussion Review Standard 9

Prior To Beginning Work On This Discussion Reviewstandard 9 Assessme

Prior to beginning work on this discussion, review Standard 9: Assessment links to an external site. in the APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct and DSM-5. It is recommended that you read Chapters 1 and 2, "The Assessment Process," in the APA handbook of testing and assessment in psychology, Vol. 2: Testing and assessment in clinical and counseling psychology (2013). Additionally, review the articles by Kielbasa, Pomerantz, Krohn, and Sullivan (2004) and Pomerantz and Segrist (2006) regarding how payment methods influence diagnostic decisions.

For this discussion, you will assume the role of a clinical or counseling psychologist diagnosing a hypothetical client. Start by reviewing the PSY650 Week Two Case Studies document and select one client to diagnose.

In your initial post, compare the assessment methods used by clinical and counseling psychologists, detailing which assessment techniques—such as tests, surveys, interviews, client records, or observational data—you would employ to assist in diagnosing your selected client. Also, specify additional information needed to help formulate the diagnosis and propose specific questions to ask the client to gather this information.

Identify the theoretical orientation you would use with this client, and explain how this orientation might influence both the assessment process and the diagnosis. Using the DSM-5 manual, propose a diagnosis for the client based on the case study. Analyze the case in light of your agency’s required timeline for diagnosis, considering ethical principles. Discuss whether, given the current information, it is ethical to make a diagnosis within this timeframe.

Finally, evaluate whether it is justifiable to render a diagnosis to facilitate third-party payment and justify your stance based on ethical guidelines of psychologists and the APA Code of Conduct.

Paper For Above instruction

In the realm of psychological assessment, the choice of methods and their ethical application are crucial to accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning. Clinical and counseling psychologists often utilize a variety of assessment techniques to understand clients' mental health issues comprehensively. These techniques include standardized tests, clinical interviews, surveys, analysis of client records, and behavioral observations. Though similar, the specific assessment focus can differ: clinical psychologists tend to emphasize comprehensive testing for complex psychopathology, while counseling psychologists may focus more on personal strengths and contextual factors (American Psychological Association [APA], 2014).

When diagnosing a hypothetical client, such as the case of "Client A" from the PSY650 Week Two Case Studies, I would employ a multi-method assessment strategy. Initially, a structured clinical interview is essential to gather qualitative data about the client’s presenting problems, history, and functioning. This can be supplemented by standardized self-report questionnaires, such as the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) or the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, tailored to assess specific symptomatology (First, 2014). Additionally, review of the client’s previous records, if available, can provide contextual background and historical data. Observational data during sessions can also offer insight into client behaviors that might not be fully captured through self-report measures.

To deepen the diagnostic process, further information would be needed, including details about the client’s social interactions, occupational functioning, and support systems. Specific questions to ask might include: “Can you describe your daily routines and how you've been feeling emotionally during the past few weeks?” or “Are there particular situations that trigger your symptoms or concerns?” Such questions aim to explore areas like mood fluctuations, situational stressors, and functioning levels, thereby enabling a comprehensive picture of the client’s psychological state.

Theoretical orientation significantly influences assessment and diagnosis. For instance, adopting a cognitive-behavioral orientation would guide me to focus on identifying maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors, which could be assessed through specific cognitive inventories and thought-record exercises. This orientation emphasizes empirical evidence and structured assessment tools, which facilitates targeted diagnosis and intervention. Conversely, a humanistic orientation might prioritize client narratives and subjective experience, influencing assessment to focus more on personal meaning and self-report measures (Rogers, 1961).

Using the DSM-5, I would examine the client’s presenting symptoms and history to propose a diagnosis. Suppose the client exhibits persistent depressed mood, anhedonia, fatigue, and feelings of worthlessness over a two-week period. Based on these symptoms, a provisional diagnosis might be Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode, Moderate (DSM-5, American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). However, this diagnosis necessitates thorough evaluation to rule out differential diagnoses and comorbid conditions.

From an ethical standpoint, the agency’s timeline for diagnosis must balance thoroughness with timeliness. According to the APA Ethics Code (2017), psychologists must provide competent and accurate diagnoses based on sufficient evidence. While the urgency to meet assessment deadlines is understandable, making a diagnosis with limited information raises ethical concerns about accuracy and potential harm. If current data are inadequate, it would be unethical to assign a definitive diagnosis prematurely, as it might lead to inappropriate treatment recommendations or stigma.

Regarding third-party payment, billing for a diagnosis is ethically justifiable only when the diagnosis is supported by adequate evidence and conducted within the scope of competence. The APA Ethical Principles advocate honesty and integrity in billing practices. If an immediate diagnosis is solely needed for payment purposes without sufficient information, it compromises ethical standards. Conversely, if the diagnosis emerges as a reasonable and supported clinical conclusion based on available data, it is justifiable. This highlights the importance of transparent documentation and adherence to professional standards to ensure that diagnostic conclusions are ethically defensible.

References

• American Psychological Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
• American Psychological Association. (2014). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. https://www.apa.org/ethics/code
• First, M. B. (2014). Assessing symptoms and diagnoses. In J. N. Butcher, J. R. Graham, J. E. Hansen, & I. H. Telle (Eds.), Clinical assessment in psychology and forensic science (pp. 45-67). Guilford Press.
• Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person: A therapist's view of psychotherapy. Houghton Mifflin.
• Kielbasa, C., Pomerantz, A., Krohn, A., & Sullivan, L. (2004). How does clients' method of payment influence psychologists' diagnostic decisions? Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 35(4), 415-420.
• Pomerantz, A., & Segrist, D. (2006). The influence of payment method on psychologists' diagnostic decisions regarding minimally impaired clients. Psychological Assessment, 18(2), 191-198.
• Additional scholarly sources as needed for depth and clarity.