Assessment and Diagnosis "Under the Gun"
Prior to beginning work on this discussion, review Standard 9: Assessment in the APA's Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct and DSM-5.
It is recommended that you read Chapters 4, 7, and 10 in the Sommers-Flanagan and Sommers-Flanagan (2013) e-book, Clinical Interviewing, as well as the Kielbasa, Pomerantz, Krohn, and Sullivan (2004) "How Does Clients' Method of Payment Influence Psychologists' Diagnostic Decisions?" and the Pomerantz and Segrist (2006) "The Influence of Payment Method on Psychologists' Diagnostic Decisions Regarding Minimally Impaired Clients" articles for further information about how payment method influences the assessment and diagnosis process.
For this discussion, you will assume the role of a clinical or counseling psychologist and diagnose a hypothetical client.
Begin by reviewing the PSY650 Week Two Case StudiesPreview the documentView in a new window document and select one of the clients to diagnose.
Two Case Studies
You are a psychologist working for an agency whose policy states that an assessment and diagnosis must be rendered within 48 hours of an initial session with a client. Please review and choose one of the following cases to diagnose.
The Case of Charles
Charles is a 33-year-old African American male seeking treatment due to suicidal ideation. He is currently going through divorce proceedings and reports feeling agitated, angry, sad, and stressed most days. He is concerned that his relationship issues have begun to impact his responsibilities at work and fears losing his job. Charles is open to seeking treatment, but his insurance provider is out-of-network. His insurance company is willing to reimburse him for up to 8 sessions if an acceptable diagnosis is submitted. What diagnosis would you give Charles?
In your initial post, compare the assessments typically used by clinical and counseling psychologists, and explain which assessment techniques (e.g., tests, surveys, interviews, client records, observational data) you might use to aid in your diagnosis of your selected client. Describe any additional information you would need to help formulate your diagnosis, and propose specific questions you might ask the client in order to obtain this information from him or her. Identify which theoretical orientation you would use with this client and explain how this orientation might influence the assessment and/or diagnostic process. Using the DSM-5 manual, propose a diagnosis for the client in the chosen case study.
Analyze the case and your agency's required timeline for diagnosing from an ethical perspective. Considering the amount of information you currently have for your client, explain whether or not it is ethical to render a diagnosis within the required timeframe. Evaluate the case and describe whether or not it is justifiable in this situation to render a diagnosis in order to obtain a third party payment.
Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2013). Clinical interviewing (5th ed.) [E-book]. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons.
· Chapter 4: Directives: Questions and Actions Skills (pp. 97-134)
· Chapter 7: Intake Interviewing and Report Writing (pp. 207-247)
· Chapter 10: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (pp. 329-362)
Kielbasa, A. M., Pomerantz, A. M., Krohn, E. J., & Sullivan, B. F. (2004). How does clients' method of payment influence psychologists' diagnostic decisions? Ethics & Behavior, 14(2), 187-195.
Pomerantz, A. M., & Segrist, D. J. (2006). The influence of payment method on psychologists' diagnostic decisions regarding minimally impaired clients. Ethics & Behavior, 16(3), 253-263.
American Psychological Association. (2010). Standard 9: Assessment .