Assessment of Abnormal Behavior

Assessment of Abnormal Behavior

Discussion Board: Initial post must have 500 words.

As we move into the semester, we will seek to learn how to begin to interview clients from an initial session and to arrive at some sort of diagnostic impression. In order to do this, it is helpful to practice how clients may present, what information we need to gather, and how to write up a short synopsis of the client’s presenting issue(s). Please note that you are not expected to be proficient in this task- our goal is simply to begin experimenting with language and conceptualization skills.

Check tips on how to do your Psychology Assignments. 

Your task is to create a write-up in response to a clinical interview using the format shown in the Lecture for this unit.
Please use responses that pertain to a person that you know, but not a client/patient. You may want to pick a famous person, actor, politician, public figure (Pick someone different than you will be using for your Case Study Paper). Please respond to the questions as you believe the person of your choice would. Please keep your person’s identity secret until late in the TD and do not indicate if this is a friend or family member. I will post on the discussion board at the point when we will have our reveal.

You’ll focus on the following areas on this hypothetical client:

1. Identifying data. This is information regarding the client’s sociodemographic characteristics: location of residence and contact information, relationship status, age, gender identity, racial/ethnic background, religious affiliation, employment status, family composition, sexual orientation and so on.
2. Description of the presenting problem(s). How does the client perceive the problem? What distressing behaviors, thoughts, or feelings are reported? How do these variables affect the client’s ability to function? When did they begin? What exacerbates these symptoms and what (if anything) alleviates them? How have they attempted to cope in the past? [This section is always written using terms like, “The client reports…,” “Client indicates that…,” “Client reportedly…”]

Assessment of Abnormal Behavior

1. Psychosocial history. This section includes the client’s developmental history: educational, social, relational (familial and romantic), and occupational history.
2. Medical/psychiatric history. In this section, the clinician elicits the client’s history of medical and psychiatric treatment, as well as prior hospitalizations. Is the present problem a reccurent episode of a previous problem? If so, how was the problem addressed in the past? How effective was treatment and what contributed to its efficacy?
3. Medical problems/medication. This section is a description of present medical problems and present treatment, including medication. The clinician considers the ways in which medical problems can affect or exacerbate the presenting psychological problem. For example, some drugs for certain medical conditions can affect mood, general arousal and create secondary symptoms.