Psychological Testing and Assessment and the DSM Essay

Psychological Testing and Assessment and the DSM - Essay Example All the data and information from case history data is crucial in helping test administrators to gain good understanding of the test taker’s pattern of behavior. With case history data, therapists are able to develop and draw a relevant context on which to make reliable interpretation of current data about a client’s condition. As described by Cohen, Sturman and Swerdlik (2013), clinical psychology concerns with diagnosis, prevention and treatment of extremely abnormal behaviors. Clinical psychologists consider clinical interviews as part of instruments for collecting information about clients with reference to their behaviors that cause suspicion. Clinical interview then is an instrument or tool of assessment usually used by clinical psychologists to understand the actual condition of a test taker to determine their appropriateness to take tests. Cohen, Sturman and Swerdlik (2013) point that clinical interviews have helped clinicians to understand the possibility of a test taker harming self before, during and after a test and subjection to treatment. In most cases, clinical interviews have proved to be effective ways that clinicians and clients negotiate terms to establish competent contract to guide through treatment. This is to mean that clinicians use clinical interviews in consultation with clients t o establish goals, mutual obligations and expectations during and at the end of a therapy. Good clinical interviewers seek to set a positive ground and atmosphere for interview (Ployhart & MacKenzie, 2011). In most cases, seasoned interviewers begin interviews by open-ended questions and later as they gain trust and confidence of test takers, drive into closed questions. There are different forms of interviews that clinicians can administer to test takers. The type of an interview for a given psychological measurement depends on various factors such as appearance, current psychological