Clinical Assessment, By Wood And Et. Al.: Article Analysis

The article Clinical Assessment, by Wood and et. al., discusses the rising difficulties that clinical psychologist are facing when implementing assessments. Most of the issues which affect clinical psychologist are proving whether their adopted instruments are cost-effective, scientifically sound, and fair and unbiased. Clinical psychologist are being held on a greater degree of accountability for the instruments and assessments methodology which they adopt. Wood and et.al. believe that if psychologist want to remain in their fields, they will need to change their practice if they are to outlive the challenges posed by managed care. Furthermore, clinical psychologist will need to look at and demonstrate the incremental validity of psychological

In end they integrate the data obtained from these assessments to come to a conclusion. The use of various assessments is not by clinician choice, rather it is based on questions that have risen that have prompted the implementation of additional assessments. However, as the article discusses, the issue that clinicians who integrate data from various assessments face is proving the need for added cost. Additional assessments equate to added cost, much of which can come from clients out-of-pocket or insurance companies. Furthermore, integration of data can create greater uncertainty in developing a clinical decision. As discussed in the article, there needs to be treatment effectiveness that needs to be proven through certain clinical decisions. Greater focus on diagnostic issues as well as client characteristics which are clearly linked to treatment choice and better outcomes should be adopted. To avoid the need to use various assessments, Wood and et. al. believe that clinicians need to identify conditions to a greater degree of accuracy which leads to cost-effectiveness as well as time efficiency. Furthermore, as discussed in lecture and as discussed in the article assessments that are not scientifically proven to work should not be used. Assessments, discussed in lecture and the article, such as the MMPI and the Rorschach have been questioned to be non-effective due to their low agreement. Said assessments can be said to take valuable time of clinicians which can be spent using and/or developing better assessment to diagnose