Chapter 3 - Chapter 3 Assessment and Classification of...

Chapter 3
Assessment and Classification of Abnormal Behavior
To find the nature of mental disorder, the clinician must gather facts through observation, interview,
psychological tests , reports of patients and their families. The evaluation of the information leads to
psychodiagnosis, an attempt to describe to assess a person’s psychological disorder.
I. Definition of Terms
Diagnosis – To label an illness.
Etiology – Causes of an illness which may be biological, psychological or sociological.
Symptom – A sign of an illness or disorder.
Syndrome – A group of symptoms.
Treatment – Biological, psychological and sociological techniques and methods to control
and alleviate mental illness.
Prognosis – Prediction of the future course of a particular illness or disorder described in
terms of favorable, unfavorable, or guarded.
II. Assessment of Abnormal Behavior
Assessment – The process of gathering information and drawing conclusions about an
individual, generally leading to diagnosis. Four principle means of assessment are available
to clinicians, which are observation, interview, psychological tests, and neurological tests .
1. Observation
Observation is performed in natural settings, called naturalistic observation or under the
conditions of laboratory called controlled observation . Objectivity should be practiced in
conducting observation.
2. Interview
Interview provides a good chance to watch verbal and non-verbal behaviors, the content
of speech and other face-to-face factors. Structured and non-structured interviews can be
conducted. Standardized interviews are formal and structured.