Notes for 3-S2 "Assessment in Clinical Psychology", Lecture 1

Three Perspectives

Statistical Perspective & Subjective Perspective

• Standardized tests.
• Rating scales.

1. Which of them cannot confirm diagnoses? Rating scales.
2. A main use case of which of them is monitoring treatment? Standardized tests.
3. What does DSM stand for? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.

Theoretical Perspective

Explaining what causes mental illnesses with:

• Genetic models.
• Neuropharmacological models. Neurochemical imbalance.
• Cognitive neuroscientific models. Dysfunctional cognitive modules (= neural basis of them).
• Cognitive psychology model. Beck, Jung...
• Sociological model. Strong emphasis on the role of environmental stress.