The Goals of Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis

The Goals of Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis





The Goals of Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis
Institution Affiliation
Author
Date











Introduction
Clinical assessment is a method of establishing a diagnosis and developing a treatment plan for a patient with psychological problems. It involves the evaluation of a patient to figure out what is wrong. It is achieved by either asking the patient questions concerning their problem or making behavioral observations directly.
Goals of assessment and diagnosis
The primary objective of assessing a patient is to identify what is wrong and to determine the root of their problem so as to arrive at a complete diagnosis. The diagnosis helps the psychologist plan the course of treatment for a patient. An assessment also contributes to identifying the strengths of a client and also their weaknesses and obstacles that may hinder successful treatment (Lehman, et.al, 2014).
How do these goals affect treatment?
Coming up with a diagnosis is the first step to successful treatment, the right diagnosis will help give the proper treatment. When the strengths of a patient are identified, the psychologist can use them to speed up treatment. Identifying the obstacles that may come in the way of treatment helps the doctor find alternatives (Westen, et.al, 2014).




References
Douglas, K. S., Ogloff, J. R., & Hart, S. D. (2014). Evaluation of a model of violence risk

assessment among forensic psychiatric patients. Psychiatric Services.


Lehman, A. F., Myers, C. P., & Corty, E. (2014). Assessment and classification of patients with

psychiatric and substance abuse syndromes. Psychiatric Services.


Westen, D., Shedler, J., Durrett, C., Glass, S., & Martens, A. (2014). Personality diagnoses in

adolescence: DSM-IV axis II diagnoses and an empirically derived alternative. American

Journal of Psychiatry.



Similar Essays