Clinical Assessment
PSY/270
April 13, 2014
Clinical Assessment
Mr. and Mrs. Lawson brought their 4 year old adopted daughter, Clara, to see Dr. Mason, a psychiatrist. Clara was polite in greeting Dr. Mason, but did not smile and kept her gaze down as she took a seat. Mr. and Mrs. Lawson sat next to Clara and began explaining their concerns. They described Clara as a quiet child who has recently begun throwing temper tantrums, during which she is inconsolable. Her sleep and eating patterns have changed and she no longer wants to go to preschool. What other information would you like to learn during the interview with the family? What questions would you ask?
Although most of the information is going to come from her adoptive parents there is pertinent information that could come from others. I would also want to see if I could talk to Clara’s school teachers and day care facility if there is one. I would also want to know more about her biological parents, when was Clara adopted was it at birth? or later in life. Does Clara know that she is adopted, or what that means? Are there other children in the home? Is she being bullied at school? Is she eating more or less, or is she sleeping more or less? These are just some of the questions that would need more clarification in that first interview with the Lawson’s.
In addition to the clinical interview, what other clinical assessment tools should you consider? Why?
Sitting down with Clara and interviewing her by herself would help with Behavioral interviewing which could show and identify the stimuli or antecedent to the temper tantrums. Having her draw and color would allow us to see what Clara thinks about her family make up, preschool, and about her friends. A sociocultural interview would help me more understand her cultural, family environment, and home life. Psychodynamic testing would help me to see if there are any unconscious conflicts that she may be going through in her young life....