Eating Disorders

In comparison to other psychiatric diagnoses, eating disorders are relatively rare among the population, but are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This chapter focuses on the assessment of eating disorders in adults and youth, including individuals with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. It begins with a review of the nature of the disorders, which is followed by a review of clinical assessment instruments designed for the assessment purposes of (a) diagnosis, (b) case conceptualization and treatment planning, and (c) treatment monitoring and evaluation. Recommendations are included for instruments with the greatest scientific support and for assessing eating disorders in a clinically sensitive manner.

Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia

Panic disorder refers to recurrent, unexpected panic attacks, followed by at least 1 month of persistent concern about their recurrence and their consequences or a significant maladaptive change in behavior consequent to the attacks. Highly comorbid with panic disorder, agoraphobia refers to marked fear or avoidance of specific situations from which escape is perceived to be difficult or in which help may be unavailable in the event of panic-like or other incapacitating or embarrassing symptoms. This chapter focuses on the assessment of panic disorder and agoraphobia in adults. It begins with a review of the nature of the disorders, which is followed by a review of clinical assessment instruments designed for the assessment purposes of (a) diagnosis, (b) case conceptualization and treatment planning, and (c) treatment monitoring and evaluation. Recommendations are included for instruments with the greatest scientific support and for assessing these anxiety disorders in a clinically sensitive manner.

Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors

Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITB) are an enormous global public health problem. Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide, and cross-national studies estimate that the prevalence of nonlethal SITBs ranges from 3% to 9%. This chapter focuses on the assessment of SITB in youth and adults. It begins with a review of the nature of the condition, which is followed by a review of clinical assessment instruments designed for the assessment purposes of (a) determining the presence and frequency of SITB, (b) case conceptualization and treatment planning, and (c) treatment monitoring and evaluation. Recommendations are included for instruments with the greatest scientific support and for assessing SITB in a clinically sensitive manner.

Adult Depression

This chapter focuses on the assessment of depression in adults. It focuses on major depressive disorder (MDD) because the empirical support for the tools and theories and therapies described in this chapter focuses most frequently on MDD. Many other disorders, as well as phenomena that are not disorders (e.g., grief), share features with MDD, and many of the assessment tools described in this chapter will be helpful in those cases as well. The chapter begins with an overview of the nature of the disorder, which is followed by reviews of assessment instruments designed for the purposes of (a) diagnosis, (b) case conceptualization and treatment planning, and (c) treatment monitoring and evaluation. We include recommendations for instruments that have the greatest scientific support and that assess depression in a clinically sensitive manner.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

The chapter focuses on the assessment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in clinical settings and on measures appropriate for youth. Six- to 12-year-old children are the group most frequently referred for assessment and treatment of ADHD; therefore, literatures regarding assessment at other ages are not as well developed and not reviewed in this chapter. However, consistent with the recent adoption of a lifespan perspective on ADHD, this chapter also includes information pertaining to the assessment of ADHD in adulthood. The chapter begins with a review of the nature of the disorder, which is followed by a review of clinical assessment instruments designed for the assessment purposes of (a) diagnosis, (b) case conceptualization and treatment planning, and (c) treatment monitoring and evaluation. Recommendations are included for instruments with the greatest scientific support and for assessing ADHD in a clinically sensitive manner.

Developing Criteria for Evidence-Based Assessment: An Introduction to Assessments That Work

For many professional psychologists, assessment is viewed as a unique and defining feature of their expertise. Criteria for evaluating the scientific evidence supporting clinical instruments are presented in this chapter, including criteria for norms, reliability, validity, and clinical utility. These criteria are used by chapter authors in this volume in their condition-specific reviews of assessment instruments used for (a) diagnosis, (b) case conceptualization and treatment planning, and (c) treatment monitoring and treatment evaluation. Selecting and using scientifically sound instruments is a necessary starting point for evidence-based practice, but a remaining challenge is for professionals to integrate the resulting assessment data in a manner that is itself evidence-based.

Personality Disorders

The 10 personality disorders are the paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal; the histrionic, antisocial, borderline, and narcissistic; and the avoidant, dependent, and obsessive–compulsive. By definition, personality disorders must be evident since adolescence or young adulthood and have been relatively chronic and stable throughout adult life. As such, they often predate the occurrence of other mental disorders, such as a mood, anxiety, or substance use disorder. This chapter focuses on the assessment of personality disorders in adults. It begins with a review of the nature of the disorders, which is followed by a review of clinical assessment instruments designed for the assessment purposes of (a) diagnosis, (b) case conceptualization and treatment planning, and (c) treatment monitoring and evaluation. Recommendations are included for instruments with the greatest scientific support and for assessing personality disorders in a clinically sensitive manner.

Gambling Disorders

Gambling is defined as wagering money or something else of value on an outcome that is partially or primarily determined by chance. This broad definition comprises a wide range of activities, including informal, commercial, and illegal gambling. This chapter focuses on the assessment of gambling disorders in adults. It begins with a review of the nature of the disorders, which is followed by a review of clinical assessment instruments designed for the assessment purposes of (a) diagnosis, (b) case conceptualization and treatment planning, and (c) treatment monitoring and evaluation. Recommendations are included for instruments with the greatest scientific support and for assessing gambling use disorders in a clinically sensitive manner.

Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive–compulsive disorder is classified as an obsessive–compulsive and related disorder characterized by obsessions or compulsions. Obsessions are persistent intrusive thoughts, ideas, images, or doubts that are experienced as unacceptable, senseless, or bizarre. The intrusions also evoke subjective distress (e.g., anxiety, fear, and doubt) and are not simply everyday worries about work, relationships, or finances. This chapter focuses on the assessment of obsessive–compulsive disorder in adults. It begins with a review of the nature of the disorder, which is followed by a review of clinical assessment instruments designed for the assessment purposes of (a) diagnosis, (b) case conceptualization and treatment planning, and (c) treatment monitoring and evaluation. Recommendations are included for instruments with the greatest scientific support and for assessing obsessive–compulsive disorder in a clinically sensitive manner.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder is a chronic condition (minimum duration of 6 months) involving excessive and uncontrollable worry and anxiety about a number of events or activities and leading to significant distress or impairment in important areas of functioning. This chapter focuses on the assessment of generalized anxiety disorder. It begins with a review of the nature of the disorder, which is followed by a review of clinical assessment instruments designed for the purposes of (a) diagnosis, (b) case conceptualization and treatment planning, and (c) treatment monitoring and evaluation. Recommendations are included for instruments with the greatest scientific support and for assessing generalized anxiety disorder in a clinically sensitive manner.