Introduction to Clinical Psychology Bridging Science and Practice

In this chapter, we offer an overview of clinical assessment, classification, and diagnosis. We outline the range of assessment options available to clinicians, then describe the typical goals of assessment: diagnosis, description, treatment planning, and prediction. We also introduce variables that affect a clinician’s choices about how to conduct an assessment, including the purpose of the assessment, the clinician’s theoretical views, the psychometric properties of available assessment instruments, and other contextual factors. We discuss the use of clinical judgment, focusing especially on the errors that clinicians strive to avoid. The results of clinical assessments ultimately must be communicated to clients and third parties, so we conclude by discussing the factors and formats associated with assessment reports.