APPENDIX

Checklist for General

Psychological Report

T he following checklist can be used to make sure that major compo-

nents of the report have been included.
Preliminary Information
❏ Indicate that report is confidential and cannot be released without
author or client’s permission.
❏ Include page numbering.
❏ Include identifying information (date of birth, gender, ethnicity,
name of examiner, dates of examination).

Referral Question
❏ Demographic/orienting statement (name, age, ethnicity, marital
Copyright © 2013. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

status, presenting issue/symptoms) as first sentence of referral

question section.
❏ Include who has made the referral.
❏ Referral questions phrased as clear questions that can be answered
and typically relate to decisions that need to be made.
❏ Referral questions are numbered (and then answered in the
summary using corresponding numbers).

Evaluation Procedures
❏ Concise listing of evaluation procedures.
❏ Evaluation procedures also lists records that were reviewed and
interviews with corroborating sources.
143

Groth-Marnat, G. (2013). Psychological report writing assistant. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
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bapp02.indd 143 16-09-2013 13:25:18
 144 APPENDIX B CHECKLIST FOR GENERAL PSYCHOLOGICAL REPORT

Behavioral Observations
❏ Behavioral observations include only ones that are relevant.
❏ Generally use concrete descriptions and not inferences.
❏ Statement of validity of assessment at end of behavioral
observations.

Background Information
❏ Identify who provided the information.
❏ History is in past tense (i.e., “The client reported . . .”).
❏ History is brief, relevant, and focused but still in sufficient depth.
❏ History is in chronological order.
❏ History section is organized according to subheadings (personal/
social, academic/vocational, etc.).
❏ Problem/symptoms include both the nature of the problems/symp-
toms as well as their onset, duration, frequency, and severity.

Impressions and Interpretations

❏ Interpretation section uses subheadings and is organized according
to domains (verbal abilities, coping style, interpersonal, etc.) and
not presented test by test.
❏ Interpretations are integrated (results of multiple assessment com-
bined, contradictory results taken into account).
❏ Interpretation section includes a minimum of numbers.
Copyright © 2013. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

❏ Test results include standard (t scores, scaled scores) and not raw
scores.
❏ Wechsler test results include index scores as well as FSIQ.
❏ IQ percentile equivalents and intelligence classifications are
provided.
❏ Interpretation section uses everyday language (minimum of jargon/
technical terms).
❏ Cognitive interpretations are explained in clear, nontechnical
language.
❏ Wechsler subtests and scores are usually not mentioned/listed in
interpretation section.

Groth-Marnat, G. (2013). Psychological report writing assistant. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
Created from ucdavis on 2024-06-06 07:19:25.
bapp02.indd 144 16-09-2013 13:25:18
 APPENDIX B CHECKLIST FOR GENERAL PSYCHOLOGICAL REPORT 145

Summary and Recommendations

❏ Summary section/paragraph clearly and concisely answers referral
question(s) at the end of the summary and is numbered to cor-
respond with the numbers listed for the referral questions in the
referral question section.
❏ Recommendations do not overwhelm readers (generally six or
less).
❏ Include most important recommendation(s) first.
❏ Include rationale for each recommendation (e.g., “In order to
reduce Mr. Smith’s anxiety it may be helpful to . . .”).
❏ Recommendations are clear and specific (e.g., name/number of
agency, names of books/web sites, focus of intervention).
❏ Signature, name, title, date included at end of report.

General
❏ Avoid unprofessional phrases/terms (e.g., “a lot of,” “got on well,”
“rehab,” etc.).
❏ Translate jargon into everyday language.
❏ Use crisp, concise, professional style.

Optional
❏ Selective direct client quotes in history (and/or behavioral
observations).
❏ Everyday examples of cognitive interpretations are given.
Copyright © 2013. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

❏ Significant discrepancies within cognitive test results are noted

(between indexes).
❏ Include content of selected items (but not items themselves),
client quotes, and behavioral observations to illustrate the quality
of responses.
❏ Vocational interpretations clearly compare and contrast the partici-
pant’s abilities/personality with the requirements of his/her current/
desired occupation (and are organized around relevant domains;
cognitive strengths/weaknesses, personality, interpersonal style,
social demands, etc.).
❏ DSM-5 diagnosis included if necessary.

Groth-Marnat, G. (2013). Psychological report writing assistant. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
Created from ucdavis on 2024-06-06 07:19:25.
bapp02.indd 145 16-09-2013 13:25:18
Copyright © 2013. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Groth-Marnat, G. (2013). Psychological report writing assistant. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
Created from ucdavis on 2024-06-06 07:19:25.
bapp02.indd 146 16-09-2013 13:25:18