Clinical Judgment

Chapter 10
 Administrative Announcements
1. Remaining sessions are: Nov. 19 (today) and Nov.
26.
2. Final Activity: Webinar about Children with Special
Needs as you apply lesson about Clinical Psych on
Nov. 25 (Thursday) 1-3 PM
3. Case Presentation ?
4. Remaining outputs:
• 1 asynchronous activity to be posted tonight due on
Nov. 26
• Reaction paper about the webinar on December 3,
2021
4. Final Exams on December 3, 2021
 Important Points to Remember..
 Clinical Judgment-it suggests that clinicians
sometimes use inferential processes that are
often far from objective.
 personalized phenomena
 Interpretation
 Results of the assessment
 Initial impressions
 Clinicians’ theoretical orientations and
training (maybe a source of variation of
interpretation)
 and other situational variables
 Interpretation
 Results of the assessment
 Initial impressions
 Clinicians’ theoretical orientations and
training (maybe a source of variation of
interpretation)
 and other situational variables
 Clinicians
 They make important decisions as to what
data are gathered, how they are gathered, and
how they are interpreted.
 Data (through assessment) is only a SAMPLE
of behavior, sign of some underlying
conditions, as a correlate of other behavioral
or emotional constructs.
 Clinicians
 Clinical prediction and clinical judgment are
often required.
 Clinical (subjective) prediction vs statistical
(objective, quantitative) prediction
 Recommendations
1. Consider all available information, and do
not ignore inconsistent data.
2. Consider clients’ or patients’ strengths and
assets as well as pathology and dysfunction.
3. Document all predictions, try to evaluate
their accuracy, and use this information as
feedback.
 Recommendations
4. Use only structured interviews, structured
rating scales, objective personality tests, and
behavioral assessment methods to gather data.
5. Consider the client’s situation and
environment before making predictions.
6. Consider base rates and regression effects.
7. Do not let one’s level of confidence influence
prediction.
 Recommendations
8. Be aware of and guard against stereotyped
beliefs and illusory correlations.
 The Clinical Report
 This is the major form of communication to
convey findings from a clinician’s assessment
and evaluation.
 It should address the referral question and
use language that is tailored to the person or
other stakeholders.
 Information that are detailed and non-specific
 The Clinical Report
 Non-stigmatizing and non-pathologizing
 It is sensitive and appropriate insofar as the
cultural background of the client.
 It serves the best interest of the client
 It will only be used for the intended purpose.