Writing Psychological Report

What is Psychological Report?

It is the end product of an assessment and
in the clinicians attempt to gather data into
a whole picture that the information can be
of use to the clinician in solving problems
and in making decisions;
The clinician interact with the data so that
their conclusions will be useful to meet the
clients needs and help solve the problems
discussed.
Style of Report
Case-focused Report
Centers on the specific problems;
It uses action-oriented language; it uses ongoing
behaviors and likely personal processes that links
them to specific behaviors.
It can face therapeutic issues in the persons life
and so the recommendations can relate to what
specifically can be done for this person within
his/her environment.
Four Parts of Assessment Process:
1. Problem
2. Information gathering
3. Understanding the information
4. Coping with the problem
Approaches:
1. CLINICAL APPROACH
Judgmental approach / Impressionistic
Approach (Kronbach)
Focuses on pathological aspects of a person;
Describes abnormal behavior/defenses/
dynamics in maladjustment and typical
reactions to stress;
Provides information about areas that need
change.
It can be one-sided and omit the strengths of
a person.
Approaches:
2. SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
Statistical approach (Meehl) ,
Psychometric approach (Kronbach)
Emphasizes on normative comparisons;
Uses concept theories; the data are
objective and factual;
Addresses isolated segments of
personality, e.g., cognitive, perceptual
processes, motivational abilities, etc.
Approaches:
3. LITERARY APPROACH
Uses everyday language
Creative and dramatic
It can capture attention but offer
imprecise and exaggerated information.

Note:
Clinicians draw from all three approaches and
lead to what is called PROFESSIONAL STYLE.
Approaches:
4. PROFESSIONAL STYLE
Characterized by short words, in common
usage and have precise meaning;
Uses different sentence constructions and
different paragraph length which makes
the report interesting and readable.
Deciding what to include in the
report:
Present information that will be useful in
meeting the needs of the clients;
Information should only be included if it
serves to increase the understanding of the
client;
Present information that shows how the
client is different to the average person;
The use of basic, clear and specific language
is always preferable indicating what is meant
and avoiding stereotypes and psychological
jargon.
Format of Psychological Report
I. Identifying Data
Name
Date of birth
Place of birth
Age
Sex
Educational attainment
II. Purpose of Evaluation / Reason
for Referral
Briefly introduced the client
and the problem(s) already
noted;
Begin with a concise demographic
picture of the client;
Provide a brief description of
the general reason for
conducting the evaluation
E.g. The client is seeking
personal insight regarding
difficulties with interpersonal
relationships
III. Assessment Procedures
Allows the clinician to include
the Mental Status Exam and the
Clinical Interview as
procedures;
Lists the tests used without the
test results;
Include the date in which the
tests were taken;
Be sure to note who gave the
tests and how it took. These are
important if a case ever goes to
court.
IV. Background Information
The history and the reason
for the testing/assessment
are meant to combine and give
an adequate picture and
understanding of each
particular person;
Maintain chronological order;
Be aware of the most
significant elements in the
clients life.
V. Behavioral Observation
Description of the clients
specific behaviors;
Physical appearance focusing on
any unusual features relating to
facial expression, clothes, body
type, mannerisms and movements;
Behavior towards examiner;
The clients method of solving
problems ranging from careful
and methodical to impulsive and
disorganized.
V. Behavioral Observation
Pay attention to unusual
verbalizations;
Notice the level of
cooperation expressed by the
client;
Note situational crisis prior
to the tests;
Behavioral observation should
be kept concise, specific and
relevant.
VI. Results of Evaluation
Addresses theoretical/conceptual
issues by integrating data from
the history, mental status exam
and behavioral observations with
data from all the tests;
The strength of this section lies
in its efficiency and concise
focus on the referral problem;
Give the lists of IQ scores and
their percentile ranking;
Brief statement of the findings of
other tests.
VII. Summary
What is the report all about;
Gist of the report;
Relate the demographic data to
the gained test results;
One or two paragraphs to relate
what transpired during the whole
process.
VIII. Recommendations
Suggestions on the changes that
could be made on the clients
environment that would help him
adjusted;
Suggestions on how the family
members could contribute in the
therapeutic process;
Recommendations on how to
achieve changes in behavior
chould stressed out clearly.
Communicating Test Results
Communicating Test Results:
Information should be transmitted routinely,
but should provide appropriate interpretative
explanations;
Broad levels of performance and qualitative
descriptions in simple terms are to be
preferred over specific numerical scores,
except when communicating with adequately
trained professionals;
A more serious misinterpretation pertains to
the conclusions drawn from their test scores,
even when their technical meaning is correctly
understood.
Communicating Test Results:
Take into account the characteristics of the
person who is to receive the information;
When an individual is given his/her own
results, not only should the data be
interpreted by a properly qualified person,
but facilities should also be available for
counseling anyone who may become
emotionally disturbed by such information.
Communicating Test Results:
Even when a test has been accurately
administered and scored and properly
interpreted, a knowledge of such score
without the opportunity to discuss it further
may be harmful to the individual;
Test reporting is to be viewed as the integral
part of the counseling process and
incorporated into the total counselor-client
relationship;
Test results should be reported as answers to
specific questions raised by the counselee.
Thank you