Entries tagged as Psychological Assessment

Older Brains Make Good Use Of ‘Useless’ Information

On January 26, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Psychological Assessment / No Comments

A new study finds promising evidence that the older brain’s weakened ability to filter out irrelevant information may actually give older adults a memory advantage over their younger counterparts. A long line of research has already shown that aging is associated with a decreased ability to tune out irrelevant information. Now scientists at Baycrest’s world-renowned Rotman Research Institute have demonstrated that when older adults “hyper-encode” extraneous information – and they typically do this without even knowing they’re doing it – they have the unique ability to “hyper-bind” the information; essentially tie it to other information that is appearing at the same time. (continue reading)

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Pre-Implant Psychological Evaluations (Part 2)

On January 1, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Psychological Assessment / No Comments

Part 2 Part 1 of this 2 part series provided a general overview of psychologists’ roles in pre-implant evaluations, as well as explained the goals, objectives, and common issues encountered in these biopsychosocial assessments. Part 2 details the results from a follow-up study of patients who completed a pre-implant psychological evaluation and subsequently received a surgically implanted pain management device. (more…)

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Pre-Implant Psychological Evaluations (Part 1)

On December 13, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Psychological Assessment / No Comments

Part 1Pain patients who are candidates for surgical implants – whether a spinal cord stimulator or intrathecal pump – suffer chronic moderate to severe pain and have not benefited from conservative or less-invasive treatment methods which include, but are not limited to, oral medications including opioids, physical therapy, injections, psychological therapy, holistic treatments acupuncture, massage, cranial sacral), etc. In such instances, the use of such implants may be helpful to the management and reduction of pain and is often a last resort in the spectrum of treatment options. (more…)

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Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D): An Excellent Free Psychological Screening Instrument For Major Depression

On November 7, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Psychological Assessment / No Comments

CES-D_Stanford_editionThe Center for Epidemiologic Studies publishes an excellent free psychological screening instrument for major depression appropriately named the The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). The CES-D serves a similar purpose as the ever popular Beck Depression Inventory-II, but with greater emphasis on the affective components of depression. The cost of this instrument ($0) makes it an attractive option to costly copyrighted depression scales. The CES-D is available now in the public domain so check the end of this review to download the Stanford edition of the CES-D. (more…)

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Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index – An Excellent Free Psychological Screening Instrument For Sleep Disturbance

On October 4, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Psychological Assessment / No Comments

PSQIThe excellent response to BMED Report’s recent review of The Big Five Inventory came as a pleasant surprise. In light of the intense reader interest, other quality psychological assessment/screening instruments that are freely available will receive occasional reviews heretofore. Healthcare practitioners, like most everyone, look for ways to save money yet to maintain the highest quality service in today’s challenging marketplace. And the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) fills this role quite nicely. Check the end of this review for links to download the PSQI and its scoring program. (more…)

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United States Army To Evaluate and Improve The Psychological Health Of All Soldiers

On August 23, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Psychological Assessment / No Comments

militaryThe United States Army announced its plans to initiate psychological testing with all active duty, national guard, and reserve soldiers in an effort to identify those with possible mental health issues, as well as to strengthen psychological functioning among our brave warriors. A newly developed 170-item test that appears to have a biopsychosocial approach to assessment will be used to evaluate medical, physical, psychological, spiritual, and family domains. Treatment recommendations are generated based on the test results. The University of Pennsylvania tested 4,000 soldiers in a collaborative pilot program in advance of the formal October 2009 launch date of this program. (more…)

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Excellent Free Resource: The Big Five Inventory (Personality Assessment)

On July 31, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Psychological Assessment / No Comments

pencil_and_paper_testThe Big Five Inventory (BFI), which is based on the classic “big five” dimensions of personality, has been released into the public domain. All healthcare professionals may now use the BFI for free, and the author even offers a free online scoring program. Oliver P. John, Ph.D. and V. Benet-Martinez developed the BFI in 1998, and in case you forgot, the big five consist of Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Emotional Stability, Extroversion, and Intellect or Openness. Emotional Stability was called “neuroticism” during my studies. Check the end of this report for a link to download the PDF version, as well links to the online version and scoring program. (more…)

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