Entries categorized as Psychological Assessment

Uniform Method To Interpret Autism Spectrum Disorders Is Proposed

On January 11, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Autism / No Comments

A researcher from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has defined a new, integrated interpretation of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), which makes it easier to understand both the commonalities and differences between ASD and other conditions. In an article published in the December 2009 issue of The Neuroscientist titled: “The Medial Prefrontal Cortex and Integration in Autism,” Dr. Dorit Ben Shalom recommends a uniform approach to evaluating and confronting the four common problems associated with ASD. (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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Science Daily Research News Update 09-05-09

On September 5, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In News / No Comments

newspaper_generic Early September brings about a good week of Research News Updates from Science Daily. Read on to discover more on the myth busting results that suggest that today’s parents actually spend more time with their kids and may be doing a better job of parenting despite added stress, that persons with Autism may have visual processing difficulties that limit their ability to read body language, a huge meta-analysis reveals strengths and weaknesses of the Rorschach Inkblot Test, signs that traditional medicine needs to improve, or at least change, as Americans spend almost 34 billion out-of-pocket on Complementary And Alternative Medicine (CAM), an extensive systematic review of food reveals a big surprise that organic foods are no more nutrient that conventionally prepared ones, that smokeless tobacco may actually be safe, a possible revival of dream therapy, very interesting new data on brain reading and imaging, and much, much more. (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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Potential QEEG Markers of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Their Implications for Neurofeedback

On May 16, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Neurofeedback, QEEG / No Comments

brainmap_alphaUsing QEEG technology, researchers have identified a left frontotemporal dysfunction in persons who suffer from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, better known as OCD*. Persons with OCD have disturbing recurrent thoughts, as well as compulsive behaviors that are difficult to suppress and provide temporary relief from anxiety. The authors note that previous research has generally suggested a frontal lobe disturbance in OCD, but that these studies have only assessed specific brain regions without regard to the subjects’ sex. The researchers hoped to overcome these previous limitations. (more…)

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Potential QEEG Markers of Childhood Stuttering And Their Implications for Neurofeedback

On May 16, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Featured, Neurofeedback, QEEG / No Comments

brainmap_deltaResearchers compared the quantitative EEGs (QEEG) of 26 children with a history of stuttering to 21 age matched controls with no stuttering and may have identified important “EEG markers” of pediatric stuttering*. The authors’ epidemiological review of pediatric stuttering finds that this disorder afflicts approximately 1% of prepubertal children typically between 2-7 years of age with an peak onset around 3-4 years old with boys being 3 times more susceptible to this disorder. (continue reading)

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