Assessment tools have two primary purposes: 1) to measure illness and diagnose clients, and 2) to measure a clients response to treatment. Often, you will find that multiple assessment tools are designed to measure the same condition or response. Not all tools, however, are appropriate for use in all clinical situations. You must consider the strengths and weaknesses of each tool to select the appropriate assessment tool for your client. For this Discussion, as you examine the assessment tool assigned to you by the Course Instructor, consider its use in psychotherapy.

To Prepare:

• Review the Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide regarding psychiatric assessment and diagnosis.
• Consider the elements of the psychiatric interview, history, and examination.
• Consider the assessment tool assigned to you by the Course Instructor.