Maria Marnezou - Psychologist - Psychotherapist

Psychometric Tools
Maria Marnezou - Psychologist - Psychotherapist - Ampelokipoi Attica

What is Psychometry?

Psychometrics is a widespread field of psychology and education that deals with the theory and technique of psychological measurement. This includes measuring people's knowledge, abilities, attitudes, and personal characteristics. Psychometric measurements usually involve the use of specially designed tests, questionnaires, and other assessment tools. Their goal is to provide reliable and valid data to the specialized psychologists who use them, in order to measure the current state of the individual, to arrive at their clinical picture, or to evaluate the progress of the patient. Many times, the measurements serve to predict human behavior, to prevent it, as well as to promptly treat possible mental disorders.

My approach OR My method

At Well One, assessment is done using the clinical interview method, with valid and reliable psychometric tests, as well as neuropsychological tests. My approach is flexible and updated by following new and increasingly specialized and accurate assessment techniques.

Indicative psychometric tools I use:

This list includes some of the most commonly used psychometric tools for diagnosis and assessment. It is important to note that the use of these tools requires expertise and is usually used by mental health professionals as part of a comprehensive assessment. Diagnosis is always based on a combined approach that includes interviews, observations, and psychometric tests.

Anxiety Disorders

Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI): Measures the intensity of anxiety.
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI): Measures anxiety as a trait and as a state.
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A): Clinical assessment of anxiety intensity.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7): Self-report of generalized anxiety.

Depression

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI): Measures the intensity of depression.
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D): Clinical assessment of depression intensity.
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9): Self-report of depression.
Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS): Assessment of severity of depression.

Mood Disorders (e.g., Bipolar Disorder)

Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ): Screening for bipolar disorder.
Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS): Assessment of mania.
Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale (BSDS): Diagnostic tool for the bipolar spectrum.

Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders

Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS): Assessment of positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS): Evaluation of psychotic symptoms.
Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS): Assessment of positive symptoms.
Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS): Assessment of negative symptoms.

Personality Disorders

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2): Comprehensive assessment of psychopathology, including personality disorders.
Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI): Assessment of personality disorders and psychopathology.
Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI): Evaluation of psychological states and personality disorders.

Eating Disorders

Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI): Assessment of symptoms related to eating disorders.
Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26): Screening tool for eating disorders.
Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh (BITE): Assessment of bulimia.

Separation Anxiety Disorders and Childhood Disorders

Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED): Assessment of anxiety in children.
Children's Depression Inventory (CDI): Evaluation of depression in children and adolescents.
Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS): Assessment of anxiety and depression in children.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL): Self-report tool for PTSD.
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS): Clinical assessment for PTSD.
Impact of Event Scale (IES): Evaluation of reactions to traumatic events.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS): Assessment of ADHD in adults.
ADHD Rating Scale-IV: Evaluation of ADHD in children and adolescents.
Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale (VADRS): Screening and assessment for ADHD.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

McLean Screening Instrument for BPD (MSI-BPD): Screening tool for borderline personality disorder.
Zanarini Rating Scale for BPD (ZAN-BPD): Assessment of symptom severity in BPD.
Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4 (PDQ-4): Evaluation of personality disorders, including BPD.

Somatic Symptom Disorders

Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS): Assessment of somatic symptoms and their severity.
PHQ-15: Evaluation of somatic symptoms related to psychological conditions.

Sleep Disorders

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI): Assessment of sleep quality.
Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS): Evaluation of daytime sleepiness.
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI): Assessment of insomnia severity.

Structure and Use of SCID

The SCID is divided into several sections, which correspond to specific categories of disorders. Each section includes a series of questions that the clinician asks the patient, following the diagnostic criteria of the DSM. The patient's answers lead the clinician to confirm or exclude specific diagnoses.

The SCID (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM) is a semi-structured diagnostic tool widely used in psychiatry and clinical psychology to diagnose mental disorders according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The SCID is designed to be used by trained mental health professionals and provides a systematic approach to collecting information necessary for diagnosis.

Major Versions of the SCID:
SCID-I: Covers major mental disorders (axis I of DSM-IV and DSM-5). It includes mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, somatoform disorders, and others.

SCID-II: Focuses on personality disorders (axis II of DSM-IV and DSM-5). It examines classic personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, avoidant personality disorder, etc.

Key Features:
Semi-structured interview: While the SCID provides a set structure and sequence of questions, it allows the clinician to probe further based on the patient’s responses.
Personalized diagnostic process: The questions are tailored based on the patient’s initial responses. For example, if a patient does not exhibit any of the core symptoms of a disorder, the clinician can skip the rest of the section and move on to the next one.
Multidimensional assessment: The SCID covers a wide range of disorders and allows for the assessment of multiple diagnoses in one session, thus providing a comprehensive picture of the patient’s mental state.
Process and Structure:
Introductory Questions: Begin with general questions about the patient’s history and current problems. This allows the clinician to identify initial areas of interest for further assessment.

Specific Sections: Each section covers a different category of disorders. For example:
Mood Disorders: Questions about depressive and manic episodes.
Anxiety Disorders: Questions about panic attacks, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, etc.
Psychotic Disorders: Questions about delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking.
Substance Use Disorders: Questions about alcohol and drug use and related behavior.
Supplementary information: Depending on the patient's responses, additional information may be requested to more accurately diagnose or understand the time course of symptoms.
Diagnostic criteria: For each disorder, the SCID includes the specific questions that must be answered positively to meet the DSM diagnostic criteria.

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