Psychological Report Writing Assistant (eBook)

GARY GROTH-MARNAT, PHD, ABPP, is an author, lecturer, researcher, and practicing clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist. He is the author of the bestselling Handbook of Psychological Assessment, Fifth Edition, published by Wiley. ARI DAVIS maintains a private practice in depth- and psychoanalytically-oriented psychotherapy in Beverly Hills and the San Fernando Valley, California. He is also a software developer specializing in the development of expert systems, analysis and reporting, and assessment/diagnostic software in the medical and psychological fields.

Preface xi

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

Introduction 1

Who This Book and Software Are For 1

Rationale and Philosophy for Report Writing: An Integrative Approach 2

An Introduction to the Psychological Report Writing Assistant 6

From Software to the Real World 8

An Overview of How to Use This Book and Software 13

Recommended Reading 14

Chapter 2 Core Qualities of a Good Report: Principles and Strategies 15

1. Anchoring Referral Questions to the Summary/ Recommendations 16

2. Making the Report Readable 18

3. Impressions and Interpretations Organized According to Domains 21

4. Minimal Reference to Tests and Testing 26

5. Integrated/Readable Expansion of Interpretations That Are Connected to Client's World 29

6. Recommendations Sufficiently Broad, Treatment Plan Integrated With Interpretations, Related to Client's World 30

Recommended Reading 31

Chapter 3 Format of the Psychological Report 33

Identifying Information 35

Referral Question 35

Evaluation Procedures 37

Behavioral Observations/Mental Status 38

Background Information 40

Test Results 45

Impressions and Interpretations (or Simply "Findings" for Forensic Reports) 46

Using the Integrated Information Manager 47

Integrating Contradictory Sources of Information 49

Types of Subheadings 54

Summary 60

Recommendations 61

Signature/Title 62

Appendix 62

Recommended Reading 63

Chapter 4 Recommendations 65

Tailoring Recommendations to the Client 66

Categories of Recommendations 69

Treatment 70

Treatment Planning for Psychotherapy 71

Systematic Treatment Selection/Innerlife Model 73

Best Practices and Treatment Planning 76

Education/Self-Help 77

Placement 79

Further Evaluation 80

Alteration of Environment 80

Miscellaneous 81

Recommended Reading 81

Chapter 5 Types of Psychological Reports 83

Intellectual/Cognitive Reports 84

Neuropsychological Reports 88

Psychoeducational Reports 92

Personality Reports 95

Forensic Reports 99

Vocational/Career Reports 104

Recommended Reading 109

Chapter 6 PRWA Overview and Sample Walkthrough 111

Introduction 111

Developing a Psychological Report with the PRWA Wizards 113

Sample Walkthrough: Creating a New Client Record and Developing a Psychological Report 115

Program Security 115

Creating a New Client Record 117

Entering Client Identifying Information 117

Viewing Client Personal Information 118

Starting to Work on the Psychological Report 119

Viewing the Main Report Composition Window 119

Working on Report Content 120

Start Editing Mode 121

Viewing Guidelines and Example Text for the Report Topic 121

Example of Using One of the PRWA Wizards 121

Selecting One or More Common Phrases 122

The PRWA Wizards 123

Using the Outline/Navigation Pane for Quick Positioning 123

Adding Treatment Recommendations Using the Wizard 124

Checking for Potentially Problematic ("Red Flag") Phrases 126

Previewing, Copying, or Printing the Psychological Report 127

Viewing the Composed and Formatted Report 127

Returning to Report Composition 128

Finishing Your Work Session 128

Closing the Program 128

Conclusion 129

Appendix A: Annotated Psychological Report 131

Appendix B: Checklist for General Psychological Report 143

Appendix C: Checklist for Forensic Psychological Report 147

Appendix D: Selected Resources for Psychological Report Writing 151

References 155

Author Index 163

Subject Index 165

About the Author and Software Developer 173

About the Website 175