Resource Tag: PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING

Objective:The psychometric properties of the Penn Face Memory Test (PFMT) were investigated in a large sample (4,236 participants) of U.S. Army Soldiers undergoing computerized neurocognitive testing. Data were drawn from the initial phase of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS), a large-scale study directed towards identifying risk and resilience […]

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In this chapter, the authors first provide a brief overview of 3 major reviews of suicide assessment scales published in the past 12 years focusing on reliability & validity based on group or aggregate data. Next, they present an argument supporting the importance of the relational context as a mechanism for enhancing the reliability & […]

This edited book contains 18 chapters: clinical use of suicide assessment scales; assessment of suicide; Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories & suicide; Rorschach contributions; assessing the vital balance in evaluating suicide potential; the classic systems of psychotherapy & suicidal behaviour; crisis intervention & outpatient treatment; no-suicide contracts; cognitive-behavioural therapy; voice therapy; dialectical behaviour therapy; the widening […]

The authors studied the association between intelligence test scores & subsequent suicide in 987,308 Swedish men measured at age 18 & followed up for 5-26 years. 2811 suicides occurred during follow up. The risk of suicide was 2 to 3 times higher in those with the lowest compared with the highest intelligence test scores. The […]

Published in “Back to the Future: Refocusing the Image of Suicide,” ed. by J L McIntosh

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This report investigated the relationship between suicidal behavior & neurocognition in schizophrenia & schizoaffective disorder. Findings showed that measures of suicidality did not significantly correlate with neurocognitive performance. These findings & their implications are discussed. (36 refs)

This article presents a clinical theory of suicide & discusses the essential concepts of lethality & perturbation. Intrapsychic aspects (unbearable psychological pain, cognitive constriction, indirect expressions, inability to adjust, & ego), & interpersonal aspects (interpersonal relations, rejection-aggression, & identification-egression) are outlined to aid in assessment. Transference & countertransference issues in assessment are noted. A case […]

A sample of 94 psychologists, psychiatrist & clinical social workers provided data concerning their use of suicide assessment instruments, psychological tests, interview questions, & clinical observations to assess suicide risk in adolescent & adult populations. Suicide assessment instruments are used infrequently & are rated as having limited usefulness. It appears that clinicians overwhelmingly use interviews […]

This chapter places the integration of demographic & epidemiological data, recognition signs, family characteristics, & recovery factors within a comprehensive assessment process. Using a case example, checklists presented in other chapters are rated & overall risk of suicide is discussed. Other approaches to assessment & testing of the elderly are discussed. Assessment procedures including individual […]

This study of the factor structure & psychometric properties of the Multi-Attitude Suicide Tendency scale examined 215 15-18 yr olds. Analysis of the 30 MAST items supported the 4-factor scale structure. MAST subscales were internally consistent. Correlational & regression analyses examined the relations among the MAST subscales & self-report measures of suicidal behavior, social desirability, […]

The present study tested both a stress problem solving model and a stress social support model in the etiology of depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and suicide ideation for a group of Asian international students in the United States. Problem solving skills and social support were hypothesized as 2 mediators between life stress and depressive symptoms, hopelessness, […]

This paper outlines a clinical model for assessing suicide risk using psychological tests. The model is based on empirically-based knowledge & clinical skill, accepting Shneidman’s view of suicide as a multidimensional malaise. This model follows a new direction in suicidology which moves beyond the belief that tests alone should be able to predict specific behaviours […]

The ability of the Young Adult Self-Report, the Symptom Checklist & the General Health Questionnaire to predict maladjustment was assessed in a sample of 528 18-22 year olds over a 2-year period. The need for professional services was predicted by the total problem scores of the 3 scales & the internalizing scale of the Young […]

This chapter explores the value of psychiatric disorders as a predictive variable for suicide. It starts with a discussion of the classification of psychiatric disorders & suicidal behaviors, summarizes recent studies investigating the link or association between psychiatric disorders & suicide, proposes various explanations of the nature of these associations, & offers some broad conclusions […]

This thesis begins by looking at the issue of trait vulnerability within presuicidal syndrome. The author looks at Suicide Ideation Cognitive Trait Scale (SICTS), and the validity of this test with regards to structure and criterioin orientation. The author also looks at establishing the qualities of stability and discriminability within the continuum. SICTS is able […]

Risk factors for inpatient suicide using chart data for 14 hospitalized psychiatric patients were investigated. Information was analyzed for the 7 days preceding the suicide to evaluate psychiatric status. Data were also collected regarding demographics, personal & family psychiatric history, & psychosocial stressors. Data suggest that comorbidity of moderate to severe psychic anxiety with other […]

This study investigated the reliability of the Turkish version of the Perceived Social Support (PSS) from Friends (PSS-Fr) & Family (PSS-Fa) scales, the Scale for Interpersonal Behavior (SIB), & the Suicide Probability Scale (SPS). Both test-retest & internal consistency reliability estimates were computed. Results clearly support the use of the Turkish version of these scales […]

This chapter describes suicide scales utilized in therapy sessions, some psychometric concepts important to test evaluation, some of the attributes of documented suicide prediction scales, and the application of the scales to five clinical cases described in the chapter.

This chapter provides an overview of the study of suicide assessment and prediction. Issues included are: definitions and types of suicide; scales and tests; the role of clinical judgement; & specific predictors. Included is an overall plan of the book and a lengthy reference section.

The usefulness of personality assessments in the evaluation of suicide risk are examined. A review of the research related to using the Rorschach, the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), & the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) in the assessment of suicidality. A case illustration shows how a battery of psychological tests can be used to identify […]

This chapter discusses the case method of teaching noting that theory & research come to life in the presentation of case material, each being given the opportunity to be tested against clinical practice. Problems with the case approach are also identified. 5 individual cases are described in detail, each from a different vantage point, referral […]