8/2/2019 Testing for Psycho Dynamics

1/1

TESTING FOR PSYCHODYNAMICS

I. The Referral Question

a. Problems already notedb. Rationale for further evaluation

c. Type of information that it would be helpful to obtain

I. Behavioral Observationd. Appearance

e. Description of subject-examiner interactionsf. General behaviors (personal comments made by the subject, unusual behaviors, etc.)

g. Specific test behaviors (motivation, defensiveness, attitude toward testing, etc.)

II. Family Historyh. Ethnic and socioeconomic status of family of origin

i. Brief description of members of the familyj. Brief description of the manner in which the subject is related to the most significant

members.k. Important events that took place in the family of origin

l. Description of the present family if it is not the family of originm. Description of the relationship between the subject and the present family members

n. Important events that have taken place in the present family

III. Educational and Vocational Historyo. Extent of the education received

p. Motivation and ability of the subject as studentq. Social relationship developed while going through school

r. Types and period of employment obtained

s. Success and satisfaction with jobt. Social interaction with co-workers

IV. Intellectual AssessmentSome statement regarding the subjects general intellectual ability should be made. When areas of

intellectual strengths and weaknesses are known, they can also be made implicit. If an organicimpairment is suspected, this issue should be discussed. Finally, personality aspects that affect the

patients intellectual functioning can be discussed.

V. Emotional Assessment

u. Basic personality structure habitual patterns, view of self and the world, usual way ofrelating to others)

v. Dynamic issues conscious and unconscious motivationw. Situational aspects situation where subject excels, situations that may present difficulties,

present situation

x. Pathology defense of pathological reaction

VI. RecommendationsShould include

y. Suggestions of changes in the environment that would decrease the amount of stress.

z. Suggestions of changes in the psychic process that would make the individual better able tocope with the world

aa. Concrete ways of achieving those changes

Should avoid inappropriatenessa. No recommendation should be made when the purpose of the evaluation was simply to gain more

informationb. No recommendation should be made in area where the examiner is not qualified

c. It is often felt that the recommendation should be made in an area where the professionareceiving the report is obviously qualified to arrive at his or her own conclusions.

VII. Summary