PSY 395 Exam 1 Study Guide Questions and
Correct Answers with Complete Solutions | New
Update 2026
• Issues in the Acceptance of Changed DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria: Key
controversies include the continued classification of personality disorders using a
categorical system instead of a dimensional one, as well as an unclear or
restrictive definition of PTSD.
• Problems with Diagnostic Labeling: A diagnostic label is limited to capturing
behavioral patterns, can lead clinicians to make unwarranted assumptions, and
often creates a stigmatized social identity for the patient.
• Formal Diagnostic Classification of Mental Disorders: The two primary
systems used are the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM-5) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).
• Diagnostic Criteria Foundations: The formal classification of mental disorders
defines criteria based on two main factors: subjective symptoms (what the patient
experiences and reports) and objective signs (what the clinician observes).
• Three Basic Assessment Approaches: The primary methods used in clinical
assessment are the categorical approach, the dimensional approach, and the
prototypal approach.
• Categorical Approach: A classification method based on "yes or no" criteria that
sorts individuals into distinct categories. It is the most common approach in
medicine and serves as the foundation of the DSM-5. A major limitation is that
individuals with the same diagnosis may not perfectly fit a rigid definition or
present the exact same symptoms.
• Dimensional Approach: An assessment method that relies on quantitative data
and numerical symptom counts rather than strict categorical labels. This
approach allows clinicians to measure severity and compare individuals along a
spectrum.
, • Prototypal Approach: A conceptual model that provides a generalized list of
traits for a specific disorder. To meet the criteria, an individual must exhibit
some—but not necessarily all—of the defining characteristics of that prototype.
• Ethical Issues in Assessment: Ethical concerns during evaluation include
potential cultural bias, the influence of a clinician's personal theoretical
orientation, a failure to adequately weigh external situational factors, insufficient
validation of assessment tools, and the risk of drawing premature conclusions
from inaccurate data.
• Integration of Assessment Data: The process of combining all assessment
findings to develop a coherent, working clinical model. This can be accomplished
by an individual clinician or a collaborative team, with the ultimate goal of
identifying a definitive clinical picture while resolving any discrepancies in the
data.
Assessment Steps - ANSWERS Clarifying role(s)
Understand referral question
Which procedures are needed to answer referral question (interview, observation,
psych testing)
Understand the context of the assessment
Ethically conduct assessment
Integrate test data, generate report and conclusions/recs
Most commonly used intelligence tests - ANSWERS WISC-V (children); WAIS-IV
(adults)
Stanford-Binet
Objective personality tests - ANSWERS NEO-PI, MMPI-2
Projective personality test examples - ANSWERS Rorschach Inkblot Test
, Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
Sentence Completion Test
Projective personality tests - ANSWERS Unstructured stimuli are presented
Meaning or structure projected onto stimuli
Projections reveal hidden motives
Two general categories of psychological tests - ANSWERS Intelligence tests
Personality tests
Clinical Observation of Behavior - ANSWERS Clinical observation in natural
environments
Clinical observations in therapeutic or medical settings
Self-monitoring
Rating Scales
Assessment Interviews - ANSWERS Face-to-face interaction, Structured
interviews, and Unstructured interviews. The reliability may be enhanced by the
use of rating scales that help focus inquiry and quantify the interview data.
Face-to-face interaction - ANSWERS clinician obtains information about
client's situation, personality, and behavior
Structured interviews - ANSWERS restrict freedom to explore but increase
reliability
Correct Answers with Complete Solutions | New
Update 2026
• Issues in the Acceptance of Changed DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria: Key
controversies include the continued classification of personality disorders using a
categorical system instead of a dimensional one, as well as an unclear or
restrictive definition of PTSD.
• Problems with Diagnostic Labeling: A diagnostic label is limited to capturing
behavioral patterns, can lead clinicians to make unwarranted assumptions, and
often creates a stigmatized social identity for the patient.
• Formal Diagnostic Classification of Mental Disorders: The two primary
systems used are the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM-5) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).
• Diagnostic Criteria Foundations: The formal classification of mental disorders
defines criteria based on two main factors: subjective symptoms (what the patient
experiences and reports) and objective signs (what the clinician observes).
• Three Basic Assessment Approaches: The primary methods used in clinical
assessment are the categorical approach, the dimensional approach, and the
prototypal approach.
• Categorical Approach: A classification method based on "yes or no" criteria that
sorts individuals into distinct categories. It is the most common approach in
medicine and serves as the foundation of the DSM-5. A major limitation is that
individuals with the same diagnosis may not perfectly fit a rigid definition or
present the exact same symptoms.
• Dimensional Approach: An assessment method that relies on quantitative data
and numerical symptom counts rather than strict categorical labels. This
approach allows clinicians to measure severity and compare individuals along a
spectrum.
, • Prototypal Approach: A conceptual model that provides a generalized list of
traits for a specific disorder. To meet the criteria, an individual must exhibit
some—but not necessarily all—of the defining characteristics of that prototype.
• Ethical Issues in Assessment: Ethical concerns during evaluation include
potential cultural bias, the influence of a clinician's personal theoretical
orientation, a failure to adequately weigh external situational factors, insufficient
validation of assessment tools, and the risk of drawing premature conclusions
from inaccurate data.
• Integration of Assessment Data: The process of combining all assessment
findings to develop a coherent, working clinical model. This can be accomplished
by an individual clinician or a collaborative team, with the ultimate goal of
identifying a definitive clinical picture while resolving any discrepancies in the
data.
Assessment Steps - ANSWERS Clarifying role(s)
Understand referral question
Which procedures are needed to answer referral question (interview, observation,
psych testing)
Understand the context of the assessment
Ethically conduct assessment
Integrate test data, generate report and conclusions/recs
Most commonly used intelligence tests - ANSWERS WISC-V (children); WAIS-IV
(adults)
Stanford-Binet
Objective personality tests - ANSWERS NEO-PI, MMPI-2
Projective personality test examples - ANSWERS Rorschach Inkblot Test
, Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
Sentence Completion Test
Projective personality tests - ANSWERS Unstructured stimuli are presented
Meaning or structure projected onto stimuli
Projections reveal hidden motives
Two general categories of psychological tests - ANSWERS Intelligence tests
Personality tests
Clinical Observation of Behavior - ANSWERS Clinical observation in natural
environments
Clinical observations in therapeutic or medical settings
Self-monitoring
Rating Scales
Assessment Interviews - ANSWERS Face-to-face interaction, Structured
interviews, and Unstructured interviews. The reliability may be enhanced by the
use of rating scales that help focus inquiry and quantify the interview data.
Face-to-face interaction - ANSWERS clinician obtains information about
client's situation, personality, and behavior
Structured interviews - ANSWERS restrict freedom to explore but increase
reliability
