RIGEL REPORT

Her report is entitled: Testing in Health Psychology and Health Care

psychologist employed in the medical setting (hospitals, medical centers, clinics) are increasing and one
of their main functions is to utilize and interpret psychological measurements.

In her report she mainly talked about these 3 topics: NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT, ANXIETY
AND STRESS ASSESSMENT, QUALITY-OF-LIFE ASSESSMENT

First topic is NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY is defined as a scientific discipline that studies the relationship between
behavior and brain functioning in the areas of cognitive, motor, sensory, and emotional functioning.

In summary, neuropsychology is a field of study that actively attempts to relate brain dysfunction and
damage to observable and measurable behavioral problems

the roots of clinical neuropsychology

PIERRE BROCA & CARL WERNICKE

- Discovered that recognition of speech were localized in the left hemisphere of the brain

BRODMANN

- Developed the first functional map of the cerebral cortex

LURIA & REITAN

- Used psychological tests to estimate areas of brain damage

Psychologists in neuropsychology used testing to identify specific problems

1. Identification of deficits in the brain: Wernicke’s aphasia

2. Diagnose motor problems: spatial disorders
3. Identify problem areas of the information-processing systems: functions related to retrieval and
storage

Testing in Developmental Neuropsychological testing sometimes is used a baseline.

Neuropsychological assessment of children present unique challenges

1. a child with brain damage might present normal in the present but later on might not be

2. brain plasticity

DIFFERENT FACTORS ASSESSED BY NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING:

1. Focus Execute – child’s ability to scan information and respond in a

meaningful way
 2. Sustain – child’s capacity to pay close attention for a defined interval of time

3. Encode – related to information storage, recall, and mental manipulation

4. Shift – ability to be flexible

SEVEN-STEP MODEL OF ASSESSMENT:

1. Application of formal tests to determine the nature of the problem

2. Assessment of environment (e.g.: academic demands)

3. Formulation of treatment plans

4. Prediction of of the short- and long-term consequences of the brain problem and the chances
that the intervention will make a difference

5. Availability of resources (e.g.: facilities)

6. Development of realistic treatment plan in consideration with steps 1-5

7. Evaluation of the progress made in the course of clinical care

*When treatment is not achieving its objectives, modifications may be suggested (Fletcher, et al., 1995).

TESTING IN ADULT NEUROPSYCHOLOGY

- Involves 3 test batteries

- Halsteid-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery
- Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery
- California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT)

2ND TOPIC IS ABOUT

ANXIETY AND STRESS ASSESSMENT

- THE STATE-TRAIT ANXIETY INVENTORY (STAI)

MEASURES OF TEST ANXIETY

• Mandler and Sarason proposed a theory of test anxiety

• Test anxiety is described as a drive, or motivational state, that could become manifest in two
different types of responding: task relevant and task irrelevant

• Task relevant: directed toward accomplishing the task at hand

• Task irrelevant: responses that interfere with performance

 • Test Anxiety Questionnaire

• Test Anxiety Scale

MEASURES OF COPING

1. Ways of Coping Scale

2. Coping Inventory

3. ECOLOGICAL MOMENTARY ASSESSMENT - Uses computers to collect information on a continuing

basis. Information is collected in the subject’s natural environment. Can be used for daily assessments to
evaluate life stress

4. MEASURES OF SOCIAL SUPPORT

And lastly, QUALITY OF LIFE ASSESSMENT

COMMON METHODS FOR MEASURING QUALITY OF LIFE

• Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 (SF-36)

• Nottingham Health Profile

• Decision Theory Approaches

• Two common themes about health: (1) avoidance of death, and (2) quality of life is important

• Disease and disability are of concern because they affect either life expectancy or life quality

• Two approaches to quality-of-life assessment: (1) psychometric approach, attempts to provide

separate measures for the many different dimensions of quality of life; and (2) decision theory
approach, attempts to weight the different dimensions of health in order to provide a single
expression of health status