Discussion


Same as previous assignment:

For each assessment tool you select, you will identify an instrument and do the following:

  • Identify a scholarly, peer-reviewed article that addresses the use of the instrument.
  • Discuss if the instrument is appropriate for diagnosing the condition it is designed to assess or if the developers of the instrument reported that the instrument is only part of a comprehensive assessment for the disorder.
  • Describe whether the instrument can be used to measure patient response to therapy/treatment.
  • Discuss the psychometrics/scoring of the instrument, including reliability and validity.
  • Discuss any limitations associated with the use of the instrument.

Instruments/Tools for diagnosis of (one instrument/tool for each diagnosis):

  • Anxiety in children and adolescents
  • OCD in children and adolescents

Use the Journal Template Assessment Tool Template to complete the journal assignment. Your information can be in bulleted format or just a couple sentences for each criterion listed. However, you must use APA citations and references at the end. You are NOT required to write this in a paper format.

This is an example but this is the template to use:

Instrument: Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)

Article: Psychometric properties of the Social Phobia Inventory

Appropriateness for Dx: This tool is meant for screening of individuals with social phobia and assignment of a severity score (Connor et al., 2000). The tool was created in congruence with DSM-4 but is consistent with the DSM-5 diagnosis of social anxiety disorder, minus some minor changes (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration [SAMHSA], 2016). Although the study is outdated, Duke University School of Medicine (2020) acknowledges that the tool is still relevant and utilized by their Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Program.

 

Response to Therapy/Treatment: The SPIN is appropriate for testing treatment response and through studies has proven sensitive to symptom changes over time. Changes in scores are able to determine treatment efficiency (Connor et al., 2000).

Psychometrics: The tool is self-administered and consists of 17 separate statements regarding problems a patient may exhibit if they have social phobia. The statement is then rated on how much it has bothered the individual in the last week, from ‘not at all’ (0) to ‘extremely’ (4). Any score over 21 is considered clinically significant. In the study, the assessment tool was able to effectively separate individuals with and without social phobia. Validity is strong in regard to detecting the severity of illness and is sensitive to symptom reductions during treatment. The scale shows significant correlation with the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale Test, The Brief Social Phobia Scale and The Fear Questionnaire social phobia subscale (Connor et al., 2000).

Limitations: Limitations exist in the tool’s alignment with DSM-4 instead of the more recent edition, although differences are very minor (SAMHSA, 2016). With a cutoff score of 19, sensitivity and specificity were good, but some individuals consider the cutoff score to be 15, in which these measures are weaker (Connor et al., 2000).

Journal Discussion Prompt from Assignment: This tool could be used when suspected social anxiety is present.  It would be helpful to assess the client’s strengths and weaknesses as well as know the degree of social anxiety.

References

Connor, K., Davidson, J., Churchill, E., Sherwood, A., Foa, E., & Wisler, R. (2000).

Psychometric properties of the Social Phobia Inventory. British Journal of Psychiatry, 176, 379-386.