Abstract

ARAUJO, Maria de Fátima. Diagnostic strategies and psychological assessment. Psicol. teor. prat. [online]. 2007, vol.9, n.2, pp. 126-141. ISSN 1516-3687.

This article discusses some of the major diagnostic and assessment strategies used by psychologists in their clinical practice. The term strategy is employed here in the sense of the means or procedure employed or the path taken to achieve a certain objective. In the first part of the text we provide a brief historical background of the development of psychological assessment practices, focusing on the major influences that have marked this area of Psychology. We then discuss the importance of psycho diagnostics as a traditional tool for psychological assessment, its variations within the psychoanalytical and phenomenological approaches, and other less structured clinical procedures for diagnostic purposes. In the end, after showing that this area of practice today encompasses several different strategies, we highlight the importance of providing an update of this discussion in undergraduate Psychology courses, since the new demands psychologists are faced with require continuous reflection and updating of these practices.

Keywords : Diagnostic assessment strategies; Psychological assessment; Clinical Psychology; Phenomenology; Psychoanalysis.

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