Psychological Report Writing Assistant

GARY GROTH-MARNAT, PHD, ABPP, is an author, lecturer, researcher, and practicing clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist. He is the author of the bestselling Handbook of Psychological Assessment, Fifth Edition, published by Wiley. ARI DAVIS maintains a private practice in depth- and psychoanalytically-oriented psychotherapy in Beverly Hills and the San Fernando Valley, California. He is also a software developer specializing in the development of expert systems, analysis and reporting, and assessment/diagnostic software in the medical and psychological fields.

• Preface xiChapter 1 Introduction 1Introduction 1Who This Book and Software Are For 1Rationale and Philosophy for Report Writing: An Integrative Approach 2An Introduction to the Psychological Report Writing Assistant 6From Software to the Real World 8An Overview of How to Use This Book and Software 13Recommended Reading 14Chapter 2 Core Qualities of a Good Report: Principles and Strategies 151. Anchoring Referral Questions to the Summary/ Recommendations 162. Making the Report Readable 183. Impressions and Interpretations Organized According to Domains 214. Minimal Reference to Tests and Testing 265. Integrated/Readable Expansion of Interpretations That Are Connected to Client’s World 296. Recommendations Sufficiently Broad, Treatment Plan Integrated With Interpretations, Related to Client’s World 30Recommended Reading 31Chapter 3 Format of the Psychological Report 33Identifying Information 35Referral Question 35Evaluation Procedures 37Behavioral Observations/Mental Status 38Background Information 40Test Results 45Impressions and Interpretations (or Simply “Findings” for Forensic Reports) 46Using the Integrated Information Manager 47Integrating Contradictory Sources of Information 49Types of Subheadings 54Summary 60Recommendations 61Signature/Title 62Appendix 62Recommended Reading 63Chapter 4 Recommendations 65Tailoring Recommendations to the Client 66Categories of Recommendations 69Treatment 70Treatment Planning for Psychotherapy 71Systematic Treatment Selection/Innerlife Model 73Best Practices and Treatment Planning 76Education/Self-Help 77Placement 79Further Evaluation 80Alteration of Environment 80Miscellaneous 81Recommended Reading 81Chapter 5 Types of Psychological Reports 83Intellectual/Cognitive Reports 84Neuropsychological Reports 88Psychoeducational Reports 92Personality Reports 95Forensic Reports 99Vocational/Career Reports 104Recommended Reading 109Chapter 6 PRWA Overview and Sample Walkthrough 111Introduction 111Developing a Psychological Report with the PRWA Wizards 113Sample Walkthrough: Creating a New Client Record and Developing a Psychological Report 115Program Security 115Creating a New Client Record 117Entering Client Identifying Information 117Viewing Client Personal Information 118Starting to Work on the Psychological Report 119Viewing the Main Report Composition Window 119Working on Report Content 120Start Editing Mode 121Viewing Guidelines and Example Text for the Report Topic 121Example of Using One of the PRWA Wizards 121Selecting One or More Common Phrases 122The PRWA Wizards 123Using the Outline/Navigation Pane for Quick Positioning 123Adding Treatment Recommendations Using the Wizard 124Checking for Potentially Problematic (“Red Flag”) Phrases 126Previewing, Copying, or Printing the Psychological Report 127Viewing the Composed and Formatted Report 127Returning to Report Composition 128Finishing Your Work Session 128Closing the Program 128Conclusion 129Appendix A: Annotated Psychological Report 131Appendix B: Checklist for General Psychological Report 143Appendix C: Checklist for Forensic Psychological Report 147Appendix D: Selected Resources for Psychological Report Writing 151References 155Author Index 163Subject Index 165About the Author and Software Developer 173About the Website 175