Studia Psychologiczne. t. 53 (2015), z. 2, s. 19-28 PL ISSN 0081-685X DOI: 10.2478/V1067-010-0129-5 Anna Słysz Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznan, Institute of Psychology
ANALYSIS OF BARBARA INGRAM’S CORE CLINICAL HYPOTHESIS CONCEPT FOR SUITABILITY IN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
The aim of this article is to present and analyze the core clinical hypothesis concept (Ingram, showing that the use of this concept can increase quality of the case conceptualization. The
Keywords: case conceptualization, psychological assessment, heuristic, cognitive error
INTRODUCTION of imposing a complex structure upon a diagnosis (including case conceptualization). The structured There are many studies on case conceptualiza- formulation of a case may lead to: 1) identifying tion within particular schools, including the - complex causes of behavioral issues of a client by Nancy McWilliams (2012) and Virues-Ortega, Haynes, 2005); 2) reducing bias (2013). I believe that focusing on a single theoreti- cal approach carries a certain risk. For instance, in Virues-Ortega, Haynes, 2005). I would like to a psychologist or psychotherapist may overlook hypothesis concept. Also, I will provide examples schemas if these components are missing from showing that relying on this kind of concepts in psychological diagnostic may contribute to reducing thus an opportunity to minimize this problem by heuristics and cognitive errors in clinical evalua- also drawing from additional transtheoretical con- tions. Therefore, the article aims not as much at cepts in the case conceptualization area. One such proposal is the concept of core clinical hypothesis strategy as for the diagnostic quality. In literature, the discussions of cognitive heu- proposes a structured formulation of a case. Bearing ristics and errors in diagnosis focus mainly on the in mind this characteristic, I shall take as the start- description of their types (e.g. Croskerry, 2003; ing point the advantages, described in literature,
Psychological Studies, volume 53, issue 2
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