Integrative Assessment in Clinical Psychology

This book demonstrates an integrated model of clinical psychology practice where disorders are understood as the outcome of multiple interacting factors across different levels of analysis: biological, psychological and psycho-social. Using real-life case studies with expert analysis and interpretation by leading clinical psychologists and educators, the chapters presented in this book show how the planning of intervention needs to be informed by the available evidence. This integrated model allows interventions to be individually tailored rather than offered as a ‘one size fits all’ approach, placing greater emphasis on rigorous assessment as one of the core clinical skills and distinguishing features of a clinical psychologist.

The integrated approach to clinical assessment is a prerequisite to an integrated approach to psychological therapy. Increasingly clinical psychologists are able to employ integrated forms of psychological therapy as the field comes to accept both the strengths and limitations of cognitive, behavioural, humanistic, psychodynamic and systemic approaches. Integration in contemporary approaches such as Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) or Schema Focused Therapy (SFT) are good examples of the blending and integration characteristic of contemporary practice. The case studies in this book cover a range of disorders, including substance abuse, depression, childhood depression, eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, obsessive behaviours, attachment disorder, sexual offending, dementia, learning difficulties and schizophrenia. An invaluable resource for all clinical psychology students as well as practising clinicians.