Assessment in rehabilitation psychology.

Abstract

Rehabilitation psychology is a specialty area of practice that "focuses on the study and application of psychological knowledge and skills on behalf of individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions in order to maximize health and welfare, independence and choice, functional abilities, and social role participation" (Frank & Caplan, 2010, p. 3). Rehabilitation psychology has been in existence for over 50 years, developing into a recognized, board-certified area of practice in 1997. Rehabilitation psychologists practice clinically in a number of settings, including, although not limited to, subacute, acute, and postacute medical rehabilitation settings, private practice, vocational rehabilitation settings, school settings, and military and veterans' hospitals. This chapter focuses on the most common setting for practice, which is the medical rehabilitation setting.Assessment in rehabilitation psychology practice provides key information about biological, psychological, and social factors that may facilitate or hinder the rehabilitation and recovery process within the context of complex medical conditions and traumatic injury. Assessment facilitates the process by guiding intervention and discharge planning through the identification of potential physical, cognitive, and emotional barriers. Psychologists practicing within a medical rehabilitation setting must have a thorough understanding not only of psychiatric, emotional, and behavioral disorders but also of a variety of medical diagnoses, their associated prognoses, and contemporary treatments. To enhance the rehabilitation process, it is imperative not only to identify barriers to convalescence but also to discover intrapersonal strengths and resiliency factors that foster continued recovery and social reintegration. A GUIDING FRAMEWORKRegardless of the rehabilitation setting, population, or age group, there are three key components of the individual that form the basis for rehabilitation psychology assessments: physical functioning, psychological functioning, and cognitive functioning. This "Guiding Framework" provides a structure to build a comprehensive and holistic evaluation of the individual. These component areas are based on the biopsychosocial model, a model that highlights the multidimensional nature of the individual as well as individual characteristics that can either hinder or facilitate functioning in everyday life (Dunn & Dougherty, 2005). Evaluations of an individual must take into consideration the environment in which they reside. The role the environment plays in rehabilitation outcomes is pivotal, with the person-environment interaction being a crucial aspect in determining whether an individual is disabled or not (Dunn & Dougherty, 2005;Lewin, 1939).The Guiding Framework is outlined in Table 29.1 and is also reflected in other tables within this chapter. Although aspects of it may appear simplistic on the surface, the Guiding Framework provides a reminder of the interplay between the multiple aspects of human functioning with...