Therapeutic effects of providing MMPI-2 test feedback to clients at a university counseling service: A collaborative approach.

Abstract

This study examined the therapeutic effects of sharing Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) assessment results with clients. It is based on an earlier study by S. E. Finn and M. E. Tbnsager (1992). Participants were 60 university students seeking psychological services from a university counseling service. All participants completed the MMPI-2 and several outcome measures. Within 2 weeks of completing the assessment, clients in the experimental group received test feedback, using a collaborative model developed by S. E. Finn (1996). Clients in the control group received test feedback only after having completed the final outcome measures and following a delay of 1 week. Compared with the control group, those who received test feedback within the time frame of the experimental conditions reported a significant increase in self-esteem immediately following the feedback session and a significant decrease in symptomatic distress at a 2-week follow-up. Overall, the findings provide further evidence for the efficacy of psychological assessment as an effective therapeutic intervention. Many people who are given psychological tests in counseling and clinical situations expect to receive feedback about their test results (Graham, 1993). Yet many, if not most, psychological

Therapeutic Assessment with couples

“…Finally, participants who reported having more positive feelings about the assessment experience were more likely to experience increases in self-esteem and decreases in symptomotology. Newman and Greenway (1997) replicated the first two findings from Finn and Tonsager's study in a sample of 60 Australian university students.…”

“…It was therefore hypothesized that the TA intervention would lead to increases in reported relationship satisfaction and decreases in reported disaffection and interpersonal conflict. In addition, results from preliminary studies have indicated TA may lead to greater psychological wellbeing (Finn & Tonsager, 1992;Newman & Greenway, 1997).…”

“…In studies of college students seeking services at counseling centers, TA has been associated with decreased psychological symptomatology, increased self-esteem, and an increased sense of hopefulness (Finn & Tonsager, 1992;Newman & Greenway, 1997). Other researchers have found that clients who participate in TA before beginning a course of psychotherapy are likely to be more committed to therapy and experience a stronger alliance to the therapist than clients who participate in more traditional assessments (Ackerman, Hilsenroth, Baity, & Blagys, 2000;Hilsenroth, Peters, & Ackerman, 2004).…”

“…To date, all of the empirical research on collaborative and Therapeutic Assessment has focused on individual (Ackerman et al, 2000;Finn & Tonsager, 1992;Hilsenroth et al, 2004;Newman & Greenway, 1997) and family clients (Smith et al, 2009;Tharinger et al, 2009;Tharinger, Finn, Wilkinson, & Schaber, 2007). However, an accumulating body of case material suggests collaborative and Therapeutic Assessment techniques may also be useful for psychologists working with couples, either as a precursor or supplement to traditional couples therapy (Butcher, 1990;Dorr, 1981;Finn, 2007;Richman & Davidoff, 1971).…”

Point de vue des usagers sur une procédure d’évaluation clinique basée sur l’Indice de gravité d’une toxicomanie (IGT)

“…À partir d'un questionnaire d'évaluation, ils ont constaté que les indicateurs de détresse psychologique des participants s'étaient atténués lors du suivi deux semaines après la passation du questionnaire d'éva-luation clinique. Ces résultats ont été reproduits dans un contexte expérimental par Newman et Greenway (1997) qui ont clairement établi le lien entre les amé-liorations enregistrées et la rencontre de rétroaction de l'évaluation avec le clinicien. Les patients ayant été informés des résultats obtenus au test présentaient moins de détresse psychologique après la rencontre, ainsi qu'au moment du suivi après deux semaines.…”