Treatment Plan: Using Assessment Results

¶ … treatment plan: Using assessment results wisely

Organizing the results of the various psychological assessments performed upon a client must be done in a systematic fashion when constructing a treatment plan. However, while the process may be systematic, the outcome will be highly individualized. What type treatment plan, by whom, for whom, for what specific problem, under what specific circumstances -- are all essential questions to answer (Groth-Marnat, 2009, p.597). For example, different treatment decisions might be made regarding patients with the same complaint, depending on each patient's level of social support at home: one patient may be able to be treated in an outpatient environment, while another might require constant supervision. Personality assessment should also play a role in designing treatment. While cognitive-behavioral therapy may be useful in aiding patients that use externalized methods of coping with negative stressors, other patients that tend to internalize negative beliefs may benefit more from conventional talk strategies (Groth-Marnat, 2009, p.596). An assessment plan must be created in dialogue with the patient: to ignore patient preferences results in an ineffective course of therapy, as well as raises questions of ethics.

Specificity of diagnosis, particularly in an era of managed care, where patient time and money is finite can be very helpful. For example, therapies designed to reduce panic disorders and anxiety have often proven even more effective than drug treatment, if the patient's symptoms are addressed in a specific and targeted fashion. Clinicians should have a good overview of the research literature to determine, based upon their patient's demographics, what balance of drug and therapeutic treatment is likely to be beneficial. For patients with somaticization complaints, or real medical difficulties, these issues may need to be incorporated into the treatment plan and a physician may need to be consulted.

Level of functioning is also consideration. A high level of impaired functioning can obviously limit the individual's ability to participate in the treatment, and may indicate a more restrictive treatment program is necessary. A patient requiring pharmacological intervention to be functional (such as with schizophrenia) may need more direction in balancing the degree to which his or her therapy will be or may not be supplemented with drugs. A patient with an anxiety disorder might be able to have more input. Intensity of the patient's illness, long-term prognosis, balance between medical and somatic symptoms, and realistic goal-setting will influence the patient's ability to function and his or her treatment (Groth-Marnat, 2009, p.604).

Duration of the treatment course is another factor to consider: Long vs. short-range treatment duration is determined by the intensity of the disorder; its specificity; the age and level of social support of the patient; and the patient's level of 'premorbid' functioning. A phobic anxiety disorder requiring short-term treatment vs. A chronic bipolar disorder provides a contrast in the two different approaches: one is ideal for symptom-focused cognitive behavioral therapy while the other requires more generalized physical and medical treatment. For some disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, no treatment at the time may be indicated, until the patient is willing to use the therapy correctly, and not merely as a way to further his or her disorder (Groth-Marnat, 2009, p.605). Situation-specific 'habits' as opposed to those stemming from deeper emotional or personality disorders thus affect treatment plans as well.