A Guide to Assessments that Work

The need for evidence-based practice in mental health services is becoming clearer by the day and, until recently, the trend of emphasising services with supporting empirical evidence has been limited to a focus on treatment options. A Guide to Assessments That Work fills a void in the literature by addressing the critical role that assessment plays in providing evidence-based mental health services. To optimise its usefulness to readers, this volume addresses the assessment of the most commonly encountered disorders or conditions among children, adolescents, adults, older adults, and couples. Strategies and instruments for assessing mood disorders, anxiety disorders, couple distress and sexual problems, health-related problems, and many other conditions are also covered in depth. With a focus throughout on assessment instruments that are feasible, psychometrically sound, and useful fortypical clinical requirements, a rating system has been designed to provide evaluations of a measures norms, reliability, validity, and clinical utility. Standardised tables summarise this information in each chapter, providing essential information on the most scientifically sound tools available fora range of assessment needs. Using the tools provided in A Guide to Assessments That Work, readers can at a glance determine the possible suitability and value of each instrument for their own clinical purposes. This much needed resource equips readers with the knowledge necessary for conducting the best evidence-based mental health assessments currently possible.