Intake Form Critique
Does it ask all of the necessary questions to determine what the client’s presenting problem is? The intake form used for this critique is the PTSD Checklist for DCM-5 (PCL-5). This screening and assessment tool was developed to reflect the twenty DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD. This intake form is not used to diagnose PTSD. “The gold standard for diagnosing PTSD is a structured clinical interview such as the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5). When necessary, the PCL-5 can be scored to provide a provisional PTSD diagnosis” (US Department of Veterans Affairs, 2015).
The intake form is a quantitative assessment tool based upon a client’s self-report. Ideally, it will be used together with the clinical interview to …show more content…
The twenty-question format is directly aligned with DSM-5 symptoms for PTSD and for that reason I agree the number of questions is appropriate. When appointments are on schedule, it is typical for a client to wait about five to ten minutes before being seen, so the time length needed to answer the questions fits the setting. While the VA is known for long waits, the time length would be problematic only if the wait were too short to complete the form. In that case, the client might feel rushed and not give attentive mindfulness to the answering of each question. This could potentially lead to a score that is not reflective of the client’s mental state. In the event the client would continue on to a clinical interview, this type of effect could be mitigated. If the form is used alone for rapid assessment, particular attention should be paid by the staff administering the intake form to ensure adequate time is available for …show more content…
I used a tool available on the internet to determine the reading level of the PCL-5. I copied and pasted the entire document into the text box on readability-score.com. The site assesses the reading level of a given text and determines where it lies on the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease readability formula and calculates the average grade level of the text. The PCL-5 scored 59.5 on the Flesch-Kincaid scale, a scale that ranges from 0-100 with a higher score indicating easier readability and had an average grade level of 7.8. The website recommended that an average grade level of 8 is appropriate for the general public. The PCL-5 is geared towards clients with military experience. The military has historically required a high school diploma, though that has changed in the past ten years. Still, the average military Service Member either has a GED or diploma and it is reasonable to expect a reading level of 10-12 among this
Does it ask all of the necessary questions to determine what the client’s presenting problem is? The intake form used for this critique is the PTSD Checklist for DCM-5 (PCL-5). This screening and assessment tool was developed to reflect the twenty DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD. This intake form is not used to diagnose PTSD. “The gold standard for diagnosing PTSD is a structured clinical interview such as the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5). When necessary, the PCL-5 can be scored to provide a provisional PTSD diagnosis” (US Department of Veterans Affairs, 2015).
The intake form is a quantitative assessment tool based upon a client’s self-report. Ideally, it will be used together with the clinical interview to …show more content…
The twenty-question format is directly aligned with DSM-5 symptoms for PTSD and for that reason I agree the number of questions is appropriate. When appointments are on schedule, it is typical for a client to wait about five to ten minutes before being seen, so the time length needed to answer the questions fits the setting. While the VA is known for long waits, the time length would be problematic only if the wait were too short to complete the form. In that case, the client might feel rushed and not give attentive mindfulness to the answering of each question. This could potentially lead to a score that is not reflective of the client’s mental state. In the event the client would continue on to a clinical interview, this type of effect could be mitigated. If the form is used alone for rapid assessment, particular attention should be paid by the staff administering the intake form to ensure adequate time is available for …show more content…
I used a tool available on the internet to determine the reading level of the PCL-5. I copied and pasted the entire document into the text box on readability-score.com. The site assesses the reading level of a given text and determines where it lies on the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease readability formula and calculates the average grade level of the text. The PCL-5 scored 59.5 on the Flesch-Kincaid scale, a scale that ranges from 0-100 with a higher score indicating easier readability and had an average grade level of 7.8. The website recommended that an average grade level of 8 is appropriate for the general public. The PCL-5 is geared towards clients with military experience. The military has historically required a high school diploma, though that has changed in the past ten years. Still, the average military Service Member either has a GED or diploma and it is reasonable to expect a reading level of 10-12 among this