Integrative Final Project Part 1: Test Evaluation and Selection

Integrative Final Project

Part 1: Test Evaluation and Selection

 Imagine you are a professional counselor who works exclusively with elderly people and their families. You need to evaluate a new depression inventory to determine if it would be appropriate to use with your clients.

 Use the information provided below.

 Write a 700- to 1,050-word evaluation of the instrument, including the following:

• Describe your evaluation of the instrument, including all information necessary in the evaluation and selection of an instrument process.
• Describe the strengths and weakness of the instrument.
• Justify why you would or would not use this instrument, based on your evaluation.

Include a minimum of 2 sources.

Format your paper according to APA guidelines.

Depression Inventory for the Elderly (DIE)

Purpose: Designed for assessment of self-rating of depressive symptoms in older adults.

Population: Adults, age 65 and older.

Score: The inventory provides a Total Score and five Primary Dimensions: Negative Mood, Interpersonal Problems, Ineffectiveness, Anhedonia, and Negative Self Esteem.

Time:  35 minutes

Description:

The DIE has been designed to measure depressive symptoms for elderly individuals. The self-administered inventory consists of 90 items related to such depressive symptoms as depressed mood, withdrawal, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, difficultly making decisions, vegetative functions, self–evaluation and interpersonal behaviors.

Scoring:

The inventory uses a 5-point scale of distress (0–4), ranging from “not at all” (0) to “extremely” (4). The DIE yields raw scores and T scores for the Total Score and Primary Dimension scores. Results are hand scored. T scores above 65 on the Total Score and the Primary Dimensions are considered in the “clinical range.”

Norms:

The normative sample included 1266 retired individuals residing in Florida age 65 to 91.  There were 350 men between the ages of 65 and 85, and 750 women ages 65 to 91. The population was mostly middle to upper class retirees.

Reliability:

Internal consistency reliability has been found to be range from .71 to .89 with various samples.

Test-retest reliability correlations appear to be acceptable. It is however expected that the symptoms of depression would change over time, and regression to the mean is associated with repeated testing over time.

Validity: 

Three research studies have evaluated the DIE in assessing constructs both for concurrent and predictive uses in characterizing symptoms of depression in older adults. The studies report the DIE successfully distinguishes individuals without depression from depressed individuals.

Part 2: Assessment Procedures and Ethics

 Imagine one of the elderly residents at the facility, Emily, appears to be depressed.  She is a 77-year-old woman who has always been outgoing and active. Emily recently experienced a severe decline in functioning due to a fall which left her wheelchair bound. Her family members report that she has ‘not been herself’ since the accident.  Staff members at the facility report a decreased appetite and increased sleeping.  A nurse in charge of dispensing medications told you that Emily said she ‘wished she could take enough pills to end it all.’

 

Respond to the following questions in 100 to 175 words each.

• What assessment procedures might you use to determine if Emily is clinically depressed and/or suicidal? Be specific. Describe the instrument(s) and the scales that you would most closely examine and why. Discuss a minimum of three different instruments.
• In addition to interviewing Emily, who else might you consult with? Why would it be necessary to consult with these individuals?
• Before concluding that Emily is in fact, clinically depressed, what other possibilities might you rule out? What other questions would you like to ask Emily and/or her family?  What else would you like to know?
• Imagine that the results of your assessment suggest that Emily is experiencing depression. You schedule a meeting with Emily and her immediate family members to explain the results. What problem areas might you encounter during the feedback session? Discuss some of the ethical considerations and practice guidelines that you would you keep in mind when working with this client and her family.