Assessment in Clinical Psychology: A Perspective on the Past, Present Challenges, and Future Prospects

Assessment emerged during the early twentieth century with the development of tests for assessing characteristics such as intelligence, personality, and suitability for employment. The long, interwoven relationship between clinical psychology and assessment began to change during the 1970s when many clinical psychologists became more involved in behavioral therapy and moved away from psychological testing and with the expanding role of managed care in the mental health services. Clinical assessment broadened into forensic, medical, and personnel applications with psychologists expanding professional roles. The status of assessment was reviewed and some challenges were highlighted. The potential for assessment to contribute to the understanding of mental health problems through collaborative cross-cultural study of psychopathology was suggested with the growing development of clinical psychology internationally.