Building a fuller picture
See how a professional assessment can bring together current concerns, history, functioning and context.
The picture in words
- Current concerns
- What the person is experiencing and seeking help with.
- History and functioning
- How experiences have developed and affected daily life.
- Context
- Relevant health, relationships, circumstances and strengths.
Reading the illustration
This educational diagram summarizes areas an assessment may explore. The relevant questions and tools depend on the person and the professional setting.
Try a question
Why can the same reported symptom lead to different follow-up questions?
Show the explanation
Its duration, context, effects and accompanying experiences can differ. Assessment builds an individual account from several kinds of information.
Read the sources
- Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/15-2-diagnosing-and-classifying-psychological-disordersSelected rendered passages: Diagnosis/complexity/classification selected passages.
- website, N. (n.d.). Mental health assessments. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/social-care-and-your-rights/mental-health-assessments/Rendered main guidance passages: Assessment topics, explanation and shared decisions.