Re: Evaluating abuse cases

["James E. Hord. Jr., Ph.D." <DrHord@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bart,
When I do this kind of evaluation, I ALWAYS give the
MMPI (original version, is my preference)
and the Rorschach, unless IQ
is an issue.  I will give two, three at most, sub tests from the Wechsler
to get an IQ estimate if necessary.  I virtually always use the Kinetic
Family Drawing test, and I have the courts in my area fairly convinced to
not give me a hard time about using such projective instruments since I
can hurt the cross examining attorneys case with my responses to such
questions.  I also like to use the Interpersonal Checklist, by Leary et.
al. to get a peek at the individual's self concept.  (This test is not as
common now as a few years back, but it is still just as good.  If you are
at all interested in this one, there is a little blarb about it (IPx4) as
used in marital work, on my web page listed below.  It can be used
singularly or in relationship work.)  

The judgement call is always
mine in any case, and is not reducible to a score from some test or scale.
The richness of information in the testing above would be very
difficult to match with any other test battery in my view.  Don't sell
tradition short.

Jim Hord, Ph.D.
Panama City,
Fla.
Jim@xxxxxxxx
http://jim.hord.com



>This has
often meant psychological testing which traditionally includes
a
>Rorschach, intelligence tests and an MMPI.  However,  these
usually aren't
>particularly helpful especially with their questions
which are related to the
>parent's likelihood of reoffending and/or
prospects for reunification.  I
>imagine that their are empirically
validated measures that have been found
>more useful than these more
traditional tests.
>Thanks,  Bart Rubin,
Ph.D.