Evidence-based assessment/Prescription phase

=Prescription Phase=

Overview
The prescription phase is the second phase of the Evidence-Based Assessment Approach. This phase begins at the intake interview building off of the prediction phase. This phase is about figuring out what is the best direction to go in next by using gathered information so far for case conceptualization. Case conceptualization is a provisional map of a person’s presenting problems that describes the territory of the problems and explains the processes that likely caused and are maintaining the problems. A good case conceptualization describes problems and processes in ways that are verifiable.” Good case conceptualization will provide a roadmap for intervention but it is always open for revisions or changes in directions.

Rationale
The big differences in treatment prescription are between externalizing and internalizing disorders, or perhaps between subtypes of conduct disorder versus other disruptive behavior disorders , or unipolar versus bipolar mood disorders. The distinction between oppositional defiant disorder or disruptive behavior disorder not otherwise specified does not change the choice of treatment, so we do not lose predictive or prescriptive information by lumping them together. If there is no electronic medical record, then some sort of random sampling of charts or cases can provide a good snapshot of services – perhaps drawing 5 or 10 percent of cases at a clinic from each month to get a picture of services throughout the year including the variation in referral patterns between the school year and summer.

Performance of common diagnostic interviews
Note: L = Less than adequate; A = Adequate; G = Good; E = Excellent; U = Unavailable; NA = Not applicable

See also the "Interviews are not Perfect" page if you are interested in this in more detail.

Performance of common interview-based severity ratings
Note: L = Less than adequate; A = Adequate; G = Good; E = Excellent; U = Unavailable; NA = Not applicable

See also the "Interviews are not Perfect" page if you are interested in this in more detail.