Reporting Diagnostic Test Results to Patients and their Families

Summary

Clinical psychologists have been concerned about the proper presentation of their test results to everyone but the patient. Nevertheless, they bear an obligation to inform the patient of the findings, which, after all, were contingent upon his cooperation and effort. A method of presenting such data is described, which can be applied to school, vocational, and psychiatric disturbances. and one case is presented in detail. The method's efficacy is largely a function of the skill and experience of the counselor, the motivation of the client, the presence of a positive working relationship, and a respect for the person being tested.