Abstract
Mental health practitioners should strive to use the most valid assessment methods to increase the probability of proper diagnosis and successful treatment. Evidence-based assessment improves statistical confidence in diagnoses through accurate measurement of an individual’s symptoms and risk factors, quantifying the resulting changes in probability of diagnoses. Greater precision in diagnosis and decision making enhances the treatment guidance process. In this chapter we outline the procedures of working within an evidence-based assessment framework. Further, we explain how such a model reduces time and expense, concerns that are crucial when working within a rural setting. Finally, we highlight the model’s accuracy, cost-effectiveness, feasibility, and generalizability to various contexts.
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Kirk, A., Sale, R., Youngstrom, E.A. (2017). Rural America and Evidence-Based Assessment: The Potential for a Happy Marriage. In: Michael, K., Jameson, J. (eds) Handbook of Rural School Mental Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64735-7_7
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