Diagnostic Utility of Objective Analytic Tests (t-data Measures)

Psychiatry and clinical psychology have dominantly modeled after medical model in diagnosis i.e. diagnosis in terms of symptomatology. Most of the diagnostic classification systems have overlooked the relevance of patient's personality variables which significantly contribute in establishing the nature of particular patient's syndrome picture and in symptoms expression modes. So, it is needed to take in to account the personality make up in diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment outcomes. Nowadays the personality researchers and clinical psychologists are addicted to use either rating scales or questionnaires in diagnosis which suffer from serious limitations such as judgmental errors, sample errors, faking, social desirability, response set, motivational distortions etc. To overcome these weaknesses, objective analytic tests (T-data measures) can be good alternatives. T-data measures are not dependent on subject's self evaluation but measure direct reactions and without subject's knowledge of what interpretation s put on it and these can be highly useful in the clinical assessment. Some earlier studies by Cattell and associates have revealed the relevance of UI 16 (Low ego strength) (Subduedness v/s independence), UI 20 (Comention), UI 21 (Exuberance v/s Suppressibility) , UI 22 (Cortertia), UI 23 (Mobilization of Energy v/s Regression ), UI 24 (Anxiety v/s Adjustment), UI 25 (Realism V/s Tensinflexia), UI 32 (Introversion v/s Extroversion) and UI 33 (Pessimism) in differential diagnosis and comparison of clinical samples with normals. It is recommended for their use in objective and exact clinical assessment.