An Integrative Approach to Personality Assessment using the PAI and SPECTRA

June 15 | 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm ET | 3.5 CEs

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Abstract

Blais and colleagues (Blais & Hopwood, 2010 & 2017; Blais & Smith, 2014) have outlined the value of model-based approaches in learning, teaching, and practicing psychological assessment. Conceptual models like the Trans-Theoretical Model of Personality (TTMP) adapted from Mayer (1998; 2005) helps organize and integrate data from multiple instruments with their conceptually related personality structures. Empirical models such as Hierarchical-Dimensional Models (H-DM) benefit clinical assessment by aligning test data with findings emerging from empirical studies of psychopathology. This workshop will demonstrate the power of integrative personality assessment using the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) and SPECTRA, along with other common assessment tool. It will provide participants with a richer understanding of the PAI, including the newer Alternative Model of Personality Disorder scales, and the SPECTRA, while illustrating with case material how leveraging these model-based perspectives can improve the assessment of personality and psychopathology.

Goals and Objectives:

1. Become familiar with the features of the hierarchical-dimensional model of psychopathology (higher-order Internalizing, Externalizing, and Reality Impairing Spectra and a Global p-factor)

2. Describe the basic empirical and conceptual foundations for the PAI and SPECTRA

3. Demonstrate how the PAI and SPECTRA can be used interactively in personality assessment

4. Demonstrate how to interpret and integrate the results of the PAI and SPECTRA to formulate a case conceptualization

Skill Level:

Should have some experience with the PAI and SPECTRA

Pricing

Registration is now open!

Presenters: 

Mark A. Blais, PsyD is Director of the Psychological Evaluation and Research Laboratory (PEaRL) at Massachusetts General Hospital where he also served as the Associate Chief of Psychology from 2006 to 2014. He is Associate Professor of Psychology (Psychiatry) at Harvard Medical School. The PEaRL is an innovative psychological assessment service that provides clinical evaluations, advanced assessment training and programmatic research exploring the complex inter-relationship of personality, psychopathology, neurocognitive capacity, and life-outcomes. He has published over 120 peer reviewed papers, 35 book chapters, and two edited books. He is an award-winning teacher and mentor. In 2009, he received the Theodore Millon Award “For outstanding work in advancing the science of Personality Psychology”presented by the Society for Clinical Psychology and the American Psychological Foundation. Dr. Blais also received the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from the Center for Psychological Studies at Nova Southeastern University. He is Co-author of the SPECTRA: Indices of Psychopathology, a novel multi-scale measure of adult psychopathology that is published and marketed by Psychological Assessment Resources (PAR, Inc). He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Assessment, Journal of Personality Assessment, and Journal of Personality Disorders. In addition to his work at MGH he consults to businesses, government agencies, and sports organizations on issues related to personality and performance.

The Society for Personality Assessment (SPA) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SPA maintains responsibility for this program and its content.