The world of clinical psychology

Every year, new discoveries about the human mind are made in the field of clinical psychology. A number of theorists and researchers have contributed to the advancement of clinical psychology by allowing new theories and concepts to be evaluated in order to improve the profession. Because of its ability to accommodate various qualities under one roof using the name clinical psychology, this discipline of psychology has been regarded as critical to the medical sector and the entire globe since its inception.

It is critical to comprehend the numerous functions and criteria that have been established for the use of clinical psychology as a field. Clinical psychology is a psychological specialty that allows comprehensive behavioral and mental health care for families and individuals. It also provides consultation to communities and agencies, while also educating and supervising research based practices. It is a very wide specialty that is so include research and study of other severe psychopathological disorders. The field is marked by integration and comprehensiveness of skill and knowledge from a varying array of other disciplines outside and within psychology. In this paper, the history and evolving nature of clinical psychology will be discussed. The role of statistics and research in clinical psychology will also be a topic for discussion. Clinical psychological in different aspects will also be discussed and analyzed.

History and Evolving Nature of Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology history is said to date back a few centuries ago before being recognized by the American Psychological Association in the year 1945 (Plante, 2011). Wilheim Wundt in the year 1879 was found to operate the first psychological laboratory. He would create space to develop new methods that were in use for treating and assessing mental torment and anguish cases. Wundt’s technique was fundamental and introspective in the developing of experimental psychology. This is considered as the founder of “modern psychology.”

Consequently, Francis Galton also made a significant tribute to the role of clinical psychology with the development of psychometrics. Galton used questionnaires in his study of participants, in an effort to investigate behaviors and activities (Rust, 2015). Benjamin (2005) explains his ideas of the field of clinical psychology as detrimental to the study of behavioral and psychological issues. It was during the Second World War that clinical psychology gained increased attention on a worldwide level. Though there have been new theories, integrative views, and research information that have led to the evolution of clinical psychology today. During ancient times, emphasis on the use of clinical psychology as a field of psychology was not evident. Plante has noted that the concept of clinical psychology has been around since 2500 B.C. and was used by famous philosophers such as Plato and Hippocrates (Plante, 2014). Plato believed that attributes of the metaphysical impacted on the physical real of an individual. Hippocrates on the other hand believed that specific dysfunctions such as anger, sadness, and irritability resulted in the imbalance of bodily fluids such as yellow bile, phlegm, and even blood. The first clinic specializing in clinical psychology was established in 1894 by Witmer. After this the field gradually became a verified science field. It has since been fully integrated into the American Psychological Association and has made the discipline into a profession.

Role of Research and Statistics in Clinical Psychology

Research and statistics are seen as important elements in any discipline in the world of science. The field of clinical psychology is not an exception and research has laid a foundation for the knowledge and understanding of this field. Clinical psychologists are interested in advancing further knowledge in mental health, psychopathology, and in understanding the relationship between physical disease and psychological factors. Research and statistics from previous studies also remain important to clinical psychology since it provides evidence and acts as a guide to different clinical practices, including empirically validated process used to analyze people and the problems they have. Research and statistics helps in the treatment and prevention of the psychological diseases and are empirically supported by statistics and research data. Research findings identify interventions that have been identified as more effective than the actual treatment or other alternative forms of care.

Statistics also plays a large role in the world of clinical psychology. Statistics are used to describe data in regard to dispersion, central tendency, and shape of the frequency distribution recorded from the sample used for the study. Statistical data is used to make valid decisions on the features of statistical populations based on the sample provided. Through comparing statistical data to hypothetical distribution, clinical psychologists are able to conclude on the possible cause and effect of clinical factors (Chow, 2002). In the field of clinical psychology, psychologists use descriptive statistics for describing and transforming data into graphical or tabular form, to provide analysis and information on different factors that may need attention. These procedures are responsible in providing different summary indices that are used in further analysis on psychological cases. Statistics and research are also used to show and inform psychologists about the brain and personal behaviors. Basically, statistics give bearing to research across the field of psychology and the findings held validate probability. Statistics are also used in the organization of information.

Differences

The difference between clinical psychology and other mental health professions are based on the length of education, the type of education, and the degree that each field requires. Another key distinction is in the level of individual focus. One of the examples is in the case of social workers whose interest is in their client’s basic needs like food shelter, clothing, client’s strength, and career development. Psychologists are trained in the aspect of helping their clients deal with their mental health problems. They mainly focus on the human brain and behavior. Clinical psychologists are specialists in the research, diagnosis, and the treatment of behavioural and mental problems. Some of the problems that clinical psychologists explore is in the area of intellectual differences and the developmentally disadvantaged, behaviourally, and emotionally challenged clients. In accordance with the American Psychological Association (2015), clinical psychologists use different tools in their daily professional duties. Psychiatrists on the other hand, differ in the case of the level of education, which takes them much deeper into the medical aspect in their doctoral degree. Once the individuals earn their degree they have to complete another four years training in a mental health field. They are also given a licence to prescribe medication to their patients, who have cases that require medication.

Conclusion

In conclusion, clinical psychology is a field that has undergone a huge transformation over the years and is still being used to treat patients with mental health problems. It has had a long history that goes back to the ancient times and is still evolving in the modern world. It is regarded as a significant field of psychology that is practiced by professionals around the world.

References

American Psychological Association. (2015). Clinical Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/clinical.aspx

Benjamin, L. T., Jr. (2005). A history of clinical psychology as a profession in america (and a glimpse at its future). Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 1, 1-30. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/213099383?accountid=458

Chow, S. L. (2002). Statistics and its Role in Psychological Research. In Methods in Psychological Research, In Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS). Oxford: Eolss Publishers. Retrieved from http://cogprints.org/2782/1/EOLSSsta.pdf

Plante, T. G. (2011). Contemporary Clinical Psychology (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Rust, J., (2015). Psychometrics. Retrieved from http://www.psychometrics.cam.ac.uk/about‑us/our-history/first-psychometric-laboratory