Kurt Andrew Weber, Ph.D.

drkurtweber@sbcglobal.net

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Psychological Assessment

Diagnosis of Axis I and Axis II Disorders 

The DSM uses a multiaxial or multidimensional approach to diagnosing psychological disorders.

 Axis I: Clinical Syndromes

What is typically thought of  as the diagnosis (e.g., anxiety disorders, mood disorders including depression,  schizophrenia,  social phobia, etc.)

Axis II: Developmental Disorders and Personality Disorders

Developmental disorders include autism and mental retardation, disorders which are typically first evident in childhood ; personality disorders are clinical syndromes which are generally more enduring and thoroughly impact  the individual's way of interacting with the world.  They include Paranoid, Dependent, Narcissistic, Histrionic, Obsessive-Compulsive, Schizoid, Paranoid, Schizotypal, Antisocial, and Borderline Personality Disorders.

 

 

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Diagnosis of Learning Disabilities -- Measurement of Intelligence -- Personality Assessment

Diagnosis of Learning Disabilities

I have been a practicing professional in psychological assessment since beginning a practicum placement in the St. Mary's University Counseling and Testing Center (San Antonio, Texas) under the supervision of Dr. Barbara Hardin, a licensed psychologist specializing in assessment.  In addition, I am the person responsible for the initial review of documentation submitted in support of requests for academic accommodations at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas.

The diagnosis of a learning disability, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-IV), is a significant difference between one's intelligence test scores (from the administration of the appropriate Wechsler inventory) and one's scores on a test of achievement (the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement).  The three learning disabilities are 

Reading Disorder,

Disorder of Written Expression, and

Mathematics Disorder.

The diagnosis of dyslexia is also made through the same testing procedures with an emphasis on several elements of the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement.  In addition, the assessment of the negative impact of other disorders, most prominently attention-deficit disorder (with or without hyperactivity) on the cognitive and intellectual functioning of the examinee, is done with these inventories.

Intelligence Testing

 

I administer the Wechsler series of intelligence tests, published by the Psychological Corporation.  The Wechsler inventories are the industry standard for intelligence testing, and have been proven to be reliable and valid in the understanding and measurement of intelligence.  The Wechsler series includes the 

 

Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of  Intelligence, the 

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, and the

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.

To view a sample report which includes the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (third edition), as well as the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability and Tests of Achievement (third edition), click here.

To view a sample report which includes the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (third edition), as well as the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability and Tests of Achievement (third edition), click here.

Personality Assessment

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (second edition) (MMPI-2)  

Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (third edition) (MCMI-III)

California Psychological Inventory

Strong Interest Inventory

Campbell Interest and Skills Survey

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

(and many others...)