Dissertation
A Clinical Single-Case Study Investigation of the Person In Context Personality Assessment (PICA) Procedure
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005331
Abstract
Understanding personality is often a crucial component in conceptualizing psychopathology and treatment methodology for those seeking psychotherapy services. Despite this, personality assessment is underutilized in clinical practice, and available therapeutic applications of personality assessment do not incorporate advances in personality science . The Person in Context Assessment (PICA) provides a clinical application of the social cognitive theory of personality, which assesses a variety of underlying personality structures and personality processes that interact and create patterns of thoughts, behaviors, and emotions within environmental contexts. This study examined PICA as a supplementary therapeutic tool alongside ongoing therapy services in a single clinical case study of a participant with chronic moderate depression who was not responding to intervention efforts. After completing the PICA procedure and receiving personality feedback, the participant reported a significant decrease in depression symptoms, which dropped from the moderate into the minimal/mild severity range. Minor increases were also found in the participant’s motivation to change in therapy, generalized self-efficacy, and perception of therapy credibility. Examination of the participant’s therapy sessions notes suggested improved case conceptualization and the application of therapy treatment recommendations from the PICA procedure feedback as major contributors to depression symptom improvement. However, any direct therapeutic effect of the PICA procedure appeared limited. The results of this study provided further evidence for the validity of PICA and its potential therapeutic utility. Future investigation of PICA and its underlying therapeutic mechanisms within larger clinical case samples, as compared against other personality assessment measures, is warranted.
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Details
- Title
- A Clinical Single-Case Study Investigation of the Person In Context Personality Assessment (PICA) Procedure
- Creators
- Sierra Renee Paup
- Contributors
- Walter D Scott (Advisor)G. Leonard Burns (Committee Member)Christopher T Barry (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Psychology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 101
- Identifiers
- 99901031139401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation