Resolving Discrepancies in Psychological Assessment Data with Maltreated Children and Adolescents: The Relevance of Attachment Organization

Abstract

Psychological assessment is an important area of clinical work with maltreated children. The current study investigated the role of attachment organization as a predictor of patterns of similarities and discrepancies between three types of assessments of maladjustment. Results indicate that participants classified as Disorganized/Unresolved tend to show more impairment on the Ego Impairment Index of the Rorschach when compared with their peers, especially when discrepancies with self-giver and caregiver report of behavior problems are considered. Secure/Autonomous participants tended to show little or moderate levels of problems across measures. The findings point to the importance of using multiple measures when assessing juveniles showing a history of maltreatment, as well as of considering assessment findings in a relational framework.