Literacy limitations to psychological evaluation tools: The case of MU

Introduction to the reader In this case, a survivor of torture presents with symptoms clinically consistent with both major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). During her evaluation, a validated psychological questionnaire for PTSD was administered verbally through a translator and accurately identified this diagnosis. However, a self-administered (read and completed by the client) questionnaire for MDD vastly underestimated the severity of her symptoms and failed to diagnose her with depression. The client had not completed grade school, so it is likely that her literacy level impacted the accuracy of this questionnaire. This highlights one of the many limitations that exist when administering psychological surveys. Through understanding these limitations, forensic evaluators can develop ways to identify, mitigate, and overcome limitations of these useful tools.