The Psychological Stress Evaluator as a clinical assessment instrument. Evaluation and implications

Efficient clinical assessment of anxiety and hostility could be facilitated through the use of a mechanical measurement instrument with known validity and reliability. Preliminary evaluation of the Psychological Stress Evaluator (PSE) has indicated that it could be used for this purpose. The present study reports the results of a correlational analysis between a PSE generated stress indicator (blocking pattern mode III) and the Gottschalk-Gleser Free Association Test, a verbal content-analysis measure of anxiety and hostility in psychotherapy patients. Findings do not show any correlation between these measures and suggest that the PSE may have only limited use as a valid and reliable assessment instrument for anxiety and hostility. Methodological problems inherent in the calculation and interpretation of PSE scores are elaborated in a review of current PSE scoring systems. A brief discussion of the theoretical assumptions underlying the development of the PSE and associated scoring protocols suggests directions for future research.