Advancing the Role of Assessment in Evidence-Based Psychological Practice

Miller, Johnson, and Eisner's (2009) thorough review of the assessment literature for bipolar disorders (BD) in adults provides valuable guidance to both clinicians and researchers. This commentary highlights the range of scientifically sound instruments available and the current limitations evident in the BD assessment literature. I discuss how these limitations are also evident in the assessment research on other disorders and how improvements in assessment instruments (including those used for the purposes of diagnosis, case formulation, and treatment monitoring and evaluation) are central to the promotion and implementation of evidence-based practice in psychology.