Using critical-cue inventories to advance virtual patient technologies in psychological assessment

A shortage in clientele at university-based psychology clinics represents a significant challenge to patient-based practical skills training. Although supplementary methods of skill development (e.g., role-plays) are embraced within these programs, it may be argued that these methods offer a relatively diluted simulation of the psychological assessment process. Recently, virtual patients have been proposed as an attractive avenue for augmenting these traditional training methods. The current paper explores the potential benefits of using critical-cue inventories in the advancement of virtual patient technologies in psychological assessment. The piece briefly details a study which aimed to elicit cuebased information from experienced mental health practitioners, which may be embedded in simulations of the initial stages of psychological assessment. Preliminary findings are presented, and future directions discussed.