What does ACIS mean in PSYCHIATRY

ACIS stands for Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills. It is a systematic process to evaluate an individual's communication and interaction abilities. This assessment can help diagnose problem areas and provide strategies for improvement.

ACIS is commonly used by health professionals such as speech-language pathologists, psychologists, neurologists, and occupational therapists. It can also be used in educational settings to help assess students' communication and interaction skills.

The ACIS helps identify strengths and areas of improvement within an individual’s communication and interaction skills. It provides valuable insights into the needs of individuals, which can be used to develop appropriate intervention plans. It also enables tracking of progress over time, allowing practitioners to adjust interventions accordingly.

The length of time needed for completion varies depending on the individual being assessed. Generally, it takes anywhere between 1–2 hours in total including preparation time, breaks between components, observation time, tallying up scorecards, etc.

The five components of the schema-based observation form (SBOF) make up the core principles of an ACIS assessment- Auditory Capacity; Nonverbal Communication; Verbal Responsiveness; Intentional Initiation & Receptivity; and Intentional Control & Regulation. Other parts may include interviews with caregivers or teachers as well as direct observation sessions with the individual being assessed.

Results are typically scored based on a four‐point scale that ranges from “Not Observed” to “Displayed with Efficiency” across all five components outlined in the SBOF form. This allows practitioners to easily compare scores across components without needing any additional calculations or conversions.

While it is useful for assessing deficits in communication skills in an individual across multiple contexts, it does not address potential underlying causes that may need further diagnosis or treatment. Additionally, due its reliance on structured observations rather than continuous assessment tasks, it may not accurately reflect functional improvements acquired through conventional therapy.

Yes - you must obtain permission from your local licensing board before using this tool due to its medical nature and implication on diagnosis/treatment decisions.

Practitioners who want to use this tool should receive at least 18 hours/2 days' worth of professional training about how to properly observe behavior during assessments and interpret results correctly.