Psychological Testing
What is psychological assessment?
Psychological assessment refers to the systematic process of gathering and analyzing information about a person’s thoughts, feelings, behaviors, personality, and abilities. When combined with information from interviews, observations, and other sources, assessments can help a person explore new and more effective ways of resolving their problems and living more effectively. After assessment procedures are completed and the results are obtained, the psychologist typically gives the client feedback about the results. The purpose is to promote greater self-understanding and to help plan appropriate and effective treatment. In this way, psychological assessment can often shorten psychotherapy and reduce its cost when compared to treatment based solely on a clinical interview. Psychological assessment can also provide accurate and objective information to help answer questions posed by other health professionals and referring agencies such as school systems, the court, and social agencies. Specific referral questions for the psychological assessment contribute to more personalized results, recommendations, planning, and decision-making.
What does psychological assessment
provide that typical interviews do not?
- Provides a more objective yardstick to measure personal characteristics.
- Aid in more accurate diagnostic assessment
- Provides important treatment related information that may be difficult for the client to express directly in interviews.
- Provides reliable and valid information about the client based on comparisons with research data gathered from large groups of people.
- Measures a large number of personality, cognitive or neuropsychological characteristics simultaneously.
- Offers information from a wide range of sources, including self-reports, performance tasks, and other assessment strategies.
- Provides central information needed at the start of or early in treatment.
- Guides the selection of appropriate treatment methods, particularly for clients who have not sufficiently benefited from previous treatment or whose treatment needs are complex.
- Highlights potential obstacles in treatment and suggest alternatives. Identifies client’s strengths that can be used to facilitate and speed treatment.
- Clarifies the goals and focus of treatment.
- Provides a baseline to measure the progress of treatment and to evaluate the effects of treatment.
- Serves as a kind of “outside opinion” that informs both client and health care professional in their planning for and reassessment of treatment.
- Gives the client information to enable more confident and active participation in treatment decisions, thereby increasing the client’s sense of independence and satisfaction.
When is psychological assessment needed?
Pretreatment evaluation:
Often the goal of a pretreatment assessment is to describe current functioning, confirm or refute clinical impressions, identify treatment needs, suggest appropriate interventions, or aid in careful diagnosis. Pretreatment assessment is likely to yield the greatest overall benefit for clients when (a) there are a variety of treatment approaches to choose from and there is a body of knowledge linking treatment methods to patient characteristics, (b) the client has had limited success in prior treatment, or (c) the client has complex problems calling for treatment goals to be prioritized.
Evaluation of outcomes:
Because clients may have difficulty describing changes in their functioning over time, evaluation of treatment outcomes supplements the client’s subjective reports with formal measures of current functioning. Psychological test data gathered at the beginning, end, and at various points throughout the treatment can accurately measure progress and treatment effectiveness.
Stalled treatment:
When treatment efforts have stalled, psychological assessment may be used to review and modify treatment plans. Psychological assessment can identify the factors impeding therapeutic progress.
Brief treatment:
When clients are in great emotional distress but are reluctant or unable to engage in more lengthy treatments, psychological assessment approaches called Therapeutic Assessment or Collaborative Assessment can serve as a very effective brief therapy. These treatment models have been shown to decrease distressing symptoms, restore hope, and increase cooperation with other treatment efforts. In settings where treatment demands are high and professional resources are limited, psychological assessment can be an efficient and effective form of brief therapy.
The information on this page was adapted from the Society for Personality Assessment Psychological Assessment brochure. www.personality.org
© 2008 SPA
What is an ADHD assessment?
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) assessment is a comprehensive process used to evaluate and diagnose ADHD in individuals who may be experiencing symptoms such as difficulty with concentration, inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that are impairing their functioning in various areas of life. The assessment typically involves gathering information from multiple sources (especially for assessment of children and adolescents), including the individual, parents or caregivers (for children), spouses (for adults), teachers (if applicable), and sometimes other relevant individuals.
Key components of an ADHD assessment may include:
1. Clinical Interview:
A clinician conducts a structured or semi-structured interview with the individual and, if applicable, their parents or caregivers. This interview gathers information about the individual’s developmental history, current symptoms, family history, medical history, and any other relevant factors. functioning in various areas of life. The assessment typically involves gathering information from multiple sources (especially for assessment of children and adolescents), including the individual, parents or caregivers (for children), spouses (for adults), teachers (if applicable), and sometimes other relevant individuals.
2. Symptom Rating Scales:
Standardized rating scales, such as the ADHD Rating Scale, are often used to assess the presence and severity of ADHD symptoms. These scales are completed by the individual, parents or caregivers, and sometimes teachers to provide a comprehensive view of symptoms across different settings.
3. Cognitive Testing:
Neuropsychological testing may be conducted to assess intellectual functioning, executive functioning, attention and impulsivity. These tests can help identify strengths and weaknesses in specific cognitive domains and rule out other possible explanations for symptoms.
4. Psychological Testing:
Assessments of personality, emotional functioning, social skills, and other psychological factors may be included to evaluate the individual’s overall psychological well-being and identify any co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety or depression, which are common in individuals with ADHD.
5. Medical Evaluation:
A thorough medical evaluation with a primary care physician is recommended prior to any psychological evaluation to rule out any medical conditions or neurological disorders that could be contributing to the individual’s symptoms.
6. Collateral Information:
Information from other relevant sources, such as school records, previous evaluations, or reports from other healthcare providers, may be gathered to provide additional context and corroborate information obtained during the assessment process.
What can the client expect during and after
a psychological assessment?
Usually, psychological assessments take place face to face in an office setting. The client will meet with Dr. Woodford for several hours completing forms/tests and answering questions. Following the assessment, Dr. Woodford synthesizes the information gathered from various sources to answer the referral question(s). From the day of testing to the final report, this process can take 6 to 8 weeks. Depending upon the results, Dr. Woodford works with the individual and/or their family to develop a comprehensive treatment plan, which may include behavioral interventions, referral for medication consultation, educational accommodations, and support services. A report summarizing the results and recommendations will be provided to the client or client’s parent(s)/guardian(s).