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What is Psychological Assessment? Psychologists evaluate a person's behavior through formal psychological tests conducted under controlled conditions. This can include standard tests and interviews. Psychological evaluations are a key element of many cases involving medico-legality. They can help to create an understanding of the person and allow positive strategies for coping to be put in place. Why should I be assessed for a psychological test? A psychological assessment is conducted by a qualified psychologist to discover the root of your mental health problems. Psychological assessments could include testing using standard tests, clinical interviews and review of relevant documents. The information gathered during psychological assessments can be used to design a treatment program that addresses your specific requirements. Psychological assessments are a valuable instrument that provides insight into how a particular problem might be affecting your everyday life, including problems with learning, attention deficit, or mood disorders like depression and anxiety. They can also help to determine a psychiatric issue or neurological disorder that could be causing your symptoms, such as Alzheimer's disease or brain injury. In many cases, a simple diagnostic interview isn't enough. Your doctor may recommend an extensive assessment. The results of the psychological test will be included in a written report that provides background information, test results, clinical impressions and probable diagnoses. The report is sent to you as well as your medical professionals who refer you to them. It is important to know your strengths, even though the aim of psychological testing and assessment is to identify what could cause you to experience symptoms or problems. This is especially helpful for those who have had issues with mental health. Many people find that their mental health issues stop impacting their lives completely once they are treated properly, and this includes therapy and medication. The results of a psychological assessment can also tell you if have any co-occurring conditions which could be causing your symptoms. This is known as comorbidity or complexity. National comorbidity surveys show that a large percentage of people suffering from a particular type of mental illness also have other forms. Psychological assessment is an effective tool that is crucial to the process of diagnosing. It is essential to remember that the interpretation of any single test or data should always be considered in context of the case history and other behavioral information and not in isolation. When interpreted improperly, psychological assessments can be misleading and even misguide individuals seeking care. This is why experienced psychologists are careful when creating psychological assessments and communicating them with their clients, using careful and judicious language. What will happen during the assessment? Psychological assessments can be complex and their content can vary greatly according to the situation and needs of your child. They may involve an interview with a trained psychologist, observation, questionnaires for children and parents, and a variety of psychological tests. Psychologists will discuss the process of assessing you and address any questions you might have. You should always ask questions and ensure you are aware of the assessment process. Psychometrics is the scientific study of psychological tests (including the design and interpretation of psychological tests). The main concerns in psychometrics are test reliability (consistency) and validity and fairness. A psychological assessment can be used to determine and diagnose mental health disorders. It can also assist in design a treatment program that will be suited to the individual, and help to ensure that they receive the proper treatment and support. Assessments can provide valuable information to other healthcare professionals like psychiatrists to help them comprehend the symptoms of their patients and their impact on their daily lives. The results of a psychotherapy assessment can have a major impact on the quality of life for your child. They can help to identify any problems that are not yet identified and could impact negatively their relationship with family, friends or school performance. They can also help you gain an understanding of your child's strengths and weaknesses. This can have a positive impact on your interactions with your child and allow you to build meaningful relationships with them. It can also help improve their behaviour and academic performance. Most often, psychological assessments are ordered by a court in the course of proceedings in a legal matter. In these situations it is vital that the professional who is assigned to conduct the test is a registered HCPC-registered Clinical or Counselling Psychologists. This will ensure that the report is fair and accurate, thus avoiding concerns of bias or unfairness. How do you plan to carry the test out? There is psychiatry assessment of psychological assessments that are available, and the type of assessment will depend on what needs to be established (usually in response to an individual referral). A typical Psychological Assessment involves an array of planned interviews (usually semi-structured) followed by a variety psychometric tests (tests), designed to address the issues raised in the referral. This aids in determining complicated diagnoses, helping identify the coping style/symptoms and the type of therapy that is most likely to aid the patient. Psychologists are trained to administer questionnaires that help to measure a range of different characteristics including personality, emotions and coping styles. These questionnaires are beneficial in the early stages and are especially helpful when assessing children and teenagers. The questionnaires typically have the patient answering questions about themselves, and they may also ask other people who know them to respond to questions regarding what they have observed (for instance, behavior or relationships). Neuropsychological evaluations are more common in medical settings, and they tend to concentrate on the way that a medical condition affects cognitive functioning. If a patient suffers from dementia, epilepsy or a neurological condition like epilepsy, they could be assessed. These assessments are intended to establish the extent of any cognitive deficits and provide a benchmark against which the future progress of the patient can be assessed. There are also a number specific psychometric tests used to assess different functions, including memory and intelligence. These are often more time-consuming to complete but they can be extremely useful in assisting the psychiatrist's diagnosis. Psychiatrists and Psychologists both may recommend that patients engage in psychotherapy (talking therapies) to help them overcome emotional/relationship difficulties or problems with stress or anxiety. These are usually accessible on the NHS but there is waiting lists for these services. Psychiatrists and Psychologists will also be capable of referring patients to other services such as physiotherapy for injuries resulting from their work or physical health issues like diabetes. What is the price? If you are suffering from an illness, for instance lightheadedness or dizziness, your doctor can conduct tests on you to identify the source of the problem. Psychological evaluations work in a similar way they are designed to aid the mental health professional understand what is causing your symptoms. A psychological test is a complex process that will examine many different factors, using both standardized tests and observations. The assessment will look at your current level of functioning and how that has been affected by the problems you're experiencing. The results of your psychological assessment will be used to develop an appropriate treatment plan for you. It is crucial that a psychological evaluation is carried out by a trained and experienced psychologist. The best place to start is with your GP who can refer you to a Psychologist. If you are being referred by an attorney or barrister, they will have an idea of the person to choose from previous work they've done for them as well as their reputation in court (how well their reports stand in cross-examination). After the evaluation has been completed, the Psychologist will produce a report that will be sent to the person who arranged the evaluation, and anyone else involved in the case, such as your guardian, family member, of ad litem, or your solicitor. The report will highlight the main findings, explaining what was examined and the reasons. The report will then be discussed with you in depth and allow you to ask questions or make comments about the findings. In certain cases the Psychologist might suggest treatment and prescribe medication. The Psychologist will follow up with you on a regular basis to monitor and discuss any concerns you might have. If you're receiving therapy through the NHS, you will receive a free psychological assessment. However, if your case is being considered for court proceedings, it could be quite costly. If you're worried about the cost, consult your GP or your mental health clinic or a charity such as Mind or Rethink.