What Does a Psychological Evaluation Consist Of?

There are five essential elements of a thorough psychological evaluation:

1. A review of the presenting problem. The presenting problem(s) is the reason the individual is seeking
treatment or an evaluation. Examples of presenting problems include: difficulty with falling and staying asleep, poor
organizational skills, frequently forgetful, depressed or sad most of the day, anxious or restless throughout the day,
difficulty letting go of things, etc.
2. A psychological interview. The interview is where the psychologist gets to know the client personally and indepth. A review of current symptoms, history of symptoms, and development are collected so that an accurate
picture of the individual can be made. Questions are asked in the areas of family, social, medical, and work/school.
3. Psychological testing related to the presenting problem. Based on the information obtained in the
presenting problem and comprehensive interview, the psychologist will then identify appropriate testing to obtain
specific information about problem areas. Psychological tests typically consist of answering specific questions on
standardized instruments. The tests selected may measure moods, personality, aptitude, pathology, skill,
intelligence or ability.
4. A summary of the results and feedback session. The psychologist then pulls together all the information
gained from the interview and testing to create a clinical picture of the client and generate appropriate diagnoses in
four areas: identifiable psychiatric disorders, personality disorders, medical conditions which may be affecting
mental health, and social/environmental problems. The summary also includes a Global Assessment of Functioning,
which assigns a number. This summary is called a multiaxial assessment and is used to complete the
recommendations and suggestions.
5. Recommendations and suggestions. The psychologist now creates a list of recommended interventions to
address the problems identified in the multiaxial assessment. These recommendations are typically treatment
interventions which have been shown through research and practice to effectively work on the problems identified.
The psychologist will refer the patient to appropriate resources to obtain the interventions recommended. For
example, if the psychologist has diagnosed the individual with bipolar disorder and recommended a medication
consultation, he will likely refer the patient to a psychiatrist for medications. Sometimes, the psychologist will
provide the treatment interventions himselfdepending upon his scope of practice (e.g. using cognitive behavioral
therapy in treating a client diagnosed with depression/anxiety).
Typically, a comprehensive psychological assessment report will be provided containing the five essential elements.
The report may be used for: obtaining necessary services based upon particular diagnoses, collaborating with
teachers and schools regarding services needed to address attention/learning concerns (typically called an IEP or
504 plan), for clarity and accuracy when dealing with multiple healthcare professionals (psychologist and a
psychiatrist), and for the tracking of symptoms over time.
=======================================

EMAIL

PRINT

true

Understanding psychological testing and assessment

If you or a family member has been referred for psychological testing, you probably have some questions about
what to expect. Or you may have heard about psychological testing and wonder if you or a family member should
be tested. Psychological testing may sound intimidating, but it's designed to help you.

In many ways, psychological testing and assessment are similar to medical tests. If a patient has physical
symptoms, a primary care provider may order X-rays or blood tests to understand what's causing those symptoms.
The results of the tests will help inform develop a treatment plan.

Psychological evaluations serve the same purpose. Psychologists use tests and other assessment tools to measure
and observe a client's behavior to arrive at a diagnosis and guide treatment.

Psychologists administer tests and assessments for a wide variety of reasons. Children who are experiencing
difficulty in school, for example, may undergo aptitude testing or tests for learning disabilities. Tests for skills such
as dexterity, reaction time and memory can help a neuropsychologist diagnose conditions such as brain injuries or
dementia.

If a person is having problems at work or school, or in personal relationships, tests can help a psychologist
understand whether he or she might have issues with anger management or interpersonal skills, or certain
personality traits that contribute to the problem. Other tests evaluate whether clients are experiencing emotional
disorders such as anxiety or depression.

The underlying cause of a person's problems isn't always clear. For example, if a child is having trouble in school,
does he or she have a reading problem such as dyslexia? An attention problem such as attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? Difficulty with impulse control? Psychological tests and assessments allow a
psychologist to understand the nature of the problem, and to figure out the best way to go about addressing it.
Tests and Assessments

Tests and assessments are two separate but related components of a psychological evaluation. Psychologists use
both types of tools to help them arrive at a diagnosis and a treatment plan.

Testing involves the use of formal tests such as questionnaires or checklists. These are often described as normreferenced tests. That simply means the tests have been standardized so that test-takers are evaluated in a
similar way, no matter where they live or who administers the test. A norm-referenced test of a child's reading
abilities, for example, may rank that child's ability compared to other children of similar age or grade level. Normreferenced tests have been developed and evaluated by researchers and proven to be effective for measuring a
particular trait or disorder.

A psychological assessment can include numerous components such as norm-referenced psychological tests,
informal tests and surveys, interview information, school or medical records, medical evaluation and observational
data. A psychologist determines what information to use based on the specific questions being asked. For example,
assessments can be used to determine if a person has a learning disorder, is competent to stand trial or has a
traumatic brain injury. They can also be used to determine if a person would be a good manager or how well they
may work with a team.

One common assessment technique, for instance, is a clinical interview. When a psychologist speaks to a client
about his or her concerns and history, they're able to observe how the client thinks, reasons and interacts with
others. Assessments may also include interviewing other people who are close to the client, such as teachers,
coworkers or family members. (Such interviews, however, would only be performed with written consent from the
client.)

Together, testing and assessment allows a psychologist to see the full picture of a person's strengths and
limitations.
Seeing a Psychologist

Psychological tests are not one-size-fits-all. Psychologists pick and choose a specific set of assessments and tests
for each individual client. And not just anyone can perform a psychological evaluation. Licensed clinical
psychologists are expertly trained to administer assessments and tests and interpret the results.

In many cases, psychologists who administer tests will then treat patients with psychotherapy. Some psychologists
focus only on evaluating patients, and then refer them to other specialists for treatment after they've made a
diagnosis. In either case, the testing and assessment process will help ensure that the client receives treatment
that's tailored to his or her individual needs.
What to Expect

Psychological testing isn't like taking a multiple-choice exam that you either pass or fail. Rather, psychologists use
information from the various tests and assessments to reach a specific diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.

Some people are tempted to peek at the tests ahead of time. If they suspect they may have a particular problem,
they may look online for a practice test of that problem. That's a bad idea, experts say. In fact, practicing ahead of

time usually backfires when you try to take the test in a certain way, the answers may be inconsistent and make
you appear to have more problems than you actually do.

Remember, psychological testing and assessment is nothing to fear. It's not something you need to study for.
Rather, it's an opportunity for psychologists to determine the best way to help you.

Thanks to Michelle F. Eabon, PhD, and Dan Abrahamson, PhD, for contributing to this article.

The full text of articles from APA Help Center may be reproduced and distributed for noncommercial purposes with
credit given to the American Psychological Association.

================================================
Why do a psych screening?
Law enforcement is a high-stress, people-intensive profession. Before a department invests the time and resources
in hiring, training, and fielding an officer, it wants to be reasonably sure that officer will be able to perform his or her
job, will not pose a risk or danger to the public, and often what drives the potentially contentious nature of the
evaluation process wont create a liability for the department ("Police agency knew rogue cop was a mental case:
Film at 11!"). Sometimes, however, over-zealousness can lead to unfortunate misinterpretations and
misapplications of the exam results.
An added complication involves quality control of evaluators. Contracts are typically awarded to examining
psychologists on a low-bid basis, so you have the pleasure of knowing that the evaluator whos making a careeraltering decision about your fate got his or her job, not because of any special credentials or qualifications, but
because he or she was the cheapest deal on the block.
Having said that, I know a lot of very competent, very professional psychologists who do pre-employment
screenings (and usually other types of police psychological work as well), who I would refer an officer to in a
heartbeat. Sadly, however, Ive come across too many "assessment mills" that make their margin on volume and
for which the quality of the evaluation is oftenwell, lets just say, not tops. But you have to deal with the
examiner youre dealt.

=====================================================================
===============
Structure of the Psychiatric Evaluation
While this is dependent on the individual psychiatrist and his or her expertise, the following are topics that will likely
be covered in a psychiatric evaluation prior to making a clinical formulation and recommendation.

Individual History

History of the Problem

Family History

Substance Use

Developmental History

Medical History

Social History

Mental Status

=================================================================

=====================================================

===========================================================

===================================================

======================================================