Psychological Assessment
A Psychological assessment assists in gaining a better understanding of an individual's psychological issues, identifying ways in which a person experiences emotions, thoughts, and relationships, understand their current coping mechanisms, and clarify overall psychological functioning. Psychological testing is also an effective means to identify psychiatric symptoms that may be interfering with an individual's quality of life. Utilizing a thorough clinical interview with an individual and possibly their loved ones, gathering information from other providers, completion of self report and observer questionnaires, and of course with standardized testing, a psychological evaluation works to identify psychiatric symptoms and diagnoses, psychological coping, potential psychological interventions, and to understand one's personality style. It may be conducted on its own or as a component of a psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluation.
A psychological assessment may be useful for:
- Understanding one's emotional and behavioral functioning
- Identifying the causes of psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety, social skills deficits, low frustration tolerance, anger problems, impulse control, mood instability, or poor coping skills
- Identify underlying behavioral and conduct problems
- Providing a clear psychiatric diagnosis in order to aid treatment planning
- Determining eligibility for special education services and/or residential services
- Providing information about response to medication and/or other treatments
- Assisting other providers in development of treatment plans, evaluation of interventions, and supplementing professional impressions