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What is Psychological Assessment? Psychologists assess a person’s behaviour through formal psychological tests under controlled conditions. This may include standard tests and interviews. Psychological evaluations play a key role in many medico-legal proceedings. They can provide a greater understanding of the person and allow positive coping strategies to be put in place. Why should I be assessed for a psychological test? A psychological assessment is conducted by a qualified psychologist in order to understand the root of your mental health issues. Psychological assessments can include tests using the use of standard tests, clinical interviewing and the review of relevant documents. The information gathered in psychological assessments is used to make an accurate diagnosis and formulate an appropriate treatment plan to satisfy your particular requirements. Psychological evaluations are a powerful tool to help you understand how a condition is affecting your life. For example they can help you determine if there are learning difficulties or attention issues, or mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. They can also help identify a psychiatric disorder or neurological disorder that could be causing your symptoms, like Alzheimer's disease or brain injury. In a lot of cases your doctor will recommend an extensive psychological evaluation when a simple diagnostic examination is not sufficient. The results of the psychological examination will be presented in a written report that includes background information, test results and clinical impressions as well as probable diagnoses. The report is sent to you and the medical professionals you refer to. It is essential to recognize your strengths, even though the goal of testing and psychological assessment is to discover what could cause you to experience symptoms or issues. This is especially helpful for those who have previously had issues with mental health. Many people find that their mental health issues stop impacting their lives completely once they are treated properly, including therapy and medication. A psychological evaluation can help determine whether there are co-occurring disorders that could be contributing to the symptoms. This is known as comorbidity or complexity. National comorbidity surveys reveal that many people who suffer from one kind of mental illness also suffer from other types. The use of psychological assessment is a very powerful instrument and is an essential component to the diagnostic process. It is essential to keep in mind that the interpretation of any single test or piece of information should always be considered in context of the case history as well as other behavioral data and never in isolation. If not correctly interpreted psychological tests could mislead or even mislead people seeking care. That is why skilled psychologists are careful when writing psychological assessments and communicating them to their clients, using careful and judicious language. What will take place during the test? Psychological assessments can be complex and their content varies greatly in accordance with 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 be able to answer your questions and discuss the assessment process. It's important to understand the nature of the assessment so that you feel confident about the process. You shouldn't be afraid to ask questions. Psychometrics is the scientific study of psychological measurement (including the development of, interpretation, and evaluation of psychological tests). Psychometrics focuses on test reliability (consistency) as well as fairness and validity. A psychological assessment can be used to identify and diagnose mental health problems. www.iampsychiatry.uk can also aid in develop a treatment plan that is suited to the individual and assist to ensure that they receive the proper care and assistance. Assessments can also provide useful information to other healthcare professionals, such as psychiatrists, in order for them to better comprehend their patients and the impact of their ailments on their day-to-day lives. The results of psychological tests can have a significant effect on the quality of life for your child. They can help identify any issues that aren't yet identified and could adversely impact their relationships with family, friends, or school performance. They can also lead to an improved understanding of your child's their strengths and weaknesses. This can be beneficial to the way you interact with your child which will allow you to build positive and healthy relationships with them. It can also help improve the academic performance of your child and improve their behavior. Psychological assessments are often ordered by a judge as part of a legal proceeding. In these situations it is crucial that the professional who is instructed to carry out the assessment is an HCPC certified Clinical or Counselling Psychologists. This is to ensure that the report is reliable and fair, avoiding possible issues of unfairness or bias. How will the assessment occur? There is a broad range of psychological assessments available and the type of assessment will depend on the criteria to be established (usually in response to a specific referral). A typical Psychological Assessment involves an interview plan (usually semi-structured) followed by a variety psychometric assessments (tests) that are designed to answer the questions asked in the referral. This helps to determine the nature of symptoms, coping style/personality and aids in determining the most difficult diagnoses. It also identifies the kind of treatment that is most likely to benefit the patient. Many psychologists have also been trained to administer questionnaires that measure a variety of different characteristics that include personality, emotions, and the coping styles. These questionnaires can be useful in the early stages and are particularly helpful when assessing children and teenagers. These questionnaires typically involve the patient answering various questions about themselves and may also ask people who know them well to complete questions about what they have observed (for example behaviour or relationships). Neuropsychological assessments are more frequent in medical settings, and they tend to focus on the effects of a medical condition on cognitive functioning. For instance, if a patient has suffered an injury to the brain or suffers from a neurological disorder, such as epilepsy or dementia. These assessments are intended to establish the extent of any cognitive deficits and serve as a benchmark against which the future progress of the patient can be assessed. There are also a number specialist psychometric tests that are used to evaluate various aspects, like intelligence and memory. These are typically more time-consuming to conduct however they can be extremely helpful in providing additional information to the psychologist'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 services are typically provided by the NHS but there is a waiting list. Psychologists and Psychiatrists can also refer patients to other services, like physiotherapy, to treat injuries resulting from physical or occupational conditions such as diabetes. What is the price of the assessment? A doctor may perform tests on you if you are experiencing an illness such as dizziness or feeling lightheaded. This is done to determine the root cause of your problem. Psychological evaluations are similar to that they help mental health professionals determine the root of your symptoms. A psychological assessment is an intricate process that involves standard tests as well as observation. The assessment will look at your current level and how it has been affected by the issues you're experiencing. The results of your psychological examination will be used to develop an appropriate treatment plan for you. It is vital that a psychological assessment is conducted by an experienced and qualified psychologist. Your GP will be able refer you to a psychologist. If you're referred by your solicitor or barrister they'll know who to recommend based on the work they have completed and their reputation in court (how their reports are viewed when cross-examined). The Psychologist will then produce an report that will be sent to the person who made the request and any other participants in the investigation. This could include your family member, guardian or solicitor. The report will present the main findings, describing what has been considered and why. The report will be discussed in detail with you and you will be given the opportunity to ask questions or offer comments. In some cases the Psychologist may suggest treatment and write prescriptions for medication. The Psychologist will be in contact with your regularly to monitor and address any concerns that you may have. It is important to keep in mind that if you're undergoing therapy through the NHS that psychotherapy is usually free of charge, but if you are undergoing an assessment in court, it can be very expensive. If you're worried about the cost, talk to your GP, your mental health service or a non-profit organization like Mind or Rethink.