Questions About Testing in Clinical and Medical Settings How do tests help mental health professionals and their patients?Psychological tests enable mental health professionals to make diagnoses more reliably, validly, and quickly than they can from personal observation alone. Tests can uncover problems that a mental health professional may not detect until much later. This allows the clinician to focus on the appropriate treatment more quickly, thereby saving time and money for the patient or client. Once a course of treatment has begun, tests can help the clinician monitor the effectiveness of the treatment as it proceeds. Show
Can psychological tests attach labels to people?Tests are not designed to label people. In fact, responsible test manuals discourage any such linkage between results and labels. These manuals help users interpret the test results in a way that respects each individuals uniqueness. They also recommend that the test user base diagnoses or clinical decisions on several sources of information rather than on just a single test result. However, some public groups such as insurance companies, legislatures, school boards, and human service agencies do attach labels to people. This happens when programs and treatments are standardized by categories. Thus, an individual seeking treatment or a child with learning problems often has to be diagnosed and labeled to fit into one of the categories in order to receive funding for the special help they need. Do clinical psychologists use different tests from those used in businesses or in schools?Sometimes. But most psychological tests, especially those measuring motor skills and mental aptitudes, can be useful in more than one field. A test for cognitive ability, for example, may be used in a school or at an employment office as well as by a mental health clinician. Also, some tests require high levels of training and expertise of test users for proper administration and interpretation. Can a test prove that somebody is mentally disturbed?Tests alone cannot diagnose a person. They are tools used only by qualified and competent professionals, just as a physician may combine information from X-rays, blood tests, and personal examination of the patient in reaching a physical diagnosis. What good are tests when somebody has already been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder?Psychological tests are often used to monitor a persons response to medications, which are used increasingly in treating a number of disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, and attention deficit disorder in children. The tests can help to track progress during a course of treatment to determine if a person is receiving the correct dosage, or is responding correctly to the medication. In a similar manner, tests can help monitor a persons response to other therapeutic treatments such as psychotherapy. Tests can also serve to confirm or reject potential diagnoses. Since we now have modern medical procedures, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), why do we need neuropsychological tests?It's true that medical imaging techniques are now widely used to help physicians diagnose neurological illnesses. However, neuropsychological tests are useful for screening patients for signs of neurological disorder. They are also helpful, and far less expensive than computerized tomography (CT) scans and MRIs, for monitoring patients over long periods of recovery or rehabilitation. Through neuropsychological testing, a physician can measure the progress of stroke victims, for example, and determine whether a particular treatment is working properly. When administered and evaluated properly, psychological tests are accurate tools used to diagnosis and treat mental health conditions. When you hear the words “psychological testing,” all kinds of questions and thoughts may run through your mind. What will they ask? Will my answers be considered right or wrong? If my answers are wrong, what will that say about me? Don’t panic. Psychologists use psychological testing in the same way medical doctors use lab work, X-rays, and physical exams: to determine the cause of your symptoms and recommend treatment, when necessary. Psychological testing is the basis for mental health treatment. These tools are often used to measure and observe a person’s behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. Tests are performed by a psychologist who will evaluate the results to determine the cause, severity, and duration of your symptoms. This will guide them in creating a treatment plan that meets your needs. Tests can either be objective or projective:
Both provide valuable insight into your symptoms and help psychologists see your overall level of functioning and distress. Psychological tests can include formal, or “norm-referenced,” tests to measure your ability to comprehend different concepts. They can come in the form of checklists and questionnaires. Each test measure ensures the reliability, validity, and objectivity necessary to avoid bias in scoring or interpreting your results. During a psychological evaluation, assessments may also be used to help diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Assessments include standardized tests as well as informal tests, such as:
Psychological testing can be recommended for a number of reasons including diagnosing mental health conditions and identifying troubling behavior. According to the American Psychiatric Association, the following symptoms may indicate that a psychological test may be needed:
If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these, consider reaching out to a mental health professional. You can use our Find a Therapist tool for help. Psychological testing may also be used by researchers or scientists to test hypotheses about a variety of topics that aren’t always related to psychology. Other uses for psychological testing include:
Psychologists use testing to examine a variety of factors, including emotional intelligence, personality, mental aptitude, and neurological functioning. Here’s a more in-depth look at the types of testing available and the most commonly used tests for each category. Now that you have a better idea of what psychological testing entails and you’re ready to move forward, you might be asking yourself, “So, what’s next?” If you haven’t already done so, consider reaching out to your primary care doctor, if you have one. They may be able to refer you to a mental health professional who is qualified to administer testing and diagnose and treat mental health conditions. If you’re unsure about seeking treatment, consider joining a local or online mental health support group. Support groups offer a great way to meet other people who are experiencing similar emotions and situations. Knowing that you’re not alone can be encouraging and helpful. Remember during testing to be as honest as possible about your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. This is the best way to get the help and support you need. What is the difference between test and psychological test?Mostly tests are used as a way of measuring differences between people or differences in the same person over time. Psychological tests are written, visual, or verbal evaluations administered to assess the cognitive and emotional functioning of children and adults.
Is psychological testing the same as psychological assessment?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 “norm-referenced” tests.
How reliable are psychological tests used by practicing clinicians?A recent report indicates that psychological assessments are just as predictive of specific, measurable outcomes--sometimes even more predictive--as many medical tests.
What are common to psychological tests?A typical battery of tests includes projective tests to assess personality such as the Rorschach and the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), an objective personality test such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), a semistructured test like the Rotter Incomplete Sentence Test, and an intelligence ...
|
