What is Psychological Testing?
Psychological testing (also known as psychological or psychodiagnostic evaluation or assessment) is the use of reliable and research-validated measures to examine a person’s mental health, provide any applicable diagnoses, and answer specific questions about a person’s well-being. Psychological testing commonly includes testing for intelligence or cognitive status, personality, and emotional states. The results of a psychological evaluation can help people get the care they need, improve their daily functions, qualify for certain medical procedures or treatments, adjust to life changes, improve social relations, or guide them in their career.
​
A psychological evaluation is considered when there is uncertainty about the reasons a person is having challenges with their mood, behavior, thinking, or learning. Psychological testing can quantify a change from a previous baseline, or it can quantify the severity of the symptoms or problems that someone is having. The results can be used to diagnose a variety of mental health conditions, including:
​
-
Anxiety
-
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
-
Bipolar disorder
-
Depression
-
Mood disorders
-
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
-
Personality disorders
-
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
-
Schizophrenia
-
Social anxiety
-
Somatic symptom disorder
-
Substance use disorder
Who Can Administer a Psychological Test?
Standardized tools, such as career assessments or symptom checklists, can be administered by licensed professional counselors (LPCs), clinical social workers (LCSWs), or marriage and family therapists (MFTs).
Who Can Benefit From Psychological Testing?
Psychological evaluations have two primary goals: clarifying diagnosis and informing treatment. Testing is recommended by a mental health provider or primary care physician when there is a need to better understand an individual’s symptoms, especially when these symptoms are affecting daily functioning or wellbeing. It may be unclear whether symptoms are the result of a physical condition, a mental health condition, or in many cases, a combination of both. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis through psychological testing can help treatment providers determine the correct path of care.
Most people who seek psychological testing have already tried different strategies or treatments to address their symptoms. If you have not responded to treatment or the treatment response is different than you or your provider expects, the results of psychological testing should provide new insights to optimize the treatment plan and personalize it to you. Many physical conditions lead to changes in mood, cognition, and interpersonal adjustment. In the same vein, emotional and behavioral factors impact disease management. Psychological testing is often used to support an individual’s qualification for services or procedures, and to provide recommendations to address risk factors and optimize response to those procedures. Psychological testing can establish a baseline prior to receiving treatment, determine capacity to participate in certain treatments, or identify appropriate candidates for specific medical or behavioral health procedures. Additionally, psychological evaluations can involve academic or vocational tests that are used to determine school placement, school-based services, career planning, or vocational needs.
Types of Psychological Tests and Evaluations
The most common types of psychological testing include:​​
-
Personality testing
-
Projective testing
-
Psychodiagnostic testing
-
Psychosis/reality testing​
Psychological Assessment is Part of Evidence-based Care for Mental Status Change
Psychological testing provides data to inform evidence-based care for individuals experiencing a change in emotional state, personality, or mental status as compared with their previous baseline. Often these types of changes include intrusive thoughts, trouble with reality testing (e.g., hallucinations or delusions), and/or malfunctional thought patterns that can be highly distressing. It can be difficult to “turn off” intrusive or disturbing thoughts, and in some situations, determining whether these types of experiences are normal or abnormal can be a challenge. Psychological testing can reveal the cause for observed changes. Sometimes results can be reassuring that perceived experiences are not cause for alarm; however, even if psychological testing does suggest the presence of certain conditions or diagnoses, the results become a crucial step towards accessing the appropriate care. The following symptoms may indicate that psychological testing is warranted:
​
-
Social withdrawal
-
Loss of pleasure in activities one typically enjoys
-
Nervousness, fearfulness, or anxiety
-
Sudden changes in mood that last more than two weeks and/or cause distress
-
Difficulty completing everyday tasks
-
Dramatic changes in sleep or eating habits
-
Problems with concentration
-
Disturbing or distressing thoughts
-
Intrusive thoughts
-
Seeing or hearing things that others cannot see or hear (hallucinations)
-
Unusual and uncharacteristic beliefs (such as delusions)
-
Urges to complete specific routines or behavior
-
Performance issues at school, work, or activities
-
Relational difficulties, trouble making or keeping friends, volatile relationships
-
Agitation, restlessness, or high energy
-
Impact of substance use or abuse
-
Addiction
-
Compulsive or impulsive behavior