Psychological tests and assessments for psychological disorders are many. There are tests for specific disorders, and larger tests giving scores on different scales that give symptom or diagnostic scores. Sometimes examiners must interpret several tests to support a diagnosis. All psychological tests must be interpreted. Scores alone may be affected by factors such as: cultural differences; type of test; mental and physical condition of the examinee; examiner differences; how and where the test is administered; and timing of testing periods in relation to each other.
IQ Testing
IQ tests measure mental abilities, mental processing and memory. The major IQ tests as of 2010 are the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children, 4th ed. (WISC-IV), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales, 4th ed. (WAIS-IV), and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, 4th ed. IQ test results are helpful in discerning whether a symptom derives from cognitive functioning or other psychological symptoms. IQ tests are necessary for diagnosing mental retardation and some types of autistic disorders, according to the "Handbook of Psychological Assessment."
Achievement Tests
Achievement tests are usually used with elementary, middle and high school students. They are very helpful in assigning school placement and in suggesting whether a child may have learning disabilities or other psychological blocks to achievement. In psychological testing, they are part of a "full battery" of tests, that taken together, help identify and diagnose disorders. The major tests as of 2010 are the Wechsler Inventory of Achievement Test, 3rd. ed., (WIAT-III) and the Stanford Achievement Test Series. Achievement tests measure a student's achievement in several areas, including language, math, writing and reading. They are scored in each area, by grade level or by age level. Achievement tests show what a student is actually learning, no matter what IQ he has.
Major Psychopathology and Personality Tests
While cognitive tests may suggest psychological problems, they do not assess the "why"or "which" of psychological disorders. As of 2010 the major psychopathology and personality tests are the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Index, 2nd ed. (MMPI-2) and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III). These tests provide numerous scales for different symptoms of psychological disturbance (psychopathology) from anxiety to psychotic disorders, and scales for personality disorders. The MMPI-2 is an older and well-researched test, developed by measuring symptoms in psychiatric patients. The MCMI-III is a more recent test that tracks the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed." (DSM-IV). Both are intended for patients presenting psychological problems, and both are complex.
Depression Assessments
Depression assessment is covered in the MMPI-2 and the MCMI-III. Additionally there are tests for depression alone. The Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition and the Hamilton Depression Inventory (HDI) both assess adult depression. For elders, assessments like the Geriatric Depression Scale--10 Item Version may be used. For children and adolescents, the Beck Youth Inventories of Emotional and Social Impairment includes a depression scale.
Trauma and Post-traumatic Stress
The Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC), the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents for DSM-IV (CAPS-CA) and Darryl, A Cartoon-Based Measure of Cardinal Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms in School-Age Children are child and youth PTSD assessments. The Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI) and the Post-traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS) both assess the presence of PTSD in adults.
Child and Adolescent Behavioral Assessments
Two major self-report inventories (questionnaires completed by patient, parent(s), and teacher(s)) exist. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Youth Self-Report contain scales for specific symptoms and types of disorders under the DSM. The Behavior Assessment System for Children, 2nd ed. (BASC-2) also assesses these symptoms using a similar self-report system and includes scales for adaptive behaviors, like social functioning and communication. Scores on both are marked as to whether the symptoms or syndromes fall in the clinical, borderline or normal range.
Mental Status Exam
Mental status may be assessed as part of a clinical interview with a patient. It is an overall quick assessment of the patient's functioning. Usually it includes assessment of: appearance; speech; mood; thinking; perceptions; alertness; orientation to person, place and time; concentration; memory; calculations; knowledge; abstract reasoning; insight; and judgment. It uses various short questions and tasks that provide indicators of the patient's condition.
For More Disorders
There exist assessments for many other specific disorders, like schizophrenia, or autism, but they are not used if other testing or examination has already gathered enough information. Neuropsychological testing is used when ordinary psychological tests, like the Bender Gestalt, 2nd. ed., suggest further testing is warranted or do not provide enough information. Projective testing, like the Thematic Apperception Test and Rorschach, is useful, but contains more subjectivity than other types of tests so is not always used.
References
- "Handbook of Psychological Assessment, 5th ed."; Gary Groth-Marnat, Ph.D; 2009.
- "Synopsis of Psychiatry, 9th ed."; Benjamin J. Sadock, M.D., Virginia A Sadock, M.D.; 2003
- "Test Collection Database"; Educational Testing Service; as updated.
- "Psychological Assessment of Adult Posttraumatic States, 2nd ed."; John Briere, Ph.D; 2004
- "PTSD in Children and Adolescents"; Spencer Eth, M.D. Ed.; 2001
