Overview Of an Assessment
The purpose of a psychological evaluation is to assess psychological problems and make recommendations based on that assessment. To achieve this, a psychological evaluation consist of five primary parts:
1. A review of the reason the patient was referred to the psychologist-called the "Presenting Problem"
2. A psychological interview
3. Psychological testing related to the presenting problem
4. A summary of the results from the interview and testing
5. Recommendations and suggestions based on the summary of results
The Presenting Problem
This first part of the evaluation is all about clarifying the reason the patient has come to the psychologist---the problem the client is seeking help with. For example a patient may present with feelings of depression or excessive anxiety. In some cases, the patient is not seeking help but has been involuntarily referred. In cases like this, the presenting problem is changed to "reason for referral."
Psychological Interview
This interview is designed to get a comprehensive view of the patient's current life circumstances and personal functioning across several life domains including work, family, social and medical. The interview will also gather information about past functioning and development. Psychologists define different domains for this interview, but the overall goal is to obtain a life history including medical, psychological and social information.
Psychological Testing
Based on the information obtained in the presenting problem and comprehensive interview, the psychologist will then identify appropriate testing to obtain specific information about problem areas. Psychological tests typically consist of answering specific questions on standardized instruments. The tests selected may measure moods, personality, aptitude, pathology, skill, intelligence or ability.
Results Summary
The psychologist then pulls together all the information gained from the interview and testing to create a clinical picture of the client and generate appropriate diagnoses in four areas: identifiable psychiatric disorders, personality disorders, medical conditions which may be affecting mental health, and social/environmental problems. The summary also includes a Global Assessment of Functioning, which assigns a number. This summary is called a multiaxial assessment and is used to complete the recommendations and suggestions.
Recommendations and Suggestions
The psychologist now creates a list of recommended interventions to address the problems identified in the multiaxial assessment. These recommendations are typically treatment interventions which have been shown through research and practice to effectively work on the problems. However, the psychologist may recommend interventions which are not specifically treatment---such as attending Alcoholics Anonymous if a drinking problem has been identified. Suggestions are additional interventions which the psychologist believes will assist the patient but are not seen as necessary---such as increasing daily exercise. The psychologist will refer the patient to appropriate resources to obtain the interventions recommended. For example, if the psychologist has diagnosed the individual with bipolar disorder and recommended medications, she will likely refer the patient to a psychiatrist for medications. Sometimes, the psychologist will provide the treatment interventions herself---depending upon her scope of practice.
References
- The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; The American Psychological Association; 2000.
