Psychological Assessment Is a Broad

Psychological Assessment is a broad term referring to a variety of procedures and instruments psychologists use to diagnose clients and ascertain their progress in therapy. Formal testing is a common assessment tool used by psychologists, but other assessment tools include interviews, interviews with family members, demographical information, medical history, and general observations. Any number of assessment methods may be used in conjunction with one another to yield a diagnosis. Psychological assessments can yield a wealth of information regarding an individual's needs and can enhance the counselor's knowledge of how to proceed with a plan of treatment. Assessments might be conducted one-on-one with a client or via observation, as when a counselor observes the behavior of a young child in a group setting. Psychological assessments should not be a one-time service. Rather, counselors and psychologists should continually assess and reassess their clients.

Testing is a clinically-accepted, formal means of psychological assessment. Psychological and psychiatric tests used in the assessment process range from questionnaires to computerized medical examinations like MRIs. Included among the battery of tests available to counselors and psychologists include intelligence tests like the intelligence quotient (IQ) test, personality tests like the Myers-Briggs test, and specialized tests that are designed to discover the presence of conditions like anxiety disorders, mood disorders, addictions, or learning disabilities. Hundreds of tests are commonly used by counselors and psychologists. The selection of a testing instrument will depend as much on the tastes and background of the counselor as on the symptoms of the client. Tests are helpful in contributing to the overall psychological assessment but are not reliable or valid as assessment tools on their own. Rather, the counselor will want to use a psychological test in conjunction with other assessment methods such as interview sessions and observation. Organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA) maintain lists of tests that are currently recognized as clinically reliable.

The type of testing method used will be determined by the client's symptoms as well as the psychologist's initial evaluation of the client. Many clients self-assess by reading self-help books or Internet sites. However, such assessments can often be erroneous or biased. The counselor must also take care to avoid jumping to conclusions about a client based on the results of one assessment mode. For example, if a client appears emaciated and claims loss of appetite, the counselor must not immediately assume the client has anorexia nervosa. Rather, any number of medical or psychological conditions could be responsible for the symptoms. Therefore, the more assessment techniques are used, the more accurate the diagnosis will be.

Assessments enable psychologists to label their clients using aids like the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). However, when using labels, counselors have to be careful to not pigeonhole or otherwise be biased. Labels are helpful in offering some clear-cut solutions for specific problems, but labels can and should change over time as the client progresses with therapy. Assessments should be always be used with the ultimate aim of improving a client's life.

Psychological assessments can help psychologists determine whether medical attention is necessary for the client. If so, the psychologist or counselor would need to recommend the client see a psychiatrist, who would then reassess the client using different parameters. For instance, a psychiatric assessment would include more information about the patient's medical history, medication history, and allergic reactions. Psychiatric tests might include specialized computer-aided tests like brain scans. When a psychiatrist administers medications to the client, he or she will also make assessments based on the patient's reaction to the drugs. Assessments can also draw attention to therapies and medications that are having an adverse affect.

Through continual assessments, counselors can make appropriate changes to their clients' treatment plans if necessary. Initial assessments often require follow-ups, especially for complex cases or cases in which the individual demonstrates multiple symptoms. Accurate psychological assessments can vastly improve a client's well-being by providing for optimal therapies. Incorrect diagnoses can lead to a worsening of symptoms, especially when medications are incorrectly prescribed.