Psychological Testing
Psychological testing may seem unpleasant, but it is a basic assessment that screens for mental health difficulties, similar to assessing vital signs for your physical health. It’s an essential step in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses.
A psychological test may include numerous components, depending on your circumstances, to assist your mental health care provider in determining the form and extent of your problem as it impacts your life. While you may be worried, it is not a pass-or-fail issue. It’s all about your mental health.
Depending on the nature of your mental health condition, these tests and surveys may differ. We don’t employ assessments that aren’t important to your mental health concerns, just as a family physician won’t take a cancer biopsy when you come in for an injured leg.
Psychological testing is not intended to be definitive. It is a tool that we use in conjunction with information from your medical history, past appointments, and other resources to get a comprehensive picture of your mental health. Personality, mood, anxiety, stress, sleep, everyday activities, traumatic experiences, development, or social interactions may all be assessed.
What to expect during your Psychological Testing Appointment
While every patient’s care is personalized, here’s what to expect during your psychological appointment.
Before Your Appointment
Login to the patient portal and complete the two required forms: Psychological Testing Consent Form & Psychological Testing Questionnaire
The night before your appointment, try to get a good night’s sleep – coming well rested will make sure we have an accurate picture of your psychological characteristics and neuropsychological performance.
When you come to your appointment, make sure to bring your glasses or hearing aid if you use these. Many times, you will be completing forms, questionnaires, and tasks on a computer so it is important that you can see and hear.
During Your Appointment
The evaluation may take anywhere from 30 to 120 minutes, depending on your specific mental health condition and concerns. Come well rested and with glasses or hearing aids, if required. The trained testing technician will guide you though the testing process, making sure that you are comfortable and understand each task. During you may complete several questionnaires.
During you are allowed to have breaks in order to make sure you are not overly fatigued.
Once testing is complete, the technique will answer any questions which you may have and then make sure to schedule your follow-up appointment.
At your Follow-Up Appointment
Before your follow-up appointment, the testing technician will score your tests for the provider.
The provider will then use the results in conjunction with your medical history, past appointments, and psychiatric evaluation to formula a diagnosis and tailor your treatment plan.
During the follow-up appointment, the provider will go over all the test results and explain them to you. They may ask a family member to be present during.
Testing results help us personalize your treatment plan and help us determine which treatments might work best for you.
Learn About Our Other Testing Services
Neuropsychological / Cognitive Testing
We use the Computerized Neurocognitive Assessment (CNS-VS) system to objectively index your cognitive abilities. This may include memory, attention, working memory, and processing speed.
Electroencephalogram (EEG) / Brain Mapping
We use EEG during drowsy and alert states to assess brain wave activity which is important tool in clinical diagnoses and treatment. Using advanced techniques, EEG is able to map brain areas involved.