Psychological evaluation or assessment is a process that involves the integration of information from multiple sources, such as psychological tests, and other information such as personal, medical, academic or work history, description of current symptoms and problems by either self or others, and collateral information (interviews with other persons about the person being assessed). A psychological test is one of the sources of data used within the process of assessment and assessments use multiple psychological tests as part of evaluations. At our clinic we generally are involved at some level of assessment when providing services to clients or patients, and may use for example, simple checklists to assess some traits or symptoms, but psychological assessment is a more complex, detailed, in-depth process. Typical types of focus for psychological assessment are to provided a diagnosis, assess level of function or disability, help direct treatment, and assess treatment outcome.
When patients seek treatment at our clinic, we usually start off with a psychological evaluation. This will involve several self report tests, a clinical interview, and sometimes we might involve a spouse or family member in order to provide a more comprehensive view point about an individual.
Types of Evaluations
Individual Psychological Evaluations
Psychological evaluations assess whether an individual appears to have psychological, behavioral, or adjustment problems. If there are areas of concern, such an evaluation can also suggest what type of treatment is most likely to be beneficial. Depending on the purpose of the evaluation, these assessments can include clinical interviews, administration of standardized psychological tests, collateral interviews, and document review.
Evaluations for Criminal Defendants
There are several reasons that a psychological evaluation of a criminal defendant might be indicated. The court or counsel may have concerns about a defendant's current mental state and request an assessment of their competency to stand trial. Alternatively, there may be a concern about the defendant's mental state at the time of the offense, which could be a mitigating factor when considering pleas and sentencing. There are also times when either the court or counsel question the veracity of a defendant's purported mental illness, in which case an assessment of malingering might be in order. Finally, the psychological assessment of sexual offenders can help determine disposition following sentencing, as well as determining treatment needs to avoid recidivism.
Evaluations for Juvenile Offenders
Psychological evaluations of juvenile offenders, for both general and sexual offenses, can provide valuable information to the court. Results of an assessment can help determine disposition following sentencing, as well as the treatment needs to avoid recidivism. Evaluations for juvenile offenders may include psychological assessment, psychosexual assessment, or sexual behavior risk assessment.