Psychological assessment is a process that can be undertaken in order to:
- Provide a more accurate diagnosis
- Determine the level at which a patient is functioning
- Determine the severity of symptoms that a patient is experiencing
- Assist an individual in obtaining accommodations for work or school
- Determine the patient’s clinical baseline (status at the beginning of their treatment) enabling their progress to be tracked throughout their treatment plan
- Quantify a patient’s symptoms in comparison to other individuals within their demographic (age and gender)
Psychological assessment can be particularly imperative when a patient’s diagnosis remains unclear even after their self-reported symptoms and psychiatric history. The assessment process is often used to look for/at:
- Clinical diagnoses, such as depression, Bipolar Disorder or anxiety
- ADHD
- Career decisions
- Cognitive functioning/memory
- Intelligence
- Learning Disabilities
- Personality
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
Psychological assessment is typically not covered by insurance and thereby an out-of-pocket cost. It is the patient’s responsibility to call and verify coverage with their individual insurance company.
