Family Development Collective

Diagnosing a mental health condition requires moving through a series of steps that help a certified therapist determine how to proceed with care. One of the most important tools to detect the presence of a mental health condition is called psychological testing, which comes in many different forms depending on the types of symptoms experienced by a client. The versatility of psychological assessments makes testing one of the most accurate tools for diagnosing and treating a mental health condition.

With the growing popularity of self-assessment tools available online, far too many people receive their information concerning their conditions from non-sanctioned mental health resources. To ensure the accuracy of psychological testing, the only way to get the correct diagnosis is by having a certified therapist conduct a proven assessment.

What is Psychological Testing?

Psychological testing represents a sequence of assessments that are monitored by a licensed and properly credentialed therapist. The sequence of assessments attempts to determine how a client feels, thinks, and analyzes different stressful situations. Psychological testing also gives a therapist insight into how a client reacts to different types of stimulation. The result of the sequence of psychological assessments is to help a therapist devise a game plan to address the development of one or more mental health conditions.

A client might undergo individual adult therapy and/or participate in group settings to get a better understanding of how to cope with their symptoms. The most common types of psychological testing include cognitive, personality, mental health, and adaptive behavior assessments. A client might complete more than one psychological assessment to help a therapist devise the most effective treatment plan.
What Are the Common Conditions Revealed by Professional Psychological Testing?
Psychological testing can reveal the development of a wide variety of mental health conditions, with the following five conditions representing the most common conditions revealed by professional psychological testing.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Once considered a mental health condition exclusively experienced by members of the military and law enforcement personnel, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) also is a common result of the trauma faced by violent crime victims. A therapist can utilize the result of several types of psychological tests to determine whether a client suffers from PTSD.

Dementia

The onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease often takes years to develop into a full-blown mental disability. Therapists that administer cognitive tests over several months can detect whether a client is experiencing a decline in mental capabilities. Combined with brain imaging scans, cognitive testing represents an effective tool to detect the symptoms of dementia.

ADHD

Children who struggle with focusing on classroom discussions and/or have a difficult time remaining sedentary for short periods might have the condition called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Psychological testing is an integral tool to detect the development of ADHD symptoms.

Depression

Depression is one of the most serious mental health conditions that can tear relationships apart, from marriages to the intricate bonds of family interactions. Conducting a series of psychological tests can diagnose the symptoms of depression, as well as help therapists develop customized plans to address the debilitating symptoms of the mental health condition.

Developmental Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder is just one type of condition that is considered to be a developmental disorder. Although running a cognitive assessment can help a therapist determine whether a client suffers from a severe cognitive impairment, the therapist might have to conduct one or more additional psychological assessments to obtain an accurate diagnosis.