Mental Health Assessment and Diagnosis – Psychological Testing
Recognizing that you may need a mental health assessment can be scary. You might not know what to expect or what the outcomes might be, and worry about having to face up to difficult thoughts and emotions. For this reason, some people can go months, if not years, without getting a proper mental health diagnosis.
What’s more, overlapping symptoms, physical illnesses, and changing emotions can all make it difficult to get an accurate diagnosis without psychological evaluation services.
A professional psychological evaluation is an important process that can give you the answers you need to move forward and get the help you need to start healing. If you’re curious about psychological assessment tools or are looking for “Psych testing near me,” Mission Connection can help.
This article can also work as a useful guide, as it breaks the process of mental health assessments down into the following topics:
- What psychological testing is
- The different types of psychological testing and their purposes
- What the psychological diagnostic process looks like
- Common psychological assessment tools
- The benefits people can get from psychological testing
- Where to find professional psychological testing services
What Is Psychological Testing?
Knowing that something in your mental well-being has shifted, but not understanding exactly what this is, can be highly distressing. Psychological testing can provide much-needed answers.
Psychological testing is used to determine what – if any – mental, emotional, or cognitive issues someone may have. In other words, these tests are a way to measure and evaluate a person’s thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and abilities.1
Psychological tests are often “closed.” This means they can typically only be given by a trained mental health professional to get information about someone’s abilities. For instance, they may be used to assess memory, attention, problem-solving, and emotional regulation skills, as well as personality traits.
Just like academic testing at school, psychological tests are known as “standardized” because they are administered and scored in the same way for everyone. Yet, you don’t just get a straightforward grade. Instead, these assessments identify strengths and challenges, which can help your mental health professional create a meaningful treatment plan for your needs.
Is There a Difference Between Psychological Assessments and Testing?
Psychological assessments and tests often overlap, but they’re still slightly different – and it can help to understand how they vary. Mental health assessments can be thought of as a way to see the “big picture” of your well-being and overall functioning. In contrast, psychological tests give more of a “snapshot” of specific traits and abilities, so they may be used as part of a psychological assessment.
There are several different types of tools and methods mental health professionals use for psychological assessments, including:2
Records like medical, school, legal, and even work history
- Documents from hospitals or therapists
- Behavioral observations
- One-on-one interviews
- Interviews with family members, friends, teachers, and other loved ones
- Formal psychological or neuropsychological testing
There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to answer interview questions or behave in an assessment. Therefore, a comprehensive mental health assessment isn’t typically scored or given a singular result. Instead, they give important information about how you manage and cope with daily life. For this reason, they’re an essential part of psychological screening services and are considered as relevant as clinical psychology testing for providing meaningful interventions.
Next, let’s break down the different types of psychological tests and how they can be used as part of the mental health diagnosis process.
Types of Psychological Testing and Their Purposes
From mental health cognitive testing to neuropsychological testing, there are several different methods your provider might use as part of their assessment. The following are some of the most common psychological tests and why they’re essential for mental health treatment.
1. Cognitive Testing for Mental Health
To understand why cognitive testing for mental health is important, it may help to fully understand what “cognition” is. Cognition refers to your mental processes, including abilities like problem-solving, decision-making, judgment, and memory.3
Cognitive testing is one of the most commonly used adult psychological testing strategies, since these abilities can decline as we get older. But, while getting older can lead to poorer cognitive skills, severe or sudden changes in cognition can also be a sign of underlying mental health issues.
For instance, mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder can all impact cognition. These disorders can affect the ability to think clearly, make sound decisions, and remember important things. To rule out whether your cognition is being affected by a health issue or a mental health disorder, your provider can use cognitive tests like:4
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test:
This test takes about 15 minutes, during which you’ll need to memorize a short list of words, copy a drawing of a shape or object, or look at pictures of animals and name the ones you see.- Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE): This test lasts about 10 minutes. You’ll be asked to state what date it is, do a simple task like count backwards, or identify everyday objects.
- Mini-Cog: This test usually takes about 3 minutes, and will ask you to recall a three-word list of objects or draw a clock with hands that shows a specific time.
While these tests might seem simple enough, they can provide valuable information for healthcare providers, as they can pinpoint changes in cognitive function, memory, or problem-solving abilities. For people with schizophrenia, for instance, the MoCA can determine if someone is affected by mild or severe symptoms.5
2. Emotional Assessments
For children, one of the most commonly used emotional assessments is the Functional Emotion Assessment Scale (FEAS).6 This test measures emotional functioning in children who might have problems like regulatory disorders, anxiety, impulsivity, and depression.
For older people, other types of emotional assessments include:7
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)- State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI-2)
- State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI)
Each of these tests is designed to look at things like anxiety, anger, depression, and curiosity. They can also measure personality traits and emotional stability. For these reasons, these assessments are often used to help diagnose and treat mental health disorders.
3. Neuropsychological Testing
Neuropsychological testing can be particularly helpful in cases where there might be some damage or dysfunction in the brain due to injury or disease, like in the case of Alzheimer’s. In fact, neurological testing can distinguish between Alzheimer’s and non-Alzheimer’s dementia with an astounding 90% accuracy.
Neuropsychological tests can vary widely, and include measuring things like:8
Attention and working memory- Emotional functioning
- Personality
- Memory
- Intelligence
- Mental Processing Speed
- Psychomotor Functioning
From helping psychologists plan treatment to prioritizing goal-setting and considering how well treatment is working, neuropsychological testing can provide valuable insights into the best approaches to take for your well-being.
The Psychological Diagnostic Process
While there are many different types of mental health screenings available, most will follow a similar process. Here’s what the psychological diagnostic process might look like for you:
- Referral and initial consultation: The first step in the psychological diagnostic process is typically a referral from a doctor, therapist, or other healthcare professional. This referral will usually include information about your concerns and symptoms, as well as any medical problems you might have.
- Clinical interview: The next step is an initial consultation with a psychologist, neuropsychologist, or other type of mental health provider. During this interview, you’ll meet your provider for the first time, and they will gather information about your background, current concerns, and other helpful details about your life.
- Psychological testing: Based on the information gathered during the clinical interview, a psychologist may recommend one or more psychological tests to continue to assess your cognitive functioning. These tests may include measures of memory, attention, language, and problem-solving abilities.
- Interpretation and diagnosis: Once all the interview and test information has been gathered, the psychologist will use their expertise to interpret the results of the assessment.
- Treatment planning: After reaching a diagnosis, your psychologist will work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan. This may involve therapy, medication management, lifestyle changes, and other recovery tools.
Common Psychological Assessment Tools
Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale- IV (WISC-IV): Used to measure intellectual abilities and intelligence- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI): A personality inventory tool designed to understand psychological disorders and assess mental health
- Beck Depression Inventory: A questionnaire used to measure the severity of depression symptoms
- Beck Anxiety Inventory: Similar to the Beck Depression Inventory, this tool measures the severity of anxiety symptoms
- Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE): A cognitive screening test used to evaluate dementia and other cognitive impairments
Keep in mind that the way these tests are given can vary slightly, and could include scales or multiple-choice questions. In addition, not all doctors will use these tests, or some might prefer to use different types of assessments. Your provider can talk to you about the ins and outs of which test they’re using and why they think it’s the best fit for you.
Benefits of Psychological Testing
Just like how tests at school can help a teacher understand how to teach a student in a way that caters to their strengths, psychological testing can help your doctor or therapist understand your unique needs and tailor your treatment. The following are some of the many specific benefits of psychological testing.
Giving an Accurate Diagnosis
Maybe feelings of hopelessness are leading you to think you’re depressed. Perhaps severe ups and downs in mood are causing you to suspect you have bipolar disorder. Or you might get confused easily, triggering fears of schizophrenia. Without proper diagnostic mental health services, your mind can easily spiral. However, psychological testing can give you an accurate diagnosis that will help guide your treatment and ensure you’re receiving the appropriate care.
Determining Therapy Needed
Finding the Best Medication
Like therapy, finding the right medication also has a lot to do with your diagnosis. Some medications might be better for certain mental health problems, such as:
- Mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression and anxiety disorders
- Antipsychotics for schizophrenia
- Stimulants for ADHD
Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and sleep aids are also common medication options for mental health conditions. It’s important to work closely with your doctor to find the best medication for you. This process may involve some trial and error, as not all medications work the same for everyone. Your diagnosis, medical history, and, of course, your psychological assessments, can all be used to determine what type of medication will be best for you.
Supporting Continuing Treatment
Even after you take medications and start therapy, it’s important to continue regular check-ins with your doctor and therapist. These check-ins allow them to monitor how you’re feeling or if there are any changes in your symptoms. It’s also good to communicate openly with your healthcare team and answer follow-up assessments honestly. All of this might seem a bit repetitive, but continuing to take assessments and tests can help determine if your treatment plan is working.
Finding Psychological Testing Services
But, what about more specialized tests like personality assessments or intellectual assessments? The good news is that these tests are readily available at mental health treatment clinics like Mission Connection. We provide everything from PTSD testing to ACE tests, self-esteem tests, and a range of other psychological testing services.
These quick and easy complementary tests are available online, and they’re only one type of psychological assessment that can help our team understand your mental health and needs better. We also routinely use evidence-based tools like the Beck Depression Inventory, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, and other assessments as part of our care plan.
Psychological Testing At Mission Connection
At Mission Connection, we’re here to provide comprehensive mental health treatment in California, Virginia, Washington, and beyond. We keep on top of the latest findings in the mental health field, and believe in the power of compassionate, evidence-based care.
As part of our commitment to providing personalized treatment, we offer psychological testing as a valuable tool in understanding your mental health and needs better. When combined with our other approaches, including CBT, DBT, trauma therapy, EMDR, and more, we can create a tailored treatment plan that addresses your unique mental health challenges and goals.
Contact us today at 866-561-4108 or fill out our confidential contact form to get the help and answers you deserve, and start your journey toward mental wellness.
References
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- American Psychological Association. (2023). Cognition and the brain. https://www.apa.org/topics/cognition-brain
- Committee on Psychological Testing, Including Validity Testing, for Social Security Administration Disability Determinations, Board on the Health of Select Populations, & Institute of Medicine. (2015). Overview of psychological testing. National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK305233/
- Covassin, T., Elbin, R. J., Stiller-Ostrowski, J. L., & Kontos, A. P. (2009). Immediate post-concussion assessment and cognitive testing (ImPACT) practices of sports medicine professionals. Journal of Athletic Training, 44(6), 639–644. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-44.6.639
- Floyd, A. E., & Gupta, V. (2023, April 24). Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557525/
- DeGangi, G. A., & Greenspan, S. I. (n.d.). Home of DIRFloortime® (Floortime) – Functional Emotional Assessment Scale. https://www.icdl.com/research/functional-emotional-assessment-scale
- MedlinePlus. (2018). Cognitive testing: MedlinePlus lab test information. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/cognitive-testing/
- Reid, J. E., Laws, K. R., Drummond, L., Vismara, M., Grancini, B., Mpavaenda, D., & Fineberg, N. A. (2021). Cognitive behavioural therapy with exposure and response prevention in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 106, 152223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2021.152223
- Schroeder, R. W., Martin, P. K., & Walling, A. (2019). Neuropsychological evaluations in adults. American Family Physician, 99(2), 101–108. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0115/p101.html
- Spielberger, C. D., & Reheiser, E. C. (2009). Assessment of emotions: Anxiety, anger, depression, and curiosity. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 1(3), 271–302. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-0854.2009.01017.x
- WAIS–IV – Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale | Fourth Edition | Pearson Assessments US. (2025). https://www.pearsonassessments.com/en-us/Store/Professional-Assessments/Cognition-%26-Neuro/Wechsler-Adult-Intelligence-Scale-%7C-Fourth-Edition/p/100000392
- Yang, Z., Abdul Rashid, N. A., Quek, Y. F., Lam, M., See, Y. M., Maniam, Y., Dauwels, J., Tan, B. L., & Lee, J. (2018). Montreal Cognitive Assessment as a screening instrument for cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research, 199, 58–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2018.03.008
