psychological testing – how it can help therapists

Psychological Testing – How it Can Help Therapists

Brooke Schauder, PhDErie Psychology Consortium

Pacific Graduate School of Psychology

4 Categories of Psychological Tests

1. Intelligence Tests

2. Achievement Tests:Measure how well an individual is functioning relative to their potential (based on IQ), and relative to their age, peer, similar demographic group. (WRAT)

3. Neuropsychological Tests:Determine whether there is an organic or medically/biologically based problem in cognitive functioning (head injury, Alzheimer's dementia, toxic chemical exposure).

4. Personality Tests: Measures “non-intellectual” factors, such as emotional, interpersonal, motivation, interests, attitudes (Axis I & II syndromes).

True Psychological Assessments

Empirical / Standardized

Valid

Reliable

Bell Curve

Subtypes of Tests:

Qualitative Vs. Quantitative Qualitative: TAT (no numerical score) Quantitative: WAIS Projective Vs. Objective Projective: Rorschach (theory: individual

projects/expresses personal beliefs/emotions/psyche outward)

Self Report: BDI

Importance of Test Confidentiality and Trained Examiners

-Patients cannot practice for tests or relay information to others (faking a psychological disorder, attaining a high score on an IQ test, etc)

-If the examiner is not trained sufficiently, responses can be invalid – very strict in how to administer questions. Can hurt patients if incorrect results are produced. Scoring and interpretation require statistics training.

When To Refer

Differential Diagnosis, ie: -asperger’s vs. schizoid -PDD vs. learning disorder -head injury vs. ADHD -Psychosis vs. Borderline -Major Depression vs. alzheimer’s,

aging -head injury vs. dementia

When To Refer School has not done comprehensive

evaluation – you suspect emotional component

ADHD ONLY if totally necessary – often does not require formal testing – good if you need parent AND teacher rating (if child only displays symptoms at home and you need to point this out to parent)

When to Refer If you suspect Malingering

Sudden decline in cognitive functioning

Medications aren’t working

If differential diagnosis between Axis II disorders is needed

What to Include in Referral ALL Demographics

Previous Testing – ALWAYS ask patient

Your diagnostic Impressions/Differential Diagnosis

What to look for??? (psychotic features, PTSD symptoms, language/memory problems, etc.)