Psychiatrists in Santa Rosa, CA

A psychological evaluation is a test or assessment most commonly administered by a trained psychologist that is intended to be used in the diagnosis of specific psychological conditions, such as ADHD, mood disorders, personality disorders, dementia or Alzheimer's, and learning disabilities. Psychological evaluations can help inform future treatment decisions and help direct clients to professionals and resources that may be most helpful, such as potential therapy options or additional school supports.

Psychological evaluations are conducted on individuals of all ages and can be beneficial to individuals across the lifespan. However, specific types of evaluations may be most frequently conducted on individuals of certain age groups. For instance, ADHD or learning disability testing is often conducted in children ages 4-12--the period of time when ADHD symptoms most commonly emerge. In contrast, cognitive functioning assessments, such as those conducted to diagnose dementia, are most commonly conducted in elderly individuals. Clients should ensure that the psychologist they are seeing has specific expertise in conducting evaluations in their age group to ensure they receive a correct diagnosis.

Psychological evaluations vary in length depending on the test being administered and the goals of the evaluation; however, most evaluations are 2-4 hours in length. Some evaluations may take as long as 8 hours but can often be spread across multiple days. In some cases, clients will also attend an intake session or interview, which can help the psychologist assess client functioning outside of the testing environment.

Individuals do not need to prepare for psychological tests or evaluations in most cases, as they are intended to measure a client's baseline psychological status without test-specific preparation. However, clients may want to brainstorm a list of questions for their psychologist about any tests they are receiving prior to the assessment, including what potential outcomes may mean for what next steps the client should take.