Psychological Diagnostic Testing

How Can it Aid Diagnosis of Mental Disorders?

Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluations at J. Flowers Health Institute

Author: J. Flowers Health Staff

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What Is Psychological Diagnostic Testing?

Psychological diagnostic testing is a procedure used by psychologists that helps diagnose mental illness. It involves a series of assessments called psychological tests.

Psychological diagnostic tests measure the subject’s intelligence, cognition, mental abilities, and behavior. They also help predict possible future outcomes of mental health. Studies have found that low childhood I.Q. increases the risk of mental illness later in life.¹

Increasing Use of Psychological Tests for Non-Medical Purposes

The use of psychological diagnostic tests is not limited to hospitals or clinics. Such tests have become an integral part of the hiring process for businesses and the admission process for colleges. Schools and business firms use these tests to find out whether prospective students or employees are fit for the assigned tasks.

9 in 10 business firms use or plan on using psychological diagnostic tests while hiring employees. In the early 90s, about 20 million people in the U.S. took these tests each year.²

Sales of psychological diagnostic tests increased from $250 million in 2001 to over $400 million in 2002.² Psychological testing has now become a business worth billions of dollars.

What Are the Uses of Psychological Diagnostic Testing?

Psychological diagnostic testing can be used to:

Who Provides Referrals for Psychological Diagnostic Testing?

Referrals for psychological diagnostic testing may come from:

Why Someone May Need Psychological Testing

People may need psychological diagnostic testing if they have:

An unpleasant experience, such as excessive fear
Symptoms of a mental illness, such as depression
Bizarre behaviors that cause problems at school or in the workplace
Memory and attention problems
Severe mood swings
Feelings of hopelessness and extreme guilt
Personality changes
Fatigue and low energy levels
Recurrent suicidal thoughts or attempts

Psychological Diagnostic Test vs. Psychological Assessment

Many people use these terms interchangeably. However, they are not the same. Tests and assessments are two different tools used in a psychological evaluation.

A psychological diagnostic test is a part of psychological assessment.³ Psychologists use the tests to collect information about a patient’s mental health status.

An assessment collects, integrates, and interprets information about a person with psychological symptoms. Its results show problems, capabilities, and individual traits. Assessments also help psychologists design an effective treatment plan.

Psychological diagnostic tests measure one or more specific characteristics about an individual. For example, a memory test measures how a person memorizes particular information, while a personality test determines individual personality traits. Extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness are commonly tested personality traits.

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The History of Psychological Testing

The history of psychological diagnostic testing dates back over 3,000 years in China. Chinese people used the tests to measure mental abilities, creative ideas, and visual perceptions.

Yet, it took a long time before psychological diagnostic testing began to flourish in the U.S. and Europe. The Industrial Revolution and World War II fueled the growth of such testing in the 20th century.

Below is a timeline of significant developments in psychology and psychological assessment.^{4, 5, 6}

1800s

Early 1900s

1905: French psychologist Alfred Binet developed an intelligence test for children called the Binet–Simon Scale. The test would later become the basis for what we call the "I.Q. test" today.
1916: The Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scale was published. This scale was a refined version of the Binet-Simon Scale.
1918: Hermann Rorschach developed the Rorschach Inkblot Method in which an examiner asks people to describe abstract images (inkblots). Their ways of describing the inkblots reveal their psychological types.

1930s

Current Era

Early 1970s: Theodore Millon developed several tools to measure personality traits and identify mental illnesses. Examiners started using computers to take tests and interpret the results.
1976: The International Test Commission (ITC) came into existence. The ITC played a crucial role in developing standards for the ethical use of psychological tests.
1988: The American Psychological Society was established. Now it is known as the Association for Psychological Science (APS). This non-profit organization informs the public about recent research findings in psychology.

What is a Psychologist?

According to the American Psychological Association (APA),

“A psychologist is an individual who is professionally trained in one or more branches or subfields of psychology.”⁹

Psychologists have advanced degrees such as doctoral degrees in philosophy (Ph.D.), psychology (Psy.D.), or education (Ed.D.). They use talk therapy (psychotherapy) to help people with mental health problems.

They are trained in conducting mental health assessments, research, and organizational consultations. Some work in colleges or universities, while others work in hospitals or clinics. The military, the government, and business firms also employ psychologists.

Unlike psychiatrists, psychologists are not medical doctors. Thus, they are not allowed to prescribe drugs to treat psychiatric illnesses. Nonetheless, some states have given prescriptive authority to psychologists. These states are Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, New Mexico, and Louisiana.¹⁰

This may also include the symptoms of organic mental disorders.

What Types of Diagnostic Tests Do Psychologists Use?

In psychological diagnostic testing, a psychologist may use:

Intelligence/Cognitive Tests to Check for Learning Disabilities

These assessments measure the ability to think, learn, and adapt to a new environment. Diseases, injuries, and mental illnesses can affect intelligence.

The most common cognitive tests are:

Behavioral and Personality Tests

These tests help in diagnosing psychiatric disorders and planning treatment. Personality tests help describe a person’s unique thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors.

Examples of personality tests are:

The MMPI first became available in 1940. The revised version (MMPI-2) was published in 1989.¹¹

This test measures a person’s psychological state. It helps assess mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and addiction.

Neuropsychological Tests

These tests check for issues due to neurological disorders and injuries to the brain. They are useful when a person shows signs of mental illness, but brain imaging tests show no abnormality. A neuropsychological test may be used to differentiate between dementia and depression.

An example of a neuropsychological test is the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), a 5-point scale that helps determine the severity of dementia by checking for symptoms that might suggest dementia or cognitive decline.

These symptoms include problems with memory, judgment, orientation, and personal care. The examiner interviews the affected person and their family members to collect information. A score of 3 suggests severe dementia, and 0 indicates no dementia.¹²

Psychological Diagnostic Test Reports

After analyzing data from the tests, the psychologist prepares a psychological report. There are several formats for such reports. A typical report is comprised of the following sections:

Information about how the patient behaves and cooperates with the examiner
Results of the tests taken
Bizarre behaviors that cause problems at school or in the workplace
Summary of the findings and recommendations for further care
Severe mood swings
Feelings of hopelessness and extreme guilt
Personality changes
Fatigue and low energy levels
Recurrent suicidal thoughts or attempts

What Do Psychological Diagnostic Tests Tell Psychologists?

Psychological diagnostic testing helps in the diagnosis of mental disorders. The psychologist analyzes the scores the patient has obtained in the tests. If they think the patient may have a mental health issue, they consult other health professionals, as confirming a diagnosis often requires collaboration among health professionals.

In some cases, a psychological test alone may not be enough to confirm a diagnosis. Thus, a patient may need lab tests to measure their hormone levels and identify drug use behavior. Imaging tests may be necessary to rule out abnormalities in the brain or nerves.

Diagnosing Common Types of Mental Illness

Results from psychological diagnostic testing are useful in the diagnosis of:

How Psychologists and Medical Teams Work Together

The roles of psychologists depend on the settings they work in. For example, in primary care, they can help physicians detect depression and anxiety.

As a member of a medical team, a psychologist has the following roles:

Hearing the diagnosis can be challenging, especially if the report shows serious disorders like schizophrenia. Thus, the patient should take a friend or family member with them.

What Are the Risks Associated with Psychological Diagnostic Testing?

Psychological diagnostic testing has no significant risk. That said, some tests may not be accurate or may have validity issues. Socio-cultural or language barriers may affect the test results.

Why Psychologists Are Important to Recovery

For people with mental health diagnoses, the road to recovery can take many years. Recovery has two main components: diagnosis and treatment.

Diagnosis

Proper diagnosis is the first step in recovery. Sadly, many cases of mental health issues go undiagnosed. Even worse, misdiagnosis is increasingly common. For example:

Up to 70% of depressed people do not receive a diagnosis of depression in primary care.²⁰
4 in 10 people who die by suicide have visited their primary care physician within 30 days before their suicide.²⁰
69% of people with bipolar disorder are misdiagnosed in the initial stages.²¹
33% of people with bipolar disorder remain misdiagnosed for over a decade.²¹

Treatment

A psychologist can not only help with diagnosis but also treat a mental disorder. They can differentiate between psychological and physical causes of mental illness. With their knowledge of human behavior, an effective treatment plan can be developed.

Notably, psychological interventions can help people stick to their treatment plans. Medications combined with psychotherapy often give the best results. Wellness is within reach.

Get in touch with our skilled team to learn more about our Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation Program today.