Psychological Assessments
The main purpose of a psychological assessment is to identify whether an individual may be suffering from a mental health condition (e.g., ADHD, anxiety, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.). In Ontario, only psychologists and physicians (e.g., psychiatrist, family doctor) are legally permitted and have sufficient training to diagnose a mental health condition. Psychological assessments identify how ones mental health diagnosis may be affecting their functioning and recommendations are made to assist individuals in coping with the difficulties they are facing.
Psychological assessments can be done for a variety of reasons including a personal desire to better understand oneself or the clinical cause of one's difficulties, school or work accommodations, treatment recommendations, and for diagnostic clarification to assist other healthcare providers in providing care (e.g., family physicians prescribing medication, treating psychotherapists, etc.).
What to Expect
Psychological assessments include multiple components: a clinical and diagnostic interview, completion of questionnaires, a written report, and a feedback session to discuss the findings. Sometimes, an interview with someone who knows you well and/or other care providers (e.g., physician, occupational therapist, family member) is recommended. These components are typically broken down into several sessions. The 'face-to-face' portions of the assessment (e.g., interviews, feedback sessions) take several hours and a few additional hours are dedicated to writing a report for you or your treatment provider that summarizes the findings and recommendations.