
Often, it is important to clearly identify or clarify the
types of emotional, behavioral and cognitive symptoms a person is
experiencing. This is especially true
when it is necessary to determine if symptoms warrant a full diagnosis, or to
clarify differential diagnosis. Psychological Evaluations are also an important option to consider in
the treatment process. Accurate
diagnosis is essential to an efficient and accurate course of treatment. Many times, individuals report receiving a
variety of diagnoses after a very informal, brief interview. This can lead to misdiagnosis, ineffective or
even harmful treatment and prolonged symptom expression.
A typical Psychological Evaluation includes the following
components: an extensive clinical interview of the referred individual, as well
as interviews of those closest to the client (e.g., parents, spouse, etc.); a
review of previous records to examine past treatment and/or testing; symptom checklists; objective testing such as a
Computerized Test of Attention and Impulse Control (IVA), computerized cognitive testing (
Microcog or
WebNeuro),
and/or a
Quantitative EEG. Evaluation
protocols are individualized and designed to examine the specific concerns
identified by the referral source.
Each Psychological Evaluation includes a written report,
which includes a summary of all information gathered in the assessment process
along with diagnostic impressions and recommendations.