Psychological Assessments

​Psychological assessment is a process of testing that uses a combination of techniques to help arrive at some hypotheses about a person and their behavior, personality and capabilities.

​A psychological assessment is conducted by a psychologist to gather information about how people think, feel, behave and react. The focus of a psychological assessment will vary depending on the purpose. 

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The main tests used for general psychological assessments at 4thought are:
​•  PAI (Personality Assessment Inventory)
•  K 10
•  DASS 21
•  Behaviour Scale bdi
•  VPI Vomit Phobia Inventory
•  YBUCS Yale Brow Obsessive Compulsory Scale
•  EMTQ Emetophobia Questionnaire
•  ADIS Anxiety Disorder Interview Schedule
•  DES Dissociative Experiences Scale
•  BAI (Beck Anxiety Inventory)
•  DBI (Beck Depression Inventory)
•  Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire 

How is  an assessment used?

Psychologists take the information gathered from the different assessment procedures to develop a complete picture of a person’s abilities and behaviour. This information can then be used as a basis for making recommendations for treatment or, for example in the case of children, for educational planning, or for an adult for the development of a treatment plan. The information gathered may also be written up and presented in a psychological report.

How is  an assessment conducted?​

​The format of psychological tests varies and can include pencil and paper tasks or computer-based tasks and may include activities such as putting together puzzles, drawing, solving problems and recalling information. Psychological tests may also involve observing someone’s interactions and behaviour or having another person who knows the individual well rate their behaviour and other abilities.  Psychologists typically draw inferences about an individual’s underlying abilities based on their performance on psychological tests and have had extensive training in test development and interpretation in order to do so.