What is a mental health evaluation?

A mental health evaluation is a comprehensive assessment that is designed to isolate those factors part of an individual’s mood, personality, and behaviors that may be negatively impacting their daily functioning (in relationships, family dynamics, and other key areas). Areas of concern could be new and sudden (acute) or more longstanding (chronic), and are often a result of multiple complicated factors (childhood trauma, current life stressors, etc.). The primary goal is often to identify how these factors are contributing to the individual’s concern(s), determine if there is an appropriate diagnosis (label) for their symptoms, and provide specific targets for treatment. 

What does a mental health evaluation involve?

Your appointment will start with a clinical interview with you and anyone else you wish to have involved (partners, family, etc.) in the process. During the interview you will be asked questions about your symptoms/concerns, goals for the evaluation, and other areas of your life (personal background, family history, etc.). You will also be encouraged to share any information with your clinician that you think is important for them to know. Your clinician will also request to review your academic records (transcripts, report cards, etc.). This ensures that the clinician will have the full picture of anything and everything that could impact the test results. The interview typically takes 2 hours depending on how much there is to go over.

After the interview has been completed you will likely fill out several brief (or extended) questionnaires about aspects of your mood, personality, beliefs, and other areas of psychological functioning. These questionnaires are specific to the issues discovered during the interview and will aid the clinician in further characterizing your psychological profile and creating treatment targets. 

What types of issues can testing be helpful for?

• New or longstanding changes in mood (low or depressed mood, anxiety or worry, etc.) 

• Interpersonal or family conflict

• Clarifying diagnostic uncertainty 

• Determining effectiveness of medications or other treatments

• Distinguishing between psychological and medical disorders

What types of conditions do you evaluate for?

• Major depressive disorder and persistent depression

• Generalized anxiety disorder

• Adjustment disorder

• Bipolar disorder

• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Somatic symptom and other chronic-illness related disorders

• Substance use disorders

• Personality disorders

• Many others…

If you would like more information, or to see if this type of evaluation would be appropriate for your needs, contact us to schedule a FREE 15 minute consultation with one of our clinicians.