Question

What are the different application areas of psychodiagnostic testing?

Answer 1

A psychiatric consultation consists of a thorough clinical interview, review of records, and observation of the patient's behavior by a psychiatrist or psychologist. For many psychiatric concerns, this is the most appropriate referral and connects the patient with a mental health provider. Psychodiagnostic testing is a specialized diagnostic procedure that identifies and quantifies degrees of psychopathology. In contrast to a psychiatric consultation, it uses written, oral and projective instruments to evaluate a patient's mental processes and to assess how their thinking and emotions are likely to impact their behavior. Therefore, psychodiagnostic testing provides objective data on a patient's psychological functioning and is a useful tool for clarifying confusing clinical presentations.