Psychological Testing Services
Various types of tests may be administered to patients, including some that assess how the brain processes information. These tests are typically administered to evaluate the functioning parts of the brain that process information, otherwise known as cognitive function.
ADHD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people’s behavior and ability to function. The symptoms may include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Inattention is marked by not being able to keep focus, hyperactivity as excess movement or restlessness, and impulsivity as acting on a whim without thinking of the consequences. ADHD is the most common of childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. It is often diagnosed in childhood, and symptoms continue into adulthood. Symptoms of the disorder may vary from person to person and may change over time for an individual. ADHD is believed to be caused by a number of factors, including chemical imbalances, genetics, and environmental factors.
Psychological testing of ADHD often includes interviews with parents, relatives, teachers, or other individuals in the patient’s life. The severity of symptoms is evaluated by personal observation and questionnaires or rating scales that measure ADHD symptoms. Dr. Thurman will assess how much the person’s symptoms affect their daily moods, behavior, productivity, and lifestyle habits and rule out other possible conditions.
Depression
Depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is a mental health disorder that negatively affects how a person feels, thinks, and acts. It can cause feelings of sadness or hopelessness and/or a loss of interest in activities people once enjoyed. Symptoms range from mild to severe.
Psychological testing of depression often includes asking detailed questions about one’s symptoms, using psychological questionnaires to help determine severity, and ruling out other conditions that might cause similar symptoms, such as anxiety or bipolar disorder. Treatment depends on the severity of depression, usually involves psychotherapy and or antidepressant medication. Whether you are currently experiencing depression or know someone who is, there are many avenues for providing care.
Intelligence Testing
Intelligence, or intellectual functioning, refers to the general mental capacity, such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. The term intellectual disability is used when there are limits to a person’s ability to learn at an expected level and function in their daily life. This may be due to the presence of a condition, such as down syndrome or autism, but can also happen if a person has had a traumatic brain injury or severe head injury. An intellectual disability can lead to social, emotional, and behavioral problems that relate to one’s life at home, school, work, and overall happiness.
Various types of standardized tests are used during the assessment of intellectual disabilities. These tests assess intelligence (IQ), learning abilities, and behavioral skills.
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are a type of mental disorder in which a person has a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking that influences their behavior. They have an impaired ability to manage emotions, leading to very intense emotions that may result in impulsive behavior or cause the person to withdraw from social situations. An individual with a personality disorder has trouble perceiving and relating to situations and people.
Psychological testing of personality disorders includes discussions about an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, as well as questionnaires to help pinpoint a diagnosis. 
The discussion often involves a clinical interview with the individual to describe their thoughts and feelings related to the disorder. It also includes information obtained from relatives or friends familiar with the individual’s thoughts and feelings. Dr. Thurman will also evaluate a patient for any co-occurring mental health disorders before making a diagnosis.
Anxiety
Anxiety is categorized by feelings of worry, nervousness, or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one’s daily activities. Although experiencing occasional worry is a normal part of life, people with anxiety disorders regularly have excessive, intense, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. For some, it is a single concern that can lead to a debilitating amount of anxiety. For others, it can be multiple fears which can spiral out of control. The person will often start to avoid the situation or object that triggers the fear in order to prevent the possibility of an anxiety attack. This can lead to isolation and depression, as well as an increased rumination on the issue.
Symptoms of anxiety may start during an individual’s early teen years and continue into adulthood. Psychological testing of anxiety often includes:
- Asking detailed questions about one’s symptoms and medical history.
- Using psychological questionnaires to help determine a diagnosis.
- Ruling out other conditions.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes considerable changes in emotion. These can include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression), lasting for days, weeks, or months.
Mania is characterized by an increased energy level and euphoric feelings, while depression includes lethargy, sadness, and loss of interest or pleasure in most activities. In the manic phase, a person may be full of energy, restless, talkative, reckless to the point of self-injury, spend money irresponsibly, have trouble sleeping, or exhibit impulsive behavior.
Psychological testing of bipolar disorder often includes discussions about a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns, using psychological questionnaires, and having conversations with family members or close friends to assess the impact of bipolar disorder on multiple areas of a person’s life.
Autism
Autism refers to a broad range of conditions categorized by social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication challenges. Autism is a spectrum disorder, and therefore each person has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. Autism encompasses many individual differences in the degree of severity, ranging from mild to severe. The term spectrum refers to the fact that autism is not one single condition; instead, it includes a set of related conditions with varying degrees of both commonalities and differences. Areas of difficulty for autistic people can include social skills, self-care, and communication problems.
It’s important to understand the severity of an autistic spectrum disorder and its impact on an individual’s abilities and limitations. It’s also key to understand that autism is not just about difficulties but also about unique talents and interests. This also means the ability for an autistic person to learn and problem solve can range from highly-skilled to severely challenged.
Psychological testing of autism often includes a review of medical records, detailed developmental history, description of current behaviors, assessment of cognitive/language abilities, and observations of functioning in various settings.