Psychiatric Evaluation

Psychological evaluation is defined as a way of testing people about their behavior, personality, and capabilities to draw conclusions using combinations of techniques.^[1] Over the years, it has developed from unethical methods of locking people up for tests to the many different strategies today. We currently see evaluation being used in several different settings for multiple purposes, such as education or legal situations. The purpose behind modern psychological evaluation is to try and pinpoint what is happening in someone’s psychological life that may be inhibiting their ability to behave or feel in more appropriate or constructive way. A psychological evaluation may result in a diagnosis^{[dubious – discuss]} of a mental illness. It is the mental equivalent of physical examination. It is important to use psychological evaluation properly, because if guidelines aren’t followed, violations of ethical codes can be made, resulting in harm to a client and invalid assessment results . There is also a risk of evaluation based upon unscientific principles, as found in pop psychology, or pseudopsychology.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychiatric_evaluation