PSYCHODIAGNOSTIC TESTING
Psychodiagnostic testing is a specialised screening technique, which recognises and quantifies psychopathological degrees. A psychiatric consultation consisting of a thorough clinical interview, review of records, and close examination how the patient behaves. This is done by a psychiatrist or psychologist.
This uses written, oral & projective tools to assess the thought processes of a patient and to determine how their thoughts and feelings are likely to influence their behaviour. Psychodiagnostic testing provides reliable evidence on the psychological functioning of a patient and offers a valuable method to explain ambiguous clinical presentations. Diagnostic testing is done for various disorders like-
Psychosis– a psychiatric illness marked by a detachment from reality.
A psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia can result in psychosis. It may be triggered, in certain cases, by a health disorder, diagnosis or use of drugs. Possible symptoms include visions, hallucinations, incoherent talk and restlessness. Typically the person with the disorder doesn’t know his or her actions.
Common symptoms of psychosis include difficulty concentrating, depressed mood, sleep irregularities, anxiety, suspiciousness, social withdrawal, disorganised speech, such as switching topics erratically, and suicidal thoughts or actions.
Schizophrenia – Schizophrenia is characterized by distortions of thinking and perception, and affects that are inappropriate or blunted. The most important psychopathological phenomena include thought echo; thought insertion or withdrawal; thought broadcasting; delusional perception and delusions of control; influence or passivity; various types of hallucinations; thought disorders and negative symptoms.
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), and Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia (CGI-SCH) are some diagnostic tests for schizophrenia.
Delusional Disorder – The key symptom of this condition is the existence of delusions, which are untouchable illusions about something fraudulent. People with delusional illness encounter non-bizarre visions involving scenarios that may occur in real life, such as being pursued, poisoned, deceived, conspired against or loved from afar. Antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants and mood-stabilizing medications are frequently used. At the same time, psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are equality important as a means of treatment.
Mood Disorders – A mood disorder is a mental health issue which mainly affects the emotional state of a individual. It is a condition where an person experiences long periods of intense joy, extreme sadness or both. Depending on the situation it is common for someone’s mood to change. But signs must be present for several weeks or longer to be diagnosed with a mood disorder. Mood disturbances can cause behavioural changes, which can impair the ability to manage daily tasks such as work or school.
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