Poor mental or physical health can take a toll on many aspects of a person’s life. The effects of these disorders can manifest in numerous ways. For example, if post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is left unmanaged, stress may build up, worsening their state of health. Addiction and mental health conditions can also co-occur. Fortunately, neuropsychological testing at Avalon Malibu can help individuals identify the signs of their condition, obtain an accurate diagnosis, and understand the underlying brain science involved.
What Is Neuropsychological Testing?
According to Neuropsychological Assessment by Lynn A. Schaefer, Tanu Thakur, and Michael R. Meager, a neuropsychological evaluation is a unique way to measure an individual’s cognitive skills. Testing typically includes the use of specific instruments to assess an individual’s behavior, cognitive function, adaptive functioning, academic achievement, and social-emotional functioning. An individual’s mood and personality may also be evaluated to arrive at a thorough assessment.
A majority of standardized testing methods study more than one area. Neuropsychologists use a variety of methods to differentiate an individual’s weaknesses and strengths. In particular, cognitive functions are generally organized into major domains to address these aspects of an individual:
- Intelligence
- Memory and learning
- Concentration and attention
- Executive function
- Language fluency
- Visuospatial and perceptual functions
- Psychomotor speed
- Sensory-motor functions
Who Would Benefit From Neuropsychological Testing?
According to Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, someone who is experiencing negative symptoms aligned with poor cognitive health may benefit from a neuropsychological examination. A neuropsychological test may be done to evaluate the cognitive risks linked with brain disease, brain damage, or severe mental illness. Living with any condition that interferes with one’s cognitive health can be distressing. Seeking professional support can help someone better understand their condition.
Historically, neuropsychological testing targeted those who suffered chronic brain injuries during combat. However, neurological assessments span the entire population of neuropsychiatric conditions. Neuropsychological testing can provide an accurate diagnosis for many conditions, which can include the following:
- Degenerative dementia
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Major depression
- PTSD
- Learning disabilities
Differences Between Psychiatric Neurological Testing Samples
People with any mental health issue can benefit from knowing the extent of their brain impairment. Often, knowing the ways that one’s brain works helps people to stop blaming themselves for their difficulties. An objective assessment of how the brain works can lead to greater self-compassion and self-understanding.
Although those with mental health diagnoses may experience scores that indicate greater brain compromise, it’s not always so. Based on the aforementioned journal article, distributions of scores with those who have severe mental health conditions and healthy individuals tend to overlap. However, those with more severe mental health diagnoses will typically score worse. A typical assessment is scaled like an IQ test. For example, in a study with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15 mentally well populations, participants with a schizophrenia diagnosis had a mean level of performance that was two standard deviations below that of healthy people.
What to Expect From a Neuropsychological Evaluation
A standardized test is not just limited to testing alone but typically involves reviewing medical records, performing a clinical interview, assessing academic abilities, evaluating the personality, estimating premorbid functioning, and more.
At Avalon Malibu, a neuropsychological evaluation is tailored to meet the needs of the individual so that they can gain the most from the assessment. In a typical session, a neuropsychological test is performed with a wide-ranging approach. The test may study a variety of cognitive areas. A standardized test may include more than one test per section. Areas of evaluation include skills such as these:
- Attention
- Processing speed
- Memory
- Reasoning
- Problem-solving
- Spatial ability
- Language functions
- Judgment
The Value of Undergoing a Neuropsychological Assessment
Although there is no known cause of certain mental and physical health challenges, analyzing an individual’s makeup can help clinicians in many different ways. Moving forward with professional support can sometimes make one feel uneasy. A neurological assessment can provide the clarity and encouragement needed to work toward improving an individual’s condition.
Sometimes simply reporting medical history may not be enough to determine the next steps forward. Neuropsychological testing can aid specialists in determining the severity, presence, and nature of an individual’s cognitive dysfunction. Many individuals who have poor mental health struggle to remember certain things, find it difficult to pick out the right words to use, experience changes in their personality, and find it difficult to concentrate in certain settings. Uncomfortable symptoms can make an individual feel awkward in social settings, often leading to co-occurring social anxiety.
Common advantages that can come from undergoing a neuropsychological test include:
- Having a complete evaluation, which helps practitioners pinpoint the most effective treatment
- Detecting certain learning disabilities, which may lead to academic improvement
- Gaining information that can lead to improved decision-making and reduced stress levels
- Fostering increased self-awareness for a better understanding of one’s condition
- Detecting changes, which assists a provider in developing a proper treatment plan
- Using a method that is drug-free and has limited risks or complications
Avalon Malibu is a world-renowned licensed mental health treatment and addiction rehab center. We offer luxury residential treatments and high-quality clinical care for the rehabilitation of substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. Our exclusive addiction treatment center is located in a large, peaceful, private beachside estate in Malibu, California. Suffering from a mental health disorder or co-occurring condition may leave you feeling as though you are the only one experiencing certain symptoms. You may be unaware of the resources available that can help you. However, most disorders can affect anyone of any age. Their onset can alter your mood, relationships, and ways of thinking. Call us at (844) 857-5992 to learn more about how neuropsychological testing can help.Â
