LCSW Prep: Psychological Tests

Who typically administers and interprets psychological tests?

• Administered by psychologists or specially trained professionals.

• Scored and interpreted by trained clinicians.

• Used to assess cognitive functioning, emotional functioning, personality, and psychopathology.

What are the three major purposes of psychological testing?

• Assess cognitive functioning

• Assess personality and emotional functioning

• Diagnose or screen for mental health disorders

What are intelligence and achievement tests primarily used for?

• Determine school placement

• Diagnose learning disabilities

• Identify developmental delays

• Measure intellectual development over time

• Assess cognitive strengths and weaknesses

What are personality tests primarily used for?

• Diagnose psychopathology

• Assess personality traits

• Evaluate personality strengths and weaknesses

• Screen job applicants (in certain settings)

What does the WAIS-IV measure?

• Adult intelligence

• Overall cognitive ability (IQ)

It evaluates four domains:

1. Verbal Comprehension

2. Perceptual Reasoning

3. Working Memory

4. Processing Speed

Who takes the WAIS-IV?

Individuals:

• 16 years and older

• Individually administered

• Takes approximately 90–120 minutes

What are the four cognitive domains measured by the WAIS-IV?

• Verbal Comprehension

  • Vocabulary

  • General knowledge

  • Verbal reasoning

• Perceptual Reasoning

  • Visual-spatial reasoning

  • Problem solving

  • Nonverbal reasoning

• Working Memory

  • Holding information temporarily

  • Mental manipulation

• Processing Speed

  • Speed of thinking

  • Visual scanning

  • Attention

A 20-year-old college student is being evaluated for a possible intellectual disability. Which psychological test is most appropriate?

WAIS-IV

What type of test is the Rorschach Inkblot Test?

Projective tests assume people project unconscious thoughts and emotions onto ambiguous stimuli.

How is the Rorschach Inkblot Test administered?

The examiner presents:

• 10 inkblot cards

  • Black

  • Black and red

  • Multicolored

The client says:

• "What do you see?"

• Gives free associations

The examiner then asks:

• What made it look that way?

What does the Rorschach measure?

• Personality characteristics

• Emotional functioning

• Underlying thought disorders

• Perception

• Unconscious processes

A psychologist wants to understand unconscious conflicts and thought processes in a client with suspected psychosis. Which assessment would likely be used?

Rorschach Inkblot Test

What type of assessment is the TAT?

A projective personality test

How is the TAT administered?

The examiner:

• Shows ambiguous pictures of people.

• Asks the client to create a story.

Stories include:

• What is happening

• What led up to it

• What characters are thinking

• What happens next

What does the TAT measure?

• Personality

• View of the world

• Relationships

• Internal conflicts

• Needs and motivations

• Attitudes toward self and others

Who can take the TAT?

Individuals:

• Age 5 and older

• Administered in two 60-minute sessions

A psychologist wants to understand a child's interpersonal relationships and inner emotional conflicts. Which test would likely be used?

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

What type of test is the MMPI-2RF?

An objective personality inventory.

How is the MMPI-2RF administered?

• Adults only

• Approximately 550 True/False questions

• Takes 40–90 minutes

What does the MMPI-2RF measure?

• Personality characteristics

• Psychopathology

• Clinical symptoms

What do the MMPI clinical scales measure?

Scale	Measures
0	Social Introversion
1	Hypochondriasis
2	Depression
3	Hysteria
4	Psychopathic Deviate
5	Masculinity/Femininity
6	Paranoia
7	Anxiety (Psychasthenia)
8	Schizophrenia
9	Hypomania

Which MMPI scale measures depression?

Scale 2

Which MMPI scale measures schizophrenia?

Scale 8

Which MMPI scale measures paranoia?

Scale 6

Which MMPI scale measures anxiety?

Scale 7
(Psychasthenia)

A psychologist needs a standardized personality inventory to assess psychopathology in an adult client. Which test is best?

MMPI-2RF

What is the MCMI-IV primarily used for?

• Personality disorders

• DSM-5 clinical syndromes

How is the MCMI-IV administered?

• Adults only

• 175 True/False questions

• Self-report

How many personality scales are included on the MCMI-IV?

15 personality scales

How many clinical syndrome scales are included on the MCMI-IV?

10 Clinical Syndrome Scales

A psychologist wants to assess DSM-5 personality disorders and clinical syndromes. Which assessment is most appropriate?

MCMI-IV

What does the BDI-II measure?

The severity of depression symptoms.

Who completes the BDI-II?

• Age 13 and older

• Self-report

• 21 questions

What symptoms are measured on the BDI-II?

• Hopelessness

• Guilt

• Irritability

• Suicidal thoughts

• Fatigue

• Appetite changes

• Weight changes

• Loss of interest in sex

• Loss of pleasure

therapist wants to monitor changes in depressive symptoms throughout treatment. Which assessment is most appropriate?

Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)

What does the MMSE assess?

• Cognitive impairment

• Dementia

• Changes in mental status

How is the MMSE administered?

• Approximately 10 minutes

• Administered by a clinician

• Simple questions and tasks

What cognitive domains are measured by the MMSE?

• Orientation

• Memory

• Attention

• Calculation

• Language

• Visuospatial ability

• Basic motor skills

An 81-year-old client is becoming forgetful and frequently gets lost while driving. Which assessment is the best initial screening tool?

Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)

Which psychological test measures adult intelligence?

WAIS-IV

Which two tests are projective personality tests?

Rorschach Inkblot Test
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

Which test measures psychopathology using hundreds of True/False questions?

MMPI-2RF

Which test is specifically designed to assess DSM-5 personality disorders and clinical syndromes?

MCMI-IV

Which test measures the severity of depression?

Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)

Which test screens for dementia and cognitive impairment?

Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)