Alabama Psychiatry offers both psychological and neuropsychological evaluation. Evaluation is available from our group of licensed psychologists at our Montgomery, Pelham, and Helena locations. In addition, neuropsychological evaluation is available at our Helena location with a neuropsychologist. Psychological testing can occur across the lifespan for specific symptoms or complex mental health problems. Evaluation begins with a diagnostic intake for history gathering, understanding symptom presentation, and planning for testing services. After intake, our team develops an individualized test battery to assess your current symptoms and to answer any referral questions from your provider. Then, testing services are performed, and formal feedback of your testing results is completed. Testing services generally take 1-5 hours. Following feedback, the patient is provided with a copy of their final testing report.
What is Psychological Evaluation?
Clinical Psychologists use assessment tools (such as standardized tests, behavioral observation, self-report measures, and collateral reports) to measure a client’s symptom presentation to clarify diagnosis and guide treatment planning. For questions about the nature of psychological testing and what to expect, potential clients are advised to refer to materials from the American Psychological Association at www.APA.org.
What is Neuropsychological Evaluation?
Neuropsychologists are licensed psychologists specialized in neuropsychological evaluation that have additional and focused training in neuropsychology. Neuropsychology focuses on the relationship between your brain and behavior. Neuropsychologists primarily use cognitive testing to determine a patient’s functioning within their environment to determine individual recommendations for treatment and improved quality of life. Testing is completed in an office setting and requires the patient to respond to a number of questions and tasks. The evaluation can take from 1 to 5 hours, depending on the referral question and patient needs.
A referral may be requested by a primary care doctor, psychiatrist, neurologist, or psychologist for individuals with:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Changes in Memory/Cognition
- Cancer
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Epilepsy
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Vascular Dementia
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Complex psychiatric presentation
The evaluation consists of a clinical interview, testing, and feedback.
Services provided by location:
Montgomery – The Psychological Assessment and Treatment Clinic at Alabama Psychiatry offers psychological evaluation for a broad age range, starting at 6 months for developmental disorders and spanning to middle adulthood for other clinical presentations. Presentations that are evaluated include: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Depressive and Bipolar Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Global Developmental Delay, Learning Disorders, and Intellectual Disability), Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders, Behavioral and Impulse-Control Disorders, Personality Disorders, Psychotic Disorders, and a wide variety of additional clinical presentations. The Montgomery outpatient clinic also provides contract services to local private and public schools for evaluation needs (educational evaluation (IEE), kindergarten screening, and other consultation services). In addition, the psychological team is available to offer other contracted services to organizations for psychological testing or screening services. Our licensed psychologist is prepared to serve you and your family’s needs. Please contact testing@rrpa.us for more information regarding evaluation services.
Pelham – In the Pelham outpatient clinic, psychological testing is available for adults by a licensed psychologist. Evaluations are accepted for patients 18+, including geriatric patients. Evaluations are available for a variety of mental health symptoms, including ADHD, emotional and behavioral disorders, personality and other complex presentations, anxiety, trauma, psychotic symptoms presentations, and other clinical presentations. For testing referrals, please contact the Pelham office for more information.
Helena – In the Helena outpatient clinic, psychological evaluation and neuropsychological evaluation is available for patients 14+, including geriatric patients. Clinical psychological evaluation is available for ADHD, emotional and behavioral disorders, complex mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, personality, psychotic symptom presentations, as well as other clinical presentations. In addition, neuropsychological evaluation is available for neurocognitive disorders (dementia, other memory impairment, delirium, TBI), as well as other causes of cognitive functioning issues such as medical disorders that cause cognitive impairment (autoimmune disorders, HIV, and other infections). For Helena testing referrals, please contact helenatesting@rrpa.us.