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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Racer on September 20, 2004, at 15:36:29
Dr NoName's office does psychological testing as well as medication and therapy. I see him only for meds, with a therapist elsewhere, but I'm intrigued by the testing. Has anyone done any of this? Was any of it useful or helpful for you? If so, can you remember the most beneficial of the tests?
Or, for that matter, can anyone tell me where I can find out more about these tests? What each one purports to measure? How reliable or reproducible the results are? Here's the list of the standard tests they use, although apparently they have others:
WISC
WIAT
MMPI
CAT
CPT
DICA
MACI
NEPSY
WRAMLAny input you might want to offer is gratefully received. Thanks.
Posted by Dinah on September 20, 2004, at 17:40:56
In reply to Psychological/personality testing?, posted by Racer on September 20, 2004, at 15:36:29
I really liked the MMPI and feel it really pegged me personality wise. I'm not sure it didn't tell me anything I didn't know (as a self reporting test, probably not) but it may have told me in a different way than I was used to.
The WISC is an IQ test. I refused to take that one with my now fried neurons. The others I'm not sure about.
I did extensive research on the MMPI, but I think you're supposed to take the test *first*, then research. ;)
Posted by alexandra_k on September 20, 2004, at 21:25:38
In reply to Psychological/personality testing?, posted by Racer on September 20, 2004, at 15:36:29
I have only heard of the MMPI, and I know that the 2nd version is out too. It is supposed to be a bit of an improvement.
I got access to the psych. testing library at uni a couple of years back. I was interested in reading how they are scored - but I quickly realised that scoring manuals are verrrrry long and dry. I suppose that invalidates the test results somewhat - which was the very point to me. I am opposed to those kinds of tests very much indeed.
Posted by dazedandconfused on September 21, 2004, at 17:36:38
In reply to Psychological/personality testing?, posted by Racer on September 20, 2004, at 15:36:29
Unfortunatley, they were not helpful for me at all. I had really high hopes, thinking it may shed some insight as to why I seem to have been stuck in therapy and not making progress for several years. I also had (have) a strong suspicion I have ADD. The therapist issued a report, about 6 pages, basically saying I was pretty normal, just sad, depressed, etc. The therapist also would not release the tests themselves, just the report. So I don't really know what my MMPI said or anything.
In a nutshell, big letdown. I would not recommend unless its not very expensive.
dazed
Posted by gardenergirl on September 21, 2004, at 20:48:57
In reply to Re: Psychological/personality testing?, posted by dazedandconfused on September 21, 2004, at 17:36:38
I think anytime you are considering undergoing psychological testing you should consider a few questions. First, what is the purpose of the testing? What do you or the person who suggested it hope to get out of it? As someone who occasionally administers psych. testing, I always like this to be as specific as possible. I like to talk with the person ahead of time to find out what questions they have about themselves, or in the case of a physcian referring for testing...what does the doc want to know that I can provide. This helps in choosing what tests to give and helps in writing the most relevant report.
Second, I would want to know who "owns" the report and the testing. In other words, who is really the client of the person administering the test? For example, if it is a court-ordered test for custody evaluation, the "customer" is the court--NOT the person being tested. This is the same if it is testing for disability determination. I think that most states still allow the client to receive test feedback, but it's important to know to whom the testing psychologist is bound to. This may affect how you approach taking the test.
Third, I would want to know a little something about the tests and what they are purported to measure. You don't want to research so much or be told so much by the person giving the test that it spoils the test for you. In my opinion, there is no value to you if you are truly interested in what the test says about you if you "study" for it. That being said, often in highly charged situations, like a custody eval. attorneys may provide some coaching to the client on how to take the test in order to have it work in their best interest. I have mixed feelings about this. I can see a buyer beware outlook as being helpful, but I also truly appreciate a "pure" test experience as that would be more valid and reliable than one of someone who was coached or researched ahead of time.
I would also ask the tester any questions you have, and if you want feedback, ask what kind and how you can get that. If you have specific questions you want answered from the test, and that is within the realm of the referral and testing, then that shouldn't be a problem (depending, though, on who is the client...a court or you or whomever...).
I think that's about all for my little speech on psych. testing. Regarding the specific tests you asked about, Racer, here's what I know:
WISC: Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children (sorry, you don't qualify!) :)
WIAT: Wechsler Independent Achievement Test. This is like testing for school based skills...the three R's. Not sure of the age range on this one.
MMPI: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. A paper and pencil objective personality test.
CAT: Children's Apperception Test. A series of ambiguous pictures where you comment on them. Again, I think you might be too old. But there are adult apperception tests, i.e. the TAT.
CPT: Continuous Performance Test. A motor test for attention that is often used in ADHD evals.
DICA: got's no clue on this one, sorry. Okay, Google says Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents. Probably a structured, standardized interview.
MACI: Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory. Similar to the MMPI, but a different test and used for adolescents.
NEPSY: hmmm, haven't heard of this one. It may have something to do with neuropsychological tests. Brain based stuff.
WRAML: Oh, I should know this, but I forget and it's not in my textbook. Ah, love google. Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning. There is a second edition that just came out.Hope this helps.
gg
Posted by jane d on September 21, 2004, at 21:09:11
In reply to Psychological/personality testing?, posted by Racer on September 20, 2004, at 15:36:29
Racer,
The link below is to a radio interview I just heard with Annie Murphy Paul, the author of a (critical) book on the subject. http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/episodes/09152004
I only caught part of the interview and I haven't read the book so I can't vouch for the specifics. It can't doesn't hurt to keep in mind, though, that testing is every bit as much a profit oriented business as pharmaceuticals is and probably even less regulated.
Well I guess that spells out my personal opinion. I'll be very interested to hear what you find out.
Jane
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