A psychological evaluation, also known as a "psych eval," is a mental health assessment where a health professional evaluates an individual to see if they are experiencing a mental health problem and assesses their mental health condition. Psych evaluations are used to diagnose emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorders. They are similar to medical tests in that they help inform the development of a treatment plan. Psychologists administer tests and assessments for a wide variety of reasons, such as to diagnose conditions like brain injuries or dementia.

During a psych evaluation, a health professional gathers essential information that allows them to better understand an individuals mental health and psychiatric care needs. The evaluation may include a personal and family history of emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorders, a complete medical history, lab tests, educational assessments, speech and language assessments, and psychological assessments. The underlying cause of a persons problems isnt always clear, and psychological tests and assessments allow a psychologist to arrive at a diagnosis and guide treatment.

If an individual or a loved one has shown signs of a mental health condition, it may be time to talk to a professional and consider a psych evaluation. Signs that someone may need a psych evaluation might include sudden mood changes, unexplained memory loss, social withdrawal, and concerns about the future. Psych evaluations can help identify the cause of mental health symptoms and guide recommendations for the best treatment, which may include individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, medication, self-care techniques, or a combination of these.