Psychological evaluation

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A psychological evaluation or mental examination is an examination into a person's mental health by a mental health professional such as a psychologist. A psychological evaluation may result in a diagnosis of a mental illness. It is the mental equivalent of a physical examination.

[edit] Methodology

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The psychologist will start by asking questions of the person being evaluated sometimes but not always. In psychological evaluations the administration of standardized psychological tests either by a psychologist, or by someone the psychologist supervises, are often a component of the evaluation.

[edit] Situations requiring psychological evaluations

Applicants to sensitive jobs, such as jobs in intelligence or other jobs handling state secrets, may be required to submit to a psychological evaluation before they can be employed, although usually a background check is much more important.

Courts may order a competency evaluation of a defendant to determine competency to stand trial. An insanity defense will also usually require the defendant to undergo a psychological evaluation.