Psychometric tests & clinical assessment

Mental health can be measured. “I feel better” is not enough — data are needed.

What are psychometric tools?

Psychometric tools are validated, scientifically tested questionnaires that quantitatively measure symptoms of mental disorders. They are used internationally both for diagnostic purposes and for monitoring treatment response. The difference from a “normal conversation” is that the results are objective, comparable and trackable over time. We know how much something improved — and whether it worsened.

Psychometric tools used in the clinic

• PHQ-9 — screening and monitoring of depression
• GAD-7 — screening and measurement of generalized anxiety
• BAI — Beck Anxiety Inventory
• DASS-21 — simultaneous measurement of depression, anxiety and stress
• PTSD Checklist — screening for post-traumatic stress
• EAT-26 — screening for eating disorders
• Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale — adult ADHD assessment
• WHOQOL-BREF — quality-of-life measurement

For OCD, psychotic disorders, autism and sleep disorders, specialized clinical scales are used by the physician, selected according to diagnosis and assessment goal.

How they are used in clinical practice

Psychometric tools do not replace clinical judgment; they complement it. In the clinic, I use them:

• During the initial assessment, to grade symptom severity and define baseline
• During treatment, at regular intervals, to monitor response
• In clinical decision-making, such as medication adjustment, integration of rTMS or psychotherapy, or treatment completion
• In issuing medical reports, as objective documentation of the clinical picture

Can I complete a psychometric test online?

Some psychometric tools can be completed digitally before the visit, saving time and providing an initial picture before our meeting. Some clinical tools require administration by a trained clinician and are not self-administered.