Psychological Testing (Reasons to Consult)

[IsleSeven]

During the early years of my medical career in psychiatry to current time, I did not have psychological services available for collaboative work with patients. Current time is 12 years later and I have (to borrow from Steven King in the Tower series) forgotten the faces of my mentors in residency and the wisdom they attempted to impart.

The sitiuaton I am struggling with surrounds psychological testing. When ancillary staff, courts and schools (magically) request 'psych testing', I have a difficult time turning the vague requests into intellegent requests for testing or consultation.

The treatment setting is on an adolescent inpatient unit with 20 beds. What I hope to learn form the forum is:

• What makes a good Psychological Consult request?
  When do you reallly want me to consult?
  Where are the struggles for you that I can help alleviate?

Regards to the forum. If this was not the correct place to post please make suggestions.

[SWM]

hi

forgive me but i dont follow your post, this maybe due to the difference of terminology used on different side of the atlantic.

when you say "psych testing" do you mean a "psychological assesment"?

the other thing i dont understand is a "psychological consult request"

if possible could you explain what youmean by these terms and the i should be able to make sense of the op then.

oh, and welcome to the forum!

[IsleSeven]

The consult, testing and assessment are interchangable in the manner I am using the words.

Psychiatric medical doctors in the US comprise a major pathway to obtaining psychological assessment. The crux of what I am asking is form the psychologists point of view, what are the desirable reasons for consultation request.
 

[SWM]

i hope some body more qualified can help you out with that one.

it seems that there is quite a resposibility in the request that are made of you. i geuss you must be pretty isolated in your line of work. isolated in terms of having peers that can understand the level of psychological work that takes place between you and your patients.

[cognitive]

isleseven ,did you mean when a psychiatrist should ask a psychological assessment for any of his patients?