A Guide to Mental Health Assessment Tools for Healthcare Professionals
Published: 04/12/2024
Written by: Lawrence Stewen
Mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists and psychologists, require a robust toolkit of questionnaires, tests, and mental health assessment tools to assess patient well-being. Even primary care providers can benefit from using screening tools to gain further insight into a patient's condition before making a mental health referral.
However, with so many mental health questionnaires available from both official and unofficial sources, finding the right screening tool can be time-consuming. If an ineffective assessment tool is used, this may lead to inaccurate assessments and unnecessary stress and inconvenience for the patient.
In this article, we provide a list of questionnaires and mental health assessment tools for common mental illnesses. We outline how these tools can be used to screen, diagnose, and monitor symptoms.
Additionally, we connect the dots between mental and cognitive health assessments, and explain why it's important to include both objective and subjective measures to improve patient mental health outcomes.
Assessment Tools Used For Mental Health
When using mental health assessment tools, primary care providers and mental health professionals need to understand the tool they are using, which means knowing what stage of assessment it falls under. By understanding the limits and proper use of a mental health screening tool or test, healthcare providers can more effectively support patients with mental illness.
1. Screening
An initial screening is a brief psychological assessment used to determine whether a patient has a general mental health condition. This typically takes the form of a self-report questionnaire that's completed by the patient, such as those used for ADHD screening.
While screening is usually quick to administer, the results primarily assess subjective symptoms. If a positive result is found, the clinician can follow-up with the patient and recommend a more in-depth assessment to capture comprehensive objective measurements before reaching a diagnosis.
2. Diagnosis
Mental health assessment tools have the potential to support the diagnosis of mental illnesses. Diagnosis can be achieved via a combination of patient self-report measures, clinical interviews, and scientifically validated tests that measure objective markers corresponding to diagnostic criteria.
For example, the Creyos ADHD Protocol is a comprehensive tool that uses both objective and subjective measurements to support the process of ADHD diagnosis.
Once a diagnosis is reached and treatment is implemented, the clinician and patient can take steps towards monitoring symptoms and mental health outcomes.
3. Symptoms and Outcome Monitoring
Monitoring outcomes and symptoms often takes the form of regular self-report questionnaires so the clinician can assess changes in the patient's mental health over time. Examples of these measures include the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for measuring depressive symptoms.
While self-reporting methods are inherently subjective, combining them with objective measurements, like cognitive assessments, contribute to an evidence-based practice that supports data-driven clinical decisions with ongoing information collected during regularly scheduled appointments and follow ups.
Combining Objective and Subjective Measurements
Subjective measurements typically include patient self-report questionnaires, which capture a patient's personal perception of their symptoms. On the other hand, objective measurements aim to capture observable symptoms and medical evidence that can be assessed via scientifically validated tests.
For an accurate mental health assessment, both measurements are important. Subjective measurements are vital as the patient is often the only witness to the target behavior, although individual results must be interpreted with caution. Objective measurements are often required to verify or support the patient's subjective experience. Together, these measurements capture a broad range of evidence that can be used to make critical healthcare decisions.
Mental Health Assessments by Condition
Physicians and mental health professionals can screen, assess, and monitor a patient's mental and cognitive health with the following digitized questionnaires and mental health assessment tools, many of which are available in the Creyos Health platform.
ADHD
ADHD is a behavioral and cognitive condition that can affect a person’s mental health. Despite growing public awareness of ADHD, there is still a negative ADHD stigma that can also contribute to mental health challenges and make it difficult for patients to seek treatment. Clinicians need the right tools to screen, diagnose, and track symptoms of ADHD—particularly its objective markers which can be captured via cognitive assessments.
Our ADHD assessment tool includes a scientifically validated protocol and automated report capable of identifying objective markers of ADHD. It contains five tasks which examine 14 specific cognitive markers of ADHD. The test takes less than 25 minutes to complete, can be completed in-clinic or from the comfort of a patient's home, and is designed to assist in ADHD diagnosis and ongoing monitoring.
The protocol also includes the following age-based self-report questionnaires, which can help physicians capture objective and subjective markers of ADHD, leading to a more accurate diagnosis and better mental health outcomes.
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Symptoms and Normal Behavior (SWAN) Scale is an 18-item screening tool used to assess ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents.
The Vanderbilt Assessment (VADRS) for Childhood ADHD is a diagnostic aid designed for use by parents and clinicians to screen children and adolescents for ADHD symptoms.
The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) is a symptom checklist composed of two parts. Part A consists of six questions and is best used as a screening tool, whereas Part B is ideal for gathering additional information on patient symptoms for follow-up or discussion.
Addiction
Substance use disorder (SUD) takes many forms. At Creyos, we offer digitized versions of popular SUD tests and screeners for drug abuse and alcohol addiction.
The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) is used to identify signs of drug abuse problems in patients as early as possible. A 10-item assessment, the DAST-10 can be self-administered in 2 minutes.
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a short screening questionnaire designed to assess alcohol consumption and drinking behaviours.
Anxiety
Patients experiencing anxiety or that have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder may benefit from measuring their symptoms to gain a better understanding of the connection between anxiety and the brain.
The General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire is a screening tool used to measure generalized anxiety disorder symptoms. It's a seven question, self-administered assessment that is quick and easy to complete.
Autism
Due to increased awareness about the condition, healthcare practitioners are seeing a rise in autism diagnosis. However, reaching diagnosis can still pose a challenge for people from marginalized communities due to factors like socioeconomic status.
The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) questionnaire is a short, self-administered health assessment. It's valuable as an autism screening tool, and can assist in the decision to administer a full diagnostic assessment or refer to a specialist.
Bipolar Disorder
In one study, over 80% of bipolar disorder cases were characterized by serious impairment—the highest percentage among mood disorders. At Creyos, we offer an easy-to-administer bipolar disorder screening tool that can be used on its own or alongside cognitive tasks and other questionnaires.
The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) is a screening instrument for bipolar spectrum disorder. If a patient reaches the cutoff score for bipolar disorder on the MDQ, it’s recommended that a trained clinician follow-up for further assessment.
Depression
Depression is a mental illness that has close ties to cognitive function. Collecting information on the mental health and cognitive effects of depression can have important clinical implications for patient health outcomes.
The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a simple nine question instrument for screening depression. It can also be used to assist with depression diagnosis, and monitor and assess symptom severity over time.
Pain
Patients experiencing chronic pain are susceptible to mental health conditions like depression, and the risk of medication misuse may further impair their treatment and health outcomes. Research indicates that 16 million mental health patients in America are abusing prescription drugs each year.
The Opioid Risk Tool (ORT) is a short questionnaire that takes less than 5 minutes to complete. It can assist in determining which patients are at risk of opioid addiction.
The Pain Medication Questionnaire (PMQ) is an opioid screening instrument to measure the risk of misuse and addiction in patients who are already taking opioids.
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition associated with a range of negative health effects, including cognitive impacts.
The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 is a 20-item self report measure that assesses the presence and severity of PTSD symptoms. It takes 10 minutes to complete, and is primarily used to screen individuals for PTSD, assist in making a diagnosis, and monitor symptoms after treatment.
Stress
While some stress can be unavoidable, and in some cases even beneficial, too much stress can lead to a wide range of negative health outcomes.
The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) aims to capture subjective stress levels. Scores on the PSS are meant as an aid to quantify a patient’s self-reported stress and measure improvement over time.
Sleep
Insomnia and other sleep disturbances can be caused by both physical and mental health conditions. Prolonged sleep deprivation may affect a patient's cognitive abilities, as well as their mood and overall health.
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a self-report questionnaire that prompts patients to assess their own sleep habits over a month. The 19 questions assess seven key aspects of sleep to produce an overall score that provides a subjective measure of a patient's sleep quality and their ability to stay asleep.
Connecting the Dots Between Cognitive and Mental Health
While mental health patients are often given self-report questionnaires to subjectively assess mood and emotional well-being, measuring the objective markers of mental health is just as important. To reach an accurate diagnosis and deliver treatment quickly, subjective measurements alone are not enough.
One way to measure objective markers is to use scientifically backed cognitive assessments alongside more subjective mental health assessment tools. By capturing both measurements, clinicians can accurately follow the progression of mental illnesses and deliver better patient outcomes.
But how does mental health impact cognition? Research suggests that depression can lead to cognitive impairment, and anxiety has characteristic cognitive symptoms. By identifying the effects of mental illnesses on the brain, healthcare providers can better understand the patient's experience and tailor treatment strategies accordingly for a patient-centered care strategy.
Creyos Health provides a suite of computerized cognitive assessments that helps clinicians screen, assess, and monitor mental illnesses and other conditions that may affect mental health with both subjective and objective measurements.
Benefits for Clinicians
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Reliable and scientifically validated cognitive assessments that track objective health markers
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Easy to administer in-clinic or remotely
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Includes standard mental health questionnaires for subjective self-report data
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Customizable to meet a variety of patient needs
Benefits for Patients
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Engaging and quick assessments that can be taken from the comfort of their own home
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Patient-friendly assessments that can be easily administered with minimal supervision
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Results are easy to interpret, allowing patients to be more proactive in their care
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Evaluations are reimbursable under most health insurance policies
Improving Mental Health Outcomes with Cognitive Assessments
Evaluating the objective markers of mental health conditions through cognitive assessments, alongside subjective questionnaires, positions healthcare professionals to deliver better outcomes for mental health patients. While there are many ways to acquire pen-and-paper cognitive assessments, Creyos provides the latest digital assessments that can be accessed in-clinic or delivered remotely to the patient.
Clinicians who use computerized cognitive assessments will be working in the best interest of their mental health patients. Digital assessments give them the freedom of choosing when and where they take their assessment, letting patients proactively control their own healthcare journeys and alleviating the stress of travel to the clinic.
By putting mental health assessment tools in the hands of patients, clinicians can focus on monitoring symptoms and treatment strategies to deliver better mental health care.