Using computerized testing in the psychiatric hospital.

Abstract

This article addresses the uses of the computer in psychological testing and particularly in reference to its use in psychiatric hospitals. Psychologists have received the training necessary to administer and interpret psychological tests. Psychological tests have been used for assessing the patient's level of intellectual functioning, for a better understanding of personality dynamics, for the recognition of organic factors affecting patients' behavior, and for making differential diagnoses. At present there have been numerous attempts to computerize the administration, scoring, and interpretation of standardized psychological tests, but the reliability and validity of these programs is still in question. There exists a tremendous variation in the quality of the software products available. Other issues are who takes responsibility for the statements made in the computerized report, and who administers the tests and under what conditions.