Psychologists are trained to do psychological tests, and these tests often can tell you a great deal about your self. While you may be able to take some self help kinds of tests on the internet, only a trained (and licensed) clinical psychologist is qualified (or able) to give you a comprehensive, well selected battery of tests designed to get at the questions with which you a concerned. Dr. Berndt is the author of a major test of depression, the Multiscore Depression Inventory (MDI) published by Western Psychological Services in Los Angeles. With Charles Kaiser he co-authored the children's version of the same test (CMDI), although children wrote the bulk of the items. What are some of the questions a psychological test battery might address? One or more of the following are typical uses:

• Intellectual functioning. IQ, knowledge, achievement, memory capacity, learning disabilities, Alzheimer's and other dementias, and intellectual strengths and weaknesses, neuropsychological impairment.
• Personality: introversion/extraversion, self-esteem, coping styles, defenses, complexes, conflicts, sexual and aggressive impulses, sensitivity, hardiness, proneness to stress, psychosis, sensation seeking, compulsivity, hysteria, Hypochondriasis, narcissism, borderline personality, personality disorders, creativity.
• Psychopathology. Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Mania, thought Disorders, delusions, reality testing, Diagnoses according to DSM lV, Depression, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Alcoholism.
• Career Interests. Preferences as they match similar workers, Enterprising, Realistic, Social, Investigative, etc.
• Parental fitness, Custody Evaluations. Psychological test batteries are often given as a part of a custody evaluation. The main use of testing in this situation is to understand the strengths and weaknesses of an individual as they might relate to parenting. Another use of testing in custody evaluations is to understand any special needs that a child might have, or developmental issues that might impact an aspect of the evaluation. Finally, when there is an allegation that one or another parent might have a mental illness that impacts the child, this is typically explored in the fairest way by giving the same tests to both parents. For more on custody issues in general, click here. Parental fitness is when the state wants to take sole custody of your child, and stop all visitations permanently. The state DSS typically has to present evidence strong evidence against you. Although the exact role varies from state to state, most often it includes a referral for evaluation of mental illness.