Start with the clinical question
Ask what symptom, risk, physical contributor or treatment decision is being examined. Testing without a defined question can produce incidental results and additional anxiety.
UK TESTS & INVESTIGATIONS
Clinical Mental-Health Assessment and Screening in the UK
Clinical conversations and validated questionnaires can organise symptoms, impact, risk and change over time, but a score is not a diagnosis.
Reviewed 24 August 2026
Direct answer
Clinical conversations and validated questionnaires can organise symptoms, impact, risk and change over time, but a score is not a diagnosis. The safest pathway begins with clinical history, functional impact, physical context and the question the result is expected to answer. Availability varies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and between NHS and independent services.
Resources in this section
Preparing for a GP Mental-Health AssessmentOrganise the timeline, functional impact, physical symptoms, medicines, substances and priorities before a GP appointment.Mental State Examination: What It AssessesUnderstand the structured clinical observation of appearance, behaviour, speech, mood, thought, perception, cognition, insight and risk.Suicide and Self-Harm Risk Assessment: Purpose and LimitsExplain how clinicians explore current thoughts, intent, plans, access to means, previous behaviour, protective factors and immediate needs.Medication, Substance and Supplement Review for Mental-Health SymptomsIdentify prescribed, over-the-counter, recreational and complementary products that may affect mood, sleep, cognition or withdrawal.PHQ-9 Depression Questionnaire: UK Use and LimitsDescribe a nine-item measure often used to support depression assessment and monitor symptom change.GAD-7 Anxiety Questionnaire: UK Use and LimitsDescribe a seven-item measure of recent anxiety symptoms and their impact.AUDIT-C and AUDIT Alcohol ScreeningExplain short and full alcohol screening questions used to identify patterns that may warrant a fuller assessment.OCD Symptom Measures and Clinical AssessmentShow how questionnaires can structure obsessions, compulsions, avoidance, distress, time and interference.Trauma Screening Questionnaires: PC-PTSD-5 and PCL-5Explain the difference between brief trauma screening and a fuller symptom checklist.CORE-10 and WSAS: Measuring Distress and FunctionDescribe measures used to track general psychological distress and work or social adjustment.Bipolar Screening Questionnaires: Purpose and LimitsBipolar screening questionnaires can organise relevant experiences but cannot distinguish bipolar disorder from every overlapping explanation or confirm a diagnosis.Adult ADHD and Autism Screening Questionnaires in the UKAdult ADHD and autism questionnaires may support referral conversations, but diagnosis requires developmental, functional and differential assessment by appropriately qualified professionals.
How to use the directory
Know the test type
A questionnaire screens or measures severity; a clinical assessment integrates evidence; a laboratory or instrumental investigation answers a physical question. These roles are not interchangeable.
Plan interpretation
Reference ranges, sensitivity, specificity, timing, medicines and pre-test probability all matter. Results should be interpreted by the professional responsible for the pathway.
Related investigation pathways
Official sources
Scope, safety and urgent help
iMetaWellness provides complementary wellbeing information and reflective support. It does not diagnose a mental disorder, select investigations, interpret results as a medical opinion, prescribe treatment or replace a GP, psychiatrist, psychologist, pharmacist or NHS service. A test is useful only when a qualified professional has a clear question and a plan for acting on the result.
If someone may act on suicidal thoughts, cannot remain safe, has severe confusion, new psychosis, collapse, seizure, chest pain or another immediate danger, call 999 or attend A&E. For urgent concerns that are not immediately life-threatening, contact NHS 111, the person’s GP, mental-health team or local crisis service.
Use this information in a responsible next step
We can help you organise observations, questions, routines and a concise summary for an appropriate professional. We do not order tests or confirm diagnoses.