Reviewed by: Assel Omarova, MD, psychiatrist and addiction specialist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- Who leads the session
- a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist; results are interpreted in the context of the clinical picture
- Format
- electronic questionnaires and testing over video under a specialist’s supervision
- Duration
- 60–120 minutes, depending on the purpose; the report is ready within 1–3 days
- Anonymity
- you can take the assessment without giving your surname; results are protected by medical confidentiality under Kazakhstan law
- When it is urgent
- suicidal thoughts, confusion, hallucinations—call 103 or 112; tests are not what you need
- Outcome
- a written report with interpretation and recommendations for further diagnosis and treatment
What you should know
Why do you need tests if you can just talk to a doctor? The clinical interview remains the foundation of psychiatric diagnosis, but psychological assessment adds measurability. Validated scales make it possible to quantify the severity of depression or anxiety, compare the result with normative data, and see a month later whether there has been real change. Clinical guidelines include these tools in the standard for assessing patients and monitoring treatment.
Many of these instruments have been adapted for remote use: questionnaires are completed electronically, and some cognitive tests are administered over video under a specialist’s supervision. This is convenient for people who find it hard to set aside half a day for a clinic visit—for example, government employees in the Yesil district or parents living in the Baikonur district who would otherwise have to take a teenager across the whole city on a freezing, windy day.
When You Need a Psychological Assessment
- your diagnosis needs to be clarified because your symptoms resemble several disorders
- you want an objective measure of how severe your depression or anxiety is
- ADHD is suspected in an adult or a teenager
- you are concerned about declining memory and concentration, including in an elderly relative
- you need to track how your condition is changing during treatment
- your doctor has recommended a personality assessment to help choose a type of psychotherapy
- you need a report with quantitative data for a second opinion
If at least two points apply and the state lasts longer than two weeks, it is worth seeing a specialist. Phone consultation is free. If life is at risk, call 112 or 103.
Why a Conversation Alone Is Sometimes Not Enough
Self-assessment is prone to distortion. A person with depression tends to underestimate improvements, while a person with anxiety tends to overestimate threats. In addition, many symptoms develop gradually, and without a baseline it is hard to tell whether things have gotten better. Standardized scales reduce the impact of these distortions because they ask the same questions every time and compare the answers with norms derived from large samples.
Cognitive problems—reduced attention, memory, or speed of thinking—can be manifestations of depression, ADHD, anxiety, chronic sleep deprivation, or an emerging neurocognitive disorder. It is difficult to tell these apart through conversation alone, whereas neuropsychological tests reveal the pattern of impairment characteristic of different conditions. This helps steer further evaluation in the right direction and ensures nothing important is missed.
How an Online Psychological Assessment Works
First, the specialist holds a short interview and defines the goal: clarifying a diagnosis, assessing severity, or cognitive screening. You then complete electronic questionnaires and do some of the tests over video under supervision. You will need a computer or tablet with a camera, a stable internet connection, a quiet room free of distractions, and about two hours. Avoid alcohol the day before and try to get a good night’s sleep—this affects the results of cognitive tests.
Some instruments have to be administered in person: a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, tests that use physical stimulus materials, and assessment of young children. Psychological assessment does not replace lab tests, an EEG, or brain imaging when these are needed. Test results are not a diagnosis in themselves: the doctor interprets them together with the clinical picture. In acute situations, call 103 or 112.
How we help
Clinical rating scales
Validated scales for depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and sleep problems make it possible to assess severity and establish a baseline. Completing them again a few weeks later shows whether treatment is working. Some scales are self-report questionnaires, while others are clinician-rated—completed by the specialist after a structured interview, which reduces the influence of subjectivity.
ADHD and cognitive screening
For adults and teenagers, ADHD symptom questionnaires and tests of attention, working memory, and processing speed are used. For older adults, brief cognitive scales help identify a possible neurocognitive disorder. Screening does not replace a full diagnostic evaluation, but it shows whether an in-depth assessment is needed and in which direction.
Personality assessment
Personality questionnaires help reveal stable patterns of emotional reactions, relationships, and coping with stress. This is important for choosing a psychotherapy approach and for differential diagnosis—for example, when a personality disorder is suspected. Results are discussed with care and without labels, as information to work with rather than a verdict.
Report and interpretation
Afterward, you receive a written report: which instruments were used, your results compared with the norms, an interpretation in the context of your complaints, and recommendations. A Psychiatry Online specialist explains the results at a separate appointment, answers your questions, and suggests next steps—treatment, further evaluation, or repeat testing.
Myths and facts
MythA free online test from the internet will show the same thing
FactTests from open sources are often not validated and are interpreted without regard to the clinical picture. Professional psychological assessment uses proven instruments, and the results are evaluated by a specialist who takes your history and observations into account.
MythPsychiatric diagnoses are made based on tests
FactThe diagnosis is made by a doctor based on a clinical interview and ICD-10/ICD-11 criteria. Tests are a supporting tool: they clarify severity, the pattern of impairment, and changes over time, but they are not a diagnosis in themselves.
MythTest results could end up with your employer
FactPsychological assessment results are part of your medical information and are protected by medical confidentiality under Kazakhstan law. They are not shared with third parties without your consent, except in cases expressly provided for by law.
How an online appointment works
- Message or callWrite on WhatsApp or call — our coordinator replies within minutes, day or night. You don't have to give your surname.
- Doctor and timeWe match you with a psychiatrist, addiction specialist or psychotherapist and agree on a time — often the same day.
- Video consultationA secure 50–60 minute video call: the doctor takes a detailed history and uses standardised scales if needed.
- Treatment planYou receive a clear summary, recommendations and a plan: what we do online and what needs an in-person visit or home call.
- Follow-upOnline follow-up sessions, messenger contact with your doctor, and treatment adjustments until you get a stable result.
Prices in Astana
| Online psychiatrist consultation (50–60 min) | 15 000 ₸ |
| Follow-up online consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| One month of online psychiatric care | 60 000 ₸ |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
You can book in Astana online or at one of two branches: 72 Bogenbay batyra St., Astana, 37 Petrova St., office 23, Astana. Our coordinator replies on WhatsApp within minutes at any time, and a doctor usually connects by video the same day; home visits are available too — all city districts and nearby settlements.
Confidential and private
Information about your visit, diagnosis and treatment is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”. We never share it with your employer, school or relatives without your consent; the only exceptions are those expressly set out by law. For an online consultation your first name is enough, video runs over a secure channel and nothing is recorded without your consent.
Questions and answers
How accurate are tests taken online?
For most questionnaires and a number of cognitive tests, online administration yields comparable results as long as the conditions are met: a quiet room, a stable connection, and no distractions. If an instrument has to be administered in person, the specialist will tell you in advance and suggest an alternative.
Can ADHD be assessed online?
Screening is done online: symptom questionnaires, attention tests, and a clinical interview that includes information about your childhood. A final diagnosis sometimes requires additional information—from relatives or school reports—and an in-person evaluation. The doctor will explain how extensive the assessment needs to be in your case.
How should I prepare for testing?
Get a good night’s sleep, avoid alcohol the day before, and eat beforehand. If you take medications, do not change your routine, and tell the specialist about them. Have your computer or tablet, headphones, and charger ready, and set aside uninterrupted time. It is best not to take the tests at the end of a hard workday.
Can a teenager undergo psychological assessment?
Yes, there are adapted instruments for teenagers, and many of them are suitable for the online format. A legal guardian must take part. For younger children, some tests are done in person, because they involve working with materials and observing behavior.
Why repeat the tests during treatment?
Repeat assessment shows whether there is objective improvement and how significant it is. This helps the doctor adjust treatment in time and distinguish remission from a partial response. The scales are usually repeated every few weeks at follow-up appointments.
Is the assessment convenient if I am very busy?
Yes. Testing can be split into two parts and done on different days—for example, on the weekend. Patients from the Saryarka and Nura districts do not need to travel to a clinic: with Psychiatry Online, two hours at home or in a quiet office room is all it takes.
Where can I be seen in Astana?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 72 Bogenbay batyra St., Astana and 37 Petrova St., office 23, Astana. Both are open 24/7; home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements.
Sources and methodology
This page was prepared by the Psychiatry Online medical editorial team based on:
- International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 and ICD-11, World Health Organization
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment protocols of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- NICE (UK) and APA (US) guidelines on the treatment of mental disorders
- WHO recommendations on telemedicine and digital health
This information is for reference only and does not replace a consultation with a specialist. Editorial policy
