General Psychiatric Assessment
The difficulties associated with conducting mental health assessments in general medical settings are numerous. These include problems with privacy as well as ward rounds and assessments by other specialties. They also have issues with meal times and planned visits from family members.
In this way, it can be difficult to quantify outcomes, particularly when it comes to disease-specific outcomes.
Medical History
The first step in a general psychiatric evaluation is to understand the patient's medical background. This will include details of their current health and any medication they are taking and any medical issues that have occurred in the past that could have affected their current health and wellbeing. This information can also help the professional decide the appropriate psychological tests and how many appointments may be required before determining an assessment.
This step is often difficult to complete on medical wards because of the limited space available and interruptions from the ward's rounds, examinations by other specialties, allied health professionals, protected mealtimes and planned visits. It is worth trying to arrange an appointment time that doesn't clash with any of these activities and locate a quiet place for the examination to take place. Inquiring about the referrer's particular concerns will help you determine the type of assessment is required for psychiatric disorders.
It is essential to keep in mind that physical health issues may influence or even obscure symptoms of psychiatric illness. Overshadowing by diagnosis is a frequent issue and is hard to avoid. If patients are admitted with delirium and has a diagnosis of dementia in their medical records, it may be tempting to "shadow" the delirium' by assuming that it is the result of their existing mental illness. This is not as effective as carrying out a full screen for delirium to rule out treatable causes such as stroke.
It is essential that the psychiatrist assessing the patient tries to establish a connection between the physical and psychiatric issues of the patient and to get complaints or concerns from the patient about their treatment, care, or how their condition is being managed. Reference Osborn and Warner (1998) suggests a basic model for achieving this. However, it can be difficult to implement in real life.
Family History
The psychiatrist will inquire about your family history to determine if there's an issue with mental health within your family. They'll also inquire about any experiences you've had with trauma or abuse, and your current social status (including your relationships, work, and if you have support from home). You may be asked questions about your beliefs in religion and about your ambitions and dreams. The psychiatrist will then make an assessment and create a treatment plan to fit your requirements.
The psychiatrist should also examine physical symptoms. They will check the patient's blood pressure, listen to the lungs and heart and search for any other medical conditions that could be causing or aggravate the symptoms of psychiatric illness.
It is important for a psychiatrist to receive an entire physical examination from the patient's GP However, this might not be feasible, particularly for those who are sick or inpatients in psychiatric units. Those on these wards may only have sporadic face-to-face contact with psychiatrists or none at all. In these cases, it is vital that the psychiatric staff or care coordinators take an proactive role in ensuring the physical health needs of patients are met.
Psychiatrists also need to understand why the person was referred to them and what they expect to accomplish through their psychiatric evaluation. They should be competent in interpreting medical letters and investigate reports of tests from an GP or other health professional. They must communicate effectively with person's medical team about what investigations have been carried out to ensure that any medication or other treatments can be coordinated.
The medical history is an essential component of any psychiatric assessment. It should include details about the diagnosis of the patient's psychiatric illness and treatment history as well as any drinking and drug use. If possible, it is essential to gather an entire family history to assess the risk of certain disorders such as bipolar disorder. Brief screens to collect lifetime information about psychiatric conditions on informants as well as first-degree relatives can be helpful, but there is value in obtaining a full family psychiatric history as well.
Symptoms
In the course of a psychiatric assessment, your doctor may inquire about your symptoms and how they affect your life. Your psychiatrist will inquire about any pertinent questions like your family history. The interview may be uncomfortable at times, but it's essential that you answer honestly and completely so that an accurate diagnosis can be made.
It is crucial to have a psychiatric assessment if you suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. This will tell you whether you require treatment. While it is normal to have periods of low mood or stress occasionally, if these symptoms last for more than a few weeks and affect your daily activities it is likely you require treatment.
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms as well as any other issues that are impacting you, like work or family problems or addiction issues. They will also ask you about your physical health, your sleeping habits and whether or not you have tried any other ways to treat your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist may also ask you about your past experiences of mental illness. They may also use standardized assessment tools or psychological tests to get a better understanding of your situation. These tests can include personality tests, questionnaires or cognitive tests that measure the level of stress you are experiencing.
If the psychiatric evaluation confirms that you are experiencing psychotic symptoms that are manifested by hallucinations or delusions that are a significant departure from consensual reality, the psychiatrist will need to conduct a more thorough exam and may have to admit you to hospital for observation. In such cases you'll need be re-evaluated by another psychiatrist before returning home.
If you're in need of a psychiatric evaluation, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates can provide the support and care you need. The team of experienced and friendly professionals are committed to ensuring that you have the information you need about your diagnosis and treatment options. You can schedule a psychiatric assessment via the internet or by calling today.
Psychological Tests
An essential part of a psychological assessment involves the use of various tests. Psychological tests are written evaluations or verbal evaluations which measure unobserved aspects of a person's personality. They are used to assess the emotional state of a person and personality characteristics. They can be used to determine the severity of a specific mental illness, for example, anxiety or depression. Psychological testing is typically conducted by a psychologist who is trained and requires the patient to adhere to specific instructions to obtain precise results.
The psychiatric assessment can vary in the amount and type of tests they employ according to the person's condition and symptoms. urgent psychiatric assessment may be short, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination, or extended and thorough, like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. In-depth neuropsychological testing may also be used to determine the presence of brain injuries, concussions, or other neurological conditions.
All types of psychiatric evaluations offer a glimpse of the patient's emotional and psychological functioning. They are performed by psychologists, doctors and sometimes psychiatrists in the hospital setting to assess a person's current mood, emotional reactivity, and cognitive capabilities. They are also performed by private therapists in their offices to gather information for a treatment plan as well as to determine if a patient would benefit from a medication or other kinds of therapy.
Intelligence & Achievement Tests are examples of psychological evaluations. These tests measure cognitive functioning (often known as IQ) in comparison to a normal group. Other tests are designed for evaluating the ability to perform tasks, for example, a word association test or a memory test. Psychologists are the only professionals with extensive training and expertise to conduct and interpret psychological tests.
The goal of a psychiatric examination is to match the patient with a medical professional who can provide treatment and management. When the examination is completed the doctor will inform the patient about the diagnosis and how it relates to their present symptoms. The doctor will also inform the patient about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis can be expected to progress over time.