General Psychiatric Assessment
There are numerous challenges in conducting psychiatric assessments in general medical settings. There are many issues to be faced such as privacy concerns as well as ward rounds, examinations by other specialists, secure mealtimes, and scheduled visits to the family.
In this context, it can be difficult to determine the impact of outcomes, especially when it comes to specific outcomes due to illness.
Medical Histories
The first step in a general psychiatric assessment is to determine the patient's medical history. This will include information about the patient's present condition, any medications they are taking and any significant past medical conditions that may have impacted their health and well-being. This information will help the physician determine the appropriate psychological tests and how many visits may be necessary prior to making an assessment.
This is often a challenge to complete on medical wards due the limited space available and interruptions during visits to the ward, assessments by other specialties, allied health specialists, protected mealtimes and planned visitors. It is essential to locate an area with enough privacy to conduct the assessment and then schedule an appointment that doesn't conflict with any of these activities. It is also useful to ask the referrer what their concerns are, so that you can determine precisely what type of psychiatric examination is required.
It is crucial to remember that physical health issues may affect or even overshadow symptoms of psychiatric illness. This is a problem that is known as diagnostic overshadowing and is very difficult to avoid. If a patient is admitted with delirium and has an indication of dementia in their medical records, it could be tempting to "shadow the delirium' and assume that it is due to their mental illness. This is rather than conducting a thorough screening for delirium to rule out treatmentable reasons such as stroke.
It is essential that the psychiatrist who is assessing the patient is able to establish a connection between the physical and psychiatric concerns of the patient and to elicit concerns or complaints from the patient regarding their treatment, their care, or how their condition is being managed. Reference Osborn & Warner (1998) suggests an approach to achieve this. However, it could be difficult to implement in the real world.
Family History
The psychiatrist will ask you about your family history to determine if there's a mental health problem in your family. They'll also want be aware of any past incidents of abuse or trauma you've experienced and your current situation in the social world (including relationships, work and whether you have support at home). You could be asked about your beliefs in religion as well as your goals and dreams. The psychiatrist will then formulate an assessment and formulate an appropriate treatment plan to meet your requirements.
The psychiatrist should also check physical symptoms. They will examine the patient's blood pressure and listen to the heart and lungs and examine for any other medical issues that may be causing or exacerbating the symptoms of psychiatric illness.
It is beneficial for psychiatrists to receive a complete physical from the patient's doctor however this might not always be possible, particularly with patients who are extremely sick or inpatients in psychiatric units. The patients on these wards may only have sporadic face-to-face contact with psychiatrists or none at all. In these cases it is essential that the psychiatrist's nurses or care coordinators take an proactive role in ensuring the physical health requirements of patients are met.
Psychiatrists should also understand why a person is being referred to them and what they expect to accomplish with their psychiatric evaluation. They must be able interpret medical letters, investigate the results of tests and communicate effectively with a patient's medical team to manage any medication or treatment.
The medical history is an important component of any psychiatric assessment. It must include information about the patient's psychiatric diagnosis, past treatment and drinking and drug use. It is also important to obtain a complete family history, if you can to determine the risk of certain disorders, like bipolar disorder, which tends to occur in families. Screens to collect life-long psychiatric information on informants and first-degree relatives can be helpful, but there is the benefit of obtaining a complete family history of psychiatric disorders as well.
Signs and symptoms
In the course of a psychiatric evaluation the doctor will ask you about your symptoms and how they have affected your life. Your doctor will also inquire about your family history and any other issues that might be relevant. It can feel intrusive at times, but it is important to be honest and complete to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
If you are experiencing mental health issues like depression or anxiety, it is important to undergo a psychiatric assessment to determine if you require treatment. It is normal to have periods of low mood and stress however when they last longer than a few days or affect your daily life, then you may need treatment.
In addition to discussing your symptoms Your psychiatrist will also inquire about any other issues that could be affecting you, such as problems at work or with your family, or abuse of substances. They will also inquire about your physical health, sleeping habits and whether or not you've tried other methods to alleviate your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist might also ask you about your past experiences of mental illness. They could also employ assessments that are standardised, or psychological tests, to gain a here better understanding of your situation. These tests could include questionnaires, personality tests or cognitive tests that measure the level of stress you are experiencing.
If your psychiatric evaluation finds that you suffer from psychotic symptoms, like hallucinations or delusions that differ significantly from what is considered to be real, then the psychiatrist might have to perform an in-depth exam and then admit you to the hospital to be observed. You will have to be evaluated again by an experienced psychiatrist before you are allowed to go home.
Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates will provide you with the support and care you need. The team of friendly and experienced professionals is committed to providing you with the information you need about your diagnosis and treatment options. You can book your psychiatric examination on the internet or by calling us now.
Psychological tests
The use of various tests is an essential part of a psycho-psychological assessment. Psychological tests are written assessments or verbal evaluations which measure unobserved constructs. They are used to determine the person's emotional health and personality traits. They can be used to determine the severity of a specific mental illness, like depression or anxiety. Psychological testing is usually conducted by a psychologist who is trained and requires the patient to adhere to specific instructions to obtain accurate results.
Psychological assessments can differ in the amount and type of psychological tests they use, depending on the person and their symptoms. A general psychiatric examination could be short, like the Mini-Mental State Examination (MSE) or more detailed and time-consuming, like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological tests can be used to determine if there's a concussion or brain injury.
All types of psychiatric assessments provide a look at the patient's emotional and psychological functioning. They are carried out by psychologists, doctors and sometimes psychiatrists in hospitals to determine a person's current mood, emotional reactivity, and cognitive capabilities. Private therapists are also able to conduct these tests in their offices to gather information for an appropriate treatment plan, and to determine if the patient could benefit from medication or a different type of therapy.
Intelligence and Achievement Tests are examples of psychological evaluations. These tests test cognitive functioning (often referred as IQ) in contrast to a normative group. Other tests are designed to assess the ability of a person to perform tasks, like a word association test or a memory test. Psychologists are the only experts with extensive training and expertise to administer and interpret psychological tests.
The purpose of a psychiatric assessment is to pair the patient with a doctor who can offer treatment and management. The doctor will explain the diagnosis to the patient and how it is related to the symptoms. The doctor will also talk about the prognosis, which is the way in which a specific diagnosis is expected to change over time.