General Psychiatric Assessment
The difficulties of conducting mental health assessments in general medical settings are numerous. There are numerous challenges such as privacy issues as well as ward rounds, examinations by other specialists, secure mealtimes and scheduled family visits.
In this regard, it can be difficult to determine the impact of outcomes, especially when it comes to outcomes that are specific to a disease.
Medical History
The first step in an overall psychiatric assessment is to establish the medical background of the patient. This will include information regarding the patient's current health, any medications they are taking, as well as any significant previous medical conditions that may have impacted their health and well-being. This information can aid the doctor in determining which psychological tests are suitable and how many appointments they will have to schedule before making an assessment.
This procedure can be a challenge to complete on medical wards because of the limited space and interruptions from visits to wards, assessments from other specialties or allied health professionals as well as scheduled meal times. It is crucial to find an area with enough privacy to conduct the examination and to schedule an appointment that doesn't interfere with any of these activities. Inquiring about the referrer's specific concerns will help you determine which psychiatric evaluation is needed.
It is crucial to remember that physical health issues may affect or even overshadow symptoms of psychiatric illness. Diagnostic overshadowing is a very common issue and is very difficult to avoid. If a patient is admitted with delirium, but has an diagnosis of dementia in their medical records, it may be tempting to "shadow" the delirium', assuming that it is due to the mental illness they have already suffered from. This is not as effective as carrying out a full screen for delirium to rule out treatable causes such as stroke.
It is important that the psychiatrist assessing the patient attempts to establish a relationship 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 health condition is handled. The basic model suggested in the reference Osborn and Warner (1998) is an easy way to accomplish this, but it could be a challenge to implement this in practice.
Family History
The psychiatrist will ask you about your family history in order to determine if there's a mental health issue in your family. They'll also want know about any experiences of abuse or trauma and your current social circumstances (including your relationships, work and whether you have a support system at home). You may be asked questions about your beliefs in religion and about your ambitions and dreams. The psychiatrist will then formulate an assessment and create a treatment plan to suit your requirements.
The psychiatrist should also check physical symptoms. They will test the patient's blood pressure and listen to the lungs and heart and examine for any other medical conditions that may be causing or aggravating the symptoms of psychiatric illness.
It is often beneficial for the psychiatrist to get a full physical from the general practitioner of the patient but this isn't always feasible especially for patients who are very ill or inpatients on psychiatric hospitals. Patients with these conditions may have minimal or no face-to-face contact with psychiatrists. In these instances it is essential that psychiatric staff or care coordinators play a active role in ensuring that the physical health needs of patients are met.
Psychiatrists also need to comprehend why a person is being referred to them, and what they are hoping to accomplish from their psychiatric examination. They must be able to read medical letters, investigate reports of tests and communicate effectively with the person's medical team to manage any medication or treatment.
The medical history is an essential part of any psychiatric evaluation. It must include information about the patient's diagnosis of psychiatric disorders, past treatment and drinking and drug use. If you can, it's important to collect a family history to determine the likelihood of developing certain disorders, such as bipolar disorder. It is useful to use brief screens that record lifetime psychiatric data on informants and their first-degree relatives but it is also essential to collect the complete psychiatric records of all family members.
Signs and symptoms
In the course of a psychiatric evaluation your doctor will inquire with you about your symptoms and how they have impacted your life. Your doctor will also inquire about your family history and any other issues that may be relevant. The interview may be uncomfortable at times, but it is essential that you answer honestly and completely to ensure that a correct diagnosis can be given.
If you are suffering from mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression it is crucial to seek a psychiatric examination to see whether or not you require treatment. While it is normal to have periods of stress or low mood at times however, if these symptoms last more than a few weeks and affect your daily life, it is likely that you need treatment.
In addition to discussing your symptoms Your psychiatrist will ask about any other issues that might be impacting your health, such as issues with work and family or addiction issues. They will also inquire 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 questions about your past experiences with mental illness and they may use standardized assessment tools or psychological tests to gain insight into your situation. These tests may include questionnaires, personality tests or cognitive tests that measure your level of distress.
If the psychiatric examination shows that you are experiencing psychotic symptoms, caused by hallucinations, delusions or hallucinations that are a significant departure from consensual reality The psychiatrist will have to conduct a more thorough examination and may be required to admit you expert in psychiatric assessment to a hospital for observation. In such cases, you will need to be evaluated by a different psychiatrist before you can return home.
If you're in need of an evaluation for psychiatric disorders, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates can provide the support and care you deserve. The team of caring and experienced professionals is committed to providing you with the information you require about your diagnosis and possible treatment options. You can schedule your psychiatric exam via the internet or call us now.
Psychological Tests
The use of different tests is a crucial aspect of a psycho-psychological examination. Psychological tests are written assessments or verbal evaluations which measure unobserved aspects of a person's personality. They are often used to assess the personality of a person and their emotional functioning. They can be used to determine the severity of a specific mental illness, like depression or anxiety. Psychological testing is usually done by a trained psychologist and requires the patient to adhere to specific guidelines to get accurate results.
Psychiatric assessment can vary in regards to the number and type psychological tests used, depending on an individual's symptoms. A general psychiatric examination could be brief, like the Mini-Mental State Examination, or extensive and long, such as a Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological testing can be used to determine if there's an injury to the brain or concussion.
All types of psychiatric examinations 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 evaluate a person's present mood, emotional reactivity, and cognitive abilities. Private therapists are also able to conduct them in their offices to gather data for an appropriate treatment plan, and to determine if the patient could benefit from medication or a different type of therapy.
Intelligence & Achievement Tests are examples of psychological assessments. These tests measure cognitive functioning (often known as IQ) in contrast to a normative group. Other tests are designed to evaluate the ability to perform tasks, such as a word association or memory test. Psychologists are the only professionals with a vast amount of training and experience to administer and interpret psychological tests.
The aim of a psychiatric exam is to pair the patient with a doctor who can provide treatment and management. The doctor will explain the diagnosis to the patient, and how it relates with the symptoms. The doctor will also discuss the prognosis, which is how a particular diagnosis can be likely to develop in time.