General Psychiatric Assessment
The difficulties of conducting mental health assessments in general medical settings are many. These include problems with privacy assessment, ward rounds, and visits by other specialties, protected meals and scheduled visits from family members.
It can also be difficult to determine the outcome in this context, and there are specific challenges for disease-specific outcomes and satisfaction of patients and referrers ratings.
Medical Histories
The first step in a general psychiatric assessment is to understand the patient's medical background. This will include information regarding the patient's current condition as well as any medications they are taking and any major past medical issues that may affect their current health and well-being. This information can help the physician determine what psychological tests would be appropriate and the number of appointments they may require before determining a diagnosis.
This step is often difficult to complete on medical wards because of the limited space available and interruptions from visits to the ward, assessments by other specialties and health specialists, protected mealtimes and planned visits. It is crucial to find an area that is quiet to conduct the examination and then schedule an appointment that does not interfere with any of these activities. It is also useful to ask the referrer what their specific concerns are so that you can determine exactly what kind of psychiatric examination is required.
When carrying out psychiatric assessments on medical wards of general hospitals, it is important to keep in mind that physical health issues that a patient presents with can influence or even mask their psychiatric symptoms and behavior. Overshadowing by diagnosis is a common issue and is very difficult to avoid. If a patient is admitted with delirium but has an indication of dementia in their medical records, it could be tempting to 'overshadow the delirium' by assuming that it is the result of the mental illness they have already suffered from. This is rather than carrying out a full screen for delirium to rule out treatable causes such as stroke.
It is crucial that the psychiatrist who is assessing the patient attempts to establish a relationship between the physical and psychiatric concerns of the patient as well as to solicit complaints or concerns from the patient regarding their treatment, care or how their health condition is handled. Reference Osborn and Warner (1998) recommends an approach to achieve this. However, it could be difficult to implement in the real world.
Family History
The psychiatrist will ask about your family history to see if there are any mental health problems in your family. They will also want to be aware of any past experiences of abuse or trauma and your current social situation (including work, relationships and if you have support at home). You might be asked questions about your beliefs regarding religion as well as about your goals and dreams. The psychiatrist will determine an assessment, and then develop a treatment program that is suited to your needs.
Physical symptoms are also important and it is vital that the psychiatrist checks these too. They will examine the patient's blood pressure, listen to the heart and lungs and examine for any other medical issues which could be causing or aggravate the psychiatric symptoms.
It is beneficial for psychiatrists to get an exhaustive physical from the doctor who is treating the patient, but this may not always be possible, particularly with patients who are extremely 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 situations it is essential that the psychiatric nursing staff or care coordinators play a active role in ensuring that the physical health requirements of patients are fulfilled.
Psychiatrists also need to understand why the person is being referred to them, and what they hope to accomplish from their psychiatric examination. They must be able to read medical letters, investigate reports of tests, and communicate effectively with a patient's medical team to manage any medication or treatment.
The medical history is an essential component of any psychiatric assessment. It must include information about the diagnosis of the patient's psychiatric illness, past treatment and drinking and drug use. If you can, it's important to obtain an entire family history to assess the risk of developing certain disorders like bipolar disorder. It is beneficial to make use of screens that collect lifetime psychiatric data on informants and their first-degree family members, however, it is equally crucial to have a complete family psychiatric record.
Symptoms
During the psychiatric examination the doctor will ask you about your symptoms and how they have impacted your life. Your psychiatrist will also ask you about your family history and other issues that could be relevant. The interview may be uncomfortable at times, but it's important to answer honestly and fully to ensure that a correct diagnosis can be determined.
If you're suffering from mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, it is important to undergo a psychiatric assessment to determine whether or not you need treatment. While it is normal to have periods of stress or low mood occasionally however, if these symptoms last for more than two weeks and interfere with your daily activities it is likely you require treatment.
In addition to discussing your symptoms Your psychiatrist will also inquire about any other issues that might be impacting you, such as issues with work and 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 help with your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist will also ask you questions about your previous experiences with mental illness, and they might use standard assessment tools or psychological tests to gain understanding of your current situation. These tests may include personality assessments, questionnaires or cognitive tests that measure the level of stress you are experiencing.
If the psychiatric evaluation shows that you are experiencing psychotic symptoms, manifested by hallucinations or delusions that are a significant departure from reality as a consensual entity, the psychiatrist will need to perform a more in-depth examination and may need to take you to the hospital for observation. In these cases you'll need to be re-evaluated by another psychiatrist before returning home.
If you're seeking a psychiatric evaluation, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates will provide you with the assistance and care you deserve. The team of helpful and experienced professionals is committed to providing you with the information you require about the diagnosis you have received and possible treatment options. You can book your psychiatric examination online or by phone today.
Psychological Tests
A significant aspect of a psychological evaluation is the use of a variety of tests. Psychological tests are either written or verbal evaluations designed to measure unobserved elements. They are commonly used to determine the psychiatric assessment for family court personality of a person and their emotional functioning. They can be used to determine a mental illness' severity, such as anxiety or depression. Psychological testing is usually done by a qualified psychologist and requires the patient to follow certain instructions to obtain exact results.
Psychiatric assessment can vary in the amount and type psychological tests employed, based on the symptoms of an individual. A general psychiatric assessment can be brief, like the Mini-Mental State Examination, or in-depth and lengthy, like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological tests can be used to determine if there's a brain injury or concussion.
All kinds of psychiatric assessments can provide a picture of the patient's overall 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 abilities. They are also conducted by private therapists in their offices to collect information to develop a treatment plan and to determine if a patient could benefit from a medication or other kinds of therapy.
Some examples of psychological evaluations include tests for intelligence and achievement that measure various types of cognitive functioning (often referred to as IQ) and performance in comparison to a normed group. Other tests are designed to assess the ability of an activity, such as a memory test or a word association test. Psychologists are the only professionals with extensive training and expertise to administer and interpret psychological tests.
A psychiatric evaluation is designed to connect the patient with a medical professional that can provide treatment and management. The doctor will explain the diagnosis to the patient, and how it is related to the symptoms. The doctor will also inform the patient about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis can be expected to progress over time.