General Psychiatric Assessment
The difficulties of conducting mental health assessments in general medical settings are numerous. There are many issues to be faced such as privacy concerns as well as ward rounds, examinations by other specialists, secured mealtimes, and scheduled visits to the family.
It can also be difficult to determine the outcome in this setting, with particular difficulties for outcomes specific to diseases as well as patient and referrer satisfaction ratings.
Medical History
The first step of a general psychiatric evaluation is to establish the medical background of the patient. This will include information about the patient's current condition, any medications they are taking and any major past medical conditions that may affect their current health and well-being. This information can help the professional decide what psychological tests are appropriate and how many appointments will be needed before making a diagnose.
This procedure can be a challenge to complete on medical wards due to the limited space and interruptions by ward rounds, assessments from other specialties, allied health professionals and protected mealtimes. It is worth trying to schedule an appointment time that does not clash with any of these activities and locate a quiet place for the assessment to be conducted. The referrer's specific concerns will help you determine the type of assessment is required for psychiatric disorders.
It is essential to remember that physical health issues may affect or even overshadow symptoms of psychiatric illness. This is a frequent issue that is known as diagnostic overshadowing and is very difficult to avoid. If patients are admitted with delirium and has an diagnosis of dementia in their medical records, it could be tempting to "shadow the delirium', assuming that it is due to their existing mental illness. This is in contrast to carrying out a full screen for delirium to rule out treatable causes such as stroke.
It is important that the psychiatrist who is assessing the patient tries to establish a relationship between the psychiatric and physical issues of the patient and to get complaints or concerns from the patient regarding their treatment, their care or how their health condition is handled. The basic model recommended in the reference Osborn and Warner (1998) is an easy method to achieve this, however it can be a challenge to implement this in practice.
Family History
The psychiatrist will inquire about your family history in order to determine if there is a mental health issue within your family. They'll also want know about any incidents of abuse or trauma you've experienced and your current situation in the social world (including work, relationships and whether you have a support system at home). You might be asked about your beliefs in religion, your dreams and ambitions. The psychiatrist will make an assessment, and then develop a treatment program that is suited to your needs.
Physical symptoms are equally important and it is essential that the psychiatrist evaluate these too. They will examine their blood pressure, listen and feel the lungs and the heart and look for other medical conditions that may be causing the psychiatric symptom.
It is usually beneficial for the psychiatrist to obtain an entire physical exam from the general practitioner however, this isn't always feasible particularly for those who are extremely sick or inpatients on psychiatric hospitals. Patients on these wards might only have very infrequent face-to-face contact with psychiatrists, or none at all. In these instances it is crucial that the psychiatric nurses or care coordinators take an proactive role in ensuring the physical health requirements of patients are fulfilled.
Psychiatrists must also to understand why a patient has been referred and what they hope to achieve through their psychiatric evaluation. They should be able to interpret medical letters, review reports of tests, and communicate effectively with the person's medical team to determine the best treatment or medication for the patient.
The medical history is an essential element of any psychiatric examination. It must include information about the patient's psychiatric diagnosis, past treatment and drinking and drug use. If it is possible, it is essential to gather a family history to determine the risk of developing certain disorders like bipolar disorder. Screens to collect life-long information about psychiatric conditions on informants as well as first-degree relatives can be useful but there is the benefit of obtaining a complete family psychiatric history as well.
Symptoms
During the psychiatric examination, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and how they have affected your life. Your psychiatrist will also inquire about any pertinent questions, such as your family history. It can be a bit intrusive at times, but it is important to answer honestly and completely to ensure a precise diagnosis.
If you are suffering from mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression it is essential to get a psychiatric evaluation to determine if you need treatment. While it is normal to experience periods of low mood or stress occasionally, if these symptoms last for more than two weeks and interfere with your daily activities, it is likely that you require treatment.
In addition to discussing your symptoms Your psychiatrist will inquire about any other issues that may be affecting you, including family and work problems or abuse of substances. They will also ask you about your physical health, your sleeping habits, and whether or not you've tried any other strategies to help with your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist might also ask you about your past experiences of mental illness. They may also use standard assessment tools, or psychological tests, to get a better understanding of your situation. These tests could include questionnaires, personality assessments or cognitive tests to determine the level of stress you are experiencing.
If the psychiatric assessment confirms that you are experiencing psychotic symptoms, which are marked by hallucinations or delusions that are a significant departure from consensual reality, the psychiatrist will need to conduct a more thorough examination and may need to take you to the hospital to be observed. You will have to undergo a second evaluation by a psychiatrist before you are allowed to return home.
Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates will give you the support and care you need. The team of caring and experienced professionals are committed to providing you with the information you need about your diagnosis and treatment options. You can schedule your psychiatric evaluation via the internet or call us now.
Psychological Tests
An important part of a psychological evaluation is the use of different tests. Psychological tests are written evaluations or verbal evaluations that assess unobserved constructs. They are typically used to assess the traits of a person's personality and emotional functioning. They can also be used to determine the severity of a particular mental illness, for example, anxiety or depression. Psychological testing is usually conducted by a psychologist who is trained and requires the patient to follow certain instructions to obtain accurate results.
Psychological assessments can differ in regards to the number and types of psychological tests that are administered, based on an individual's symptoms. A general psychiatric examination can be brief, like the Mini-Mental State Examination, or extended and thorough, like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological testing can be used to determine if there is an injury to the brain or concussion.
All types of psychiatric evaluations can provide a picture of the patient's overall emotional and psychological functioning. In the hospital doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists sometimes conduct these assessments to determine a patient's mood, emotional reactivity and cognitive abilities. Private therapists can also conduct them in their offices to collect data to develop an appropriate treatment plan, and to determine if patients would benefit from medication or a different type of therapy.
Psychological evaluations include tests of intelligence and achievement, which measure certain kinds of cognitive functioning (often referred to as IQ) here and performance in comparison to a normed group. Other tests are designed for evaluating the ability of a person to perform tasks, such as memory or word association test. Psychologists are the only professionals who have the training and experience to administer and interpret psychological tests.
The purpose of a psychiatric assessment is to match the patient with a doctor who can offer treatment and management. The doctor will explain the diagnosis to the patient and explain how it is related to their symptoms. The doctor will also inform the patient about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis will expected progress in time.