This Is The Ultimate Cheat Sheet For General Psychiatric Assessment
General Psychiatric AssessmentThe difficulties associated with conducting mental health assessments in general medical settings are many. This includes privacy issues, ward rounds and assessments by other specialties. They also have issues with meals and scheduled visits from family members.
It is also difficult to determine the outcome in this situation, due to specific challenges for disease-specific outcomes as well as patient and referrer satisfaction ratings.
Medical History
The first step in a general psychiatric evaluation is to determine the patient's medical history. This will include information about their current condition and any medications they're taking in addition to any medical issues that have occurred in the past which may have influenced their health and wellbeing. This information can aid the doctor in determining which psychological tests are appropriate and how many visits may be needed before making a diagnose.
This procedure can be a challenge to complete on medical wards due to the limited space and interruptions from the ward's rounds, examinations from other specialties as well as allied health professionals, and scheduled meal times. It is important to arrange an appointment time that doesn't clash with any of these activities, and locate a quiet place for the examination to be conducted. It is also useful to ask the person who refers you what their concerns are, so that you can determine precisely what type of psychiatric assessment is required.
It is essential to be aware that physical health issues may influence or even shadow the symptoms of psychiatric disorders. This is a common problem that is referred to as diagnostic overshadowing and can be very difficult to avoid. For instance the case where an individual has been admitted to a delirium hospital and has a pre-existing diagnosis of dementia on their medical record It is tempting to "shadow" the delirium by assuming it is caused by their existing mental illness instead of perform a full screening for delirium to rule out treatment-able causes like stroke.
It is essential that the psychiatrist conducting the assessment of the patient seeks to establish the relationship between the patient's physical and mental issues, and also to identify any concerns or complaints the patient may have about their treatment, care or the way their health condition is being treated. 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 about your family history to determine if there are any mental health problems within your family. They'll also want know about any experiences of abuse or trauma and your current social situation (including work, relationships and whether you have support at home). You may be asked questions about your beliefs regarding religion as well as about your goals and hopes. 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 checks these as well. They will check their blood pressure, listen to and feel the heart and lungs as well as look for other medical conditions that could cause the psychiatric symptoms.
It is often beneficial for the psychiatrist to get a full physical from the patient's general practitioner but this isn't always possible, especially in people who are seriously ill and those who are inpatients on psychiatric wards. The patients on these wards may have only sporadic face-toface contact with psychiatrists, or none at all. In these situations it is crucial that psychiatric nurses or care coordinators take an proactive role in ensuring the physical health requirements of patients are satisfied.
Psychiatrists must also to understand why a patient is being referred to them and what they are hoping to accomplish with their psychiatric assessment. They must be competent in interpreting medical letters and review reports of tests received from the GP or another health professional. They must communicate effectively with the medical team of the patient about what investigations have been conducted so that any medication or other treatments can be coordinated.
The medical history is an essential part of any psychiatric evaluation. It should contain information about the diagnosis of the patient's psychiatric illness, past treatment and alcohol and drug usage. It is also important to gather a thorough family history, if possible, in order to establish the risk of certain disorders, such as bipolar disorder, which is known to occur in families. Screens to collect life-long psychopathological information from informants and first-degree relatives can be useful however, there is a the benefit of obtaining a complete family psychiatric history as well.
Signs and symptoms
During the psychiatric evaluation, your doctor may inquire about your symptoms and how they impact your life. Your psychiatrist will also ask you about your family history and any other issues that may be relevant. It may be uncomfortable at times, but it is important to answer honestly and completely to ensure that you receive a correct diagnosis.
It is crucial to have an assessment for psychiatric disorders in case you suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. This will tell you whether you require treatment. While it is normal to experience periods of stress or low mood at times, if these symptoms last more than two weeks and interfere with your daily activities, it is likely that you need treatment.
In addition to discussing your symptoms, your psychiatrist will also inquire about any other issues that may be affecting you, more info including problems at work or with your family, or substance abuse. They will also inquire about your physical health, your sleeping habits, and whether or not you have tried any other strategies to alleviate your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist might also ask you about your previous experiences with mental illness. They may also use standard assessment tools or psychological tests to get a better understanding of your current situation. These tests may include personality assessments, questionnaires or cognitive tests to determine the level of stress you are experiencing.
If your psychiatric evaluation finds that you suffer from psychotic symptoms, like hallucinations or delusions that are quite different from what is thought to be reality, then the psychiatrist might have to perform an in-depth exam and admit you to the hospital to be observed. In these cases you'll need be examined by a different psychiatrist before you are able to return home.
Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates will provide you with the support and care you require. The team of caring and experienced professionals is committed to providing you with the information you need about your diagnosis and possible treatment options. You can arrange a psychiatric evaluation online or over the phone today.
Psychological tests
An important part of a psychological evaluation is the use of a variety of tests. Psychological tests are written evaluations or verbal evaluations that measure unobserved aspects of a person's personality. They are often used to assess the traits of a person's personality and emotional functioning. They can be used to determine the severity of a specific mental illness, like anxiety or depression. Psychological testing is usually conducted by a psychologist who has been trained. The patient must follow certain instructions to get accurate results.
Psychological assessments can differ in the amount and types of psychological tests that are employed, based on the individual's symptoms. A general psychiatric examination could be brief, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MSE) or more thorough and time-consuming, such as a Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological testing can be used to determine if there's an injury to the brain or concussion.
All kinds of psychiatric tests provide a snapshot into the patient's psychological and emotional 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 data for a treatment plan and to determine if a patient could benefit from medication or other types of therapy.
Some examples of psychological evaluations include intelligence & achievement tests, which measure certain kinds of cognitive functioning (often called IQ) and performance against a normative group. Other tests are designed to evaluate the ability to perform a task, such as an assessment of memory or a word association test. Psychologists are the only experts who have extensive education and expertise in administering and interpreting psychological tests.
A psychiatric examination is designed to connect the patient with a doctor that can provide treatment and treatment. The doctor will explain the diagnosis to the patient, and how it relates with the symptoms. The doctor will also inform the patient about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis will expected to progress over time.