A Full Psychiatric Assessment
A psychiatric assessment is the first step in getting proper mental care. The psychiatrist will ask you a lot of questions about your work and home life, sources of stress, major trauma you've had, as well as whether you have experienced any substance or alcohol-related issues.
Background and History
A complete psychiatric evaluation, or psych eval, is usually a multi-disciplinary procedure in hospital settings, which involves psychiatric nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers. The psychiatrist, however, takes the lead role in taking a detailed medical history and performing an examination of the mental state. The information can be obtained by direct observation of the person being assessed and their caregivers and also through specific psychological tests.
The doctor will ask the patient about their symptoms and what they've been up to in the past few weeks, months and years. They will also inquire about your family and health. This will help the doctor to understand what is the cause of the symptoms and if they're due to a different issue.
During this phase where the psychiatrist will take a medical history and determine whether there is any history of depression, anxiety or other psychiatric disorders within the family. They will also want be aware of if the patient is suffering from any physical ailments like heart disease or diabetes, and what medications they are taking or were prescribed in the past.
The psychiatrist will also be aware of any current symptoms and the amount of time they've been experiencing symptoms. They will also ask the patient about their daily routine, such as their job and home life. They will also talk about previous treatment and the level of adherence. Often, family members and carers provide information that the patient hasn't previously disclosed but this is a matter of confidentiality and does not violate their rights to privacy.
Depending on the severity of the issue, additional tests and examinations may be needed. These could include laboratory tests, blood pressure readings or electroencephalography (EEG), which measures brain activity. It is also possible to use IQ tests, which assess cognitive ability. They can test spatial abilities, concentration, memory and communication abilities.
It is crucial that all psychiatric evaluations are conducted by trained and skilled experts. This will ensure that the diagnosis is accurate and that the patient receives a treatment program that is most suitable for their needs.
Mental Status Examining
The mental status exam (MSE) can be a harrowing experience for both the doctor and patient alike. It's an "snapshot" of the patient at a specific moment, and is useful to describe the patient's behavior and thoughts at that time. The MSE is also useful in describing how a patient's state mind changes over time. For instance, from depression to manic episode.
The MSE starts when the doctor begins to make the first observations about the patient. It is usually taken during the recording of the history. The how a patient interacts and behaves in front of the examiner can reveal something about the root of the mental disorder. This can be the case with the sloppy appearance of a depressed patient, or the provocative appearance of a manic patient. It can also indicate an absence of motivation or effort such as in a depressed individual or agitated person on antipsychotic medication.
It is best to conduct a psychiatric test when the patient is relaxed and cooperative. It can be a challenging and uncomfortable interview for both the patient and the examiner and it is important to make a good impression. The MSE is a short part of the overall intake assessment and the results must be carefully evaluated in conjunction with findings from other sources like imaging studies or laboratory tests.
The MSE is less structured than physical examinations and most of the information gathered is taken by the physician during the history-taking process. A complete MSE will include descriptions of behavior and appearance as well as alertness and attention, motor and speech activities, mood and affect, perception and thinking and attitude as well as awareness. It should also include an evaluation of higher cognitive abilities like parietal-lobe abilities (pictorial representation as well as right-left discrimination and localization of objects within a space).
It is vital that the MSE is embedded within the context of the entire intake assessment and that doctors interpret the results with care and sensitivity. A thorough MSE will reveal a wide variety of abnormalities, including many that are specific to psychiatric disorders, but it must be viewed as a single data point within the overall patient's history and is of limited clinical value by itself.
Evaluation of Thought Content
The biggest portion of the MSE is the thought content. It should include information on delusional thoughts (thoughts that aren't true) like grandiose or persecutory idea; hallucinations, (hearing things or seeing things that other people cannot); preoccupations, (such as obsessions or worries); and suicidal thinking. These questions should be addressed directly. The intensity and extent of the psychopathic thoughts should be described, including whether they are mood congruent or incongruous (e.g. A person suffering from depression may hear voices that are angry and urge to commit suicide, as opposed to calm and soothing hallucinations.
Thought process is the logic, relevance, coherence and flow of the client's thoughts as they respond to questions from the examiner during the MSE interview. Physicians will also note whether the thought process is not organized or goal-directed, and when it flits from one subject to the next without any clear connection. Disorganized, tangential and circumstantial associations are thought patterns that could be indicators of mental health issues such as mania, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Psychologists and neuropsychologists examine the client's ability to focus on a more info single subject and then hold it in memory, which can be measured through observer observations, self-report or tests such as counting backwards from 100 by 7s. They also evaluate the client’s coping mechanisms and cognitive functioning by assessing it by direct questions and behavioral observations.
During the MSE, psychologists observe the client's facial expressions and body language to assess whether they appear to be withdrawn or aggressive. They also observe the client's agitation or fidgeting to determine if they're anxious and fearful. Psychologists utilize the MSE alongside other tests and assessments to diagnose and design a treatment program. Psychologists are trained to identify if a client's behavior is caused by a mental illness, or if it is caused by another cause like addiction, accident, or a medication adverse result. This is essential in determining the best treatment option and follow-up.
Assessment of Mood, Anxiety, and Stress
It's normal for people to experience difficult times. However, when these issues begin to affect relationships, everyday tasks or even sleep, it could be a good idea to schedule an appointment for a psychiatric examination. Also called a psych evaluation or mental health examination, this type of exam is typically performed by a psychiatrist or doctor. The procedure can be a bit daunting and there's usually lots of information you'll need to disclose. It's important to remember that your doctor will want to collect all the information so they can come up with a valid diagnosis and suggest the appropriate treatment for you.
A psychiatric evaluation will include an examination of your previous medical history as well as physical examination. This is to make sure that there are no physical problems that could cause your symptoms, such as a thyroid problem or neurologic disorder.
Your psychiatrist will also ask about any psychiatric or medical conditions and if you are currently taking any medications. If a patient is unable to provide an account of their mental state it's important that their family members and caregivers are able to answer the questions. This is not a breach of confidentiality, and it permits the doctor to get more information than he could in a face-to-face interview.
In the psychiatric consultation, the physician will assess the patient's emotional state by observing their tone of voice and body language. They'll also look at their thoughts to determine if they're connected and goal-oriented. For example the doctor will assess how the patient is able to focus during the interview and if they can easily switch between thoughts. This is an essential aspect to the evaluation as the manic or psychotic patient might not be able to think clearly and quickly shift their focus of thought.
A psychiatric evaluation is usually the first step to get the treatment you require. It is important that anyone who believes they are suffering from the symptoms of mental illness should seek an evaluation. Don't let your fears or anxiety stop you from seeking help as it could have grave and life-threatening consequences for yourself and those who are around you.