General Psychiatric Assessment
There are a variety of challenges when conducting psychiatric assessments in general medical settings. There are numerous challenges such as privacy concerns, ward rounds, assessments by other specialists, secured mealtimes and planned family visits.
In this context, it can be difficult to measure outcomes, especially when it comes to disease-specific outcomes.
Medical History
The first step in a comprehensive psychiatric examination is to determine the patient's medical history. This will include information regarding the patient's current condition and any medications they're taking, as well as any significant previous medical issues that may have affected their current health and well-being. This information can help the professional decide what psychological tests might be suitable and how many appointments they might need to make before making the diagnosis.
This procedure can be a challenge to complete on medical wards due to the limited space and interruptions by visits to wards, assessments from other specialties or allied health professionals as well as protected mealtimes. It is worth trying to schedule an appointment time that doesn't clash with the other activities listed above and find somewhere quiet for the assessment to be conducted. It is also helpful to ask the referrer what their specific concerns are, so that you can identify precisely what type of psychiatric evaluation is required.
It is important to keep in mind that physical health issues may influence or even obscure psychiatric symptoms. This is a problem that is known as diagnostic overshadowing and can be very difficult to avoid. For example, if a patient has been admitted for a delirium and they have a pre-existing diagnosis of dementia on their medical records it can be tempting to "shadow" the delirium as if it is caused by their mental illness, rather than conduct a complete delirium screen to rule out treatable causes such as stroke.
It is therefore important that the psychiatrist who is conducting the assessment of the patient seeks to establish the connection between the patient's physical and mental issues and to inquire about any complaints or concerns the patient may have about their treatment, care or way their health condition is being treated. 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 inquire about your family history to determine whether there are any mental health issues 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 about your religion, your dreams and ambitions. The psychiatrist will provide an assessment, and then develop a treatment program that suits your requirements.
The psychiatrist should also look at physical symptoms. They will examine their blood pressure, listen to and feel the heart and lungs and also look for other medical conditions that could be causing the psychiatric symptom.
It is important for psychiatrists to get a complete physical from the doctor who is treating the patient however this might not always be feasible, particularly for people who are very sick or are inpatients in psychiatric units. Those on these wards may only have very infrequent face-to-face contact with psychiatrists, or perhaps none at all. In these cases, it is essential that psychiatric nurses and care coordinators take an active role in ensuring that patients' physical health concerns are addressed.
Psychiatrists must also be able to understand why the person was referred to them and what they expect to achieve from their psychiatric examination. They must be able to read medical letters, review reports of tests, and communicate effectively with a patient's medical team to determine the best treatment or medication for the patient.
The medical history is a crucial element of any psychiatric examination. It should contain information about the diagnosis of the patient's psychiatric illness as well as past treatment, as well as alcohol and drug usage. It is also crucial to gather a thorough family history, if you can to determine the likelihood of developing certain disorders, such as bipolar disorder, which tends to be inherited by families. It is helpful to make use of screens that collect all of the psychiatric records for a lifetime on informants and their first-degree family members, but it is equally essential to collect an entire family psychiatric history.
Signs and symptoms
During the psychiatric assessment the doctor will ask you about your symptoms and how they have impacted your life. Your psychiatrist will inquire about any pertinent issues including your family history. It may be uncomfortable at times, but you must provide a complete and honest answer to ensure that you receive a correct diagnosis.
If you're experiencing mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, it is important to undergo a psychiatric assessment to determine if you require treatment. While it is normal to be afflicted with stress or low mood at times but if the symptoms last longer than several weeks and impact your daily activities it is likely you need treatment.
Your psychiatrist will ask you about your symptoms and any other issues impacting you, like family or work-related issues or addiction issues. They will also ask you about your physical health, sleeping habits and whether or not you've tried any other ways to alleviate your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist could also inquire about your previous experiences with mental illness. They may also use standardized assessment tools, or psychological tests, to get a better understanding of your current situation. These tests may include questionnaires, personality assessments or cognitive tests that assess the level of stress you are experiencing.
If your psychiatric evaluation shows that you have psychotic symptoms, for example hallucinations or delusions that are a significant departure from what is considered to be real, the psychiatrist might need to conduct a thorough examination and then admit you to the hospital to be observed. You will be required to undergo a second assessment by a psychiatrist before you are allowed to go home.
Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates will provide you with the assistance and care you require. The team of skilled and caring professionals are dedicated to providing you with the necessary information regarding your diagnosis and treatment options. You can arrange a psychiatric evaluation on the internet or by phone today.
Psychological tests
An important part of a psychological assessment involves the use of various tests. Psychological tests are written or verbal assessments that are designed to test unobserved elements. They are used to assess a person's emotional functioning and personality characteristics. They can be used to determine a mental health condition's severity, like depression or anxiety. Psychological testing is typically conducted by a qualified psychologist and requires the patient to adhere to specific guidelines to get exact results.
Psychiatric assessments can vary in the number and type of psychological tests they use dependent on the person and their symptoms. A general psychiatric examination could be brief, like the Mini-Mental State Examination, or extensive and long, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological testing can be used to determine if there is an injury to the brain or concussion.
All kinds of psychiatric tests offer a glimpse of 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 abilities. Private therapists may also conduct these tests 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.
Some examples of psychological evaluations include intelligence & achievement tests which test certain types of cognitive functioning (often referred to as IQ) and performance read more against a normative group. Other tests are designed to assess the ability to perform an activity, such as a memory test or an assessment of word association. Psychologists are the only professionals who have extensive education and experience in the administration and interpretation of psychological tests.
A psychiatric evaluation is designed to match the patient with a physician that can provide treatment and management. After the exam is complete, the doctor will inform the patient of the diagnosis and how it is related to their current symptoms. The doctor will also talk about the prognosis, which is how a particular diagnosis is likely to develop over time.