General Psychiatric Assessment

There are many challenges to completing psychiatric evaluations in general medical settings. They include privacy concerns assessment, ward rounds, and visits by other specialties, protected time for meals and visits from family members.

In this regard, it can be difficult to quantify outcomes, particularly when it comes to specific outcomes due to illness.

Medical History

The first step in an overall psychiatric assessment is to understand the medical background of the patient. This includes information about the patient's present condition and any medications they're taking and any significant past medical problems that could affect their current health and well-being. This information will aid the doctor in determining the appropriate psychological tests and how many appointments may be needed before making diagnosis.

This process can be difficult to complete on medical wards due to the limited space and interruptions from visits to wards, assessments from other specialties as well as allied health professionals, and meals that are protected. It is essential to locate an area that is quiet to conduct the assessment and to schedule an appointment that doesn't interfere with any of these activities. It is also helpful to ask the referrer what their particular concerns are, so that you can determine precisely what type of psychiatric evaluation is required.

It is important to be aware that physical health issues can influence or even obscure the symptoms of psychiatric disorders. Overshadowing of diagnostics is a common problem and is difficult to avoid. For instance when an individual has been admitted to hospital for delirium and has a pre-existing diagnosis of dementia in their medical record then it is tempting to 'overshadow' the delirium as if that it is caused by an existing mental illness rather than carry out a full screening for delirium to rule out treatment-able causes like stroke.

It is essential that the psychiatrist assessing the patient is able to establish a link between the psychiatric and physical issues of the patient and to get complaints or concerns from the patient about their treatment, their treatment or how their condition is handled. Reference Osborn and Warner (1998) recommends the most basic approach to accomplishing this. However, it can be difficult to implement in practice.

Family History

The psychiatrist will inquire about your family history to determine if there is an issue with mental health within your family. They'll also want to know about any experiences of abuse or trauma and your current social situation (including your relationships, work and whether you have support at home). You may be asked questions about your beliefs regarding religion as well as about your goals and dreams. The psychiatrist will determine an assessment and design a treatment plan that is suited to your needs.

Physical symptoms are also crucial and it is crucial that the psychiatrist examine these as well. They will test their blood pressure, listen and feel the lungs and the heart and look for other medical conditions which could be causing the psychiatric symptom.

It is helpful for psychiatrists to receive an exhaustive physical from the patient's GP, but this might not always be possible, especially with those who are sick or are inpatients in psychiatric units. Those on these wards may only have sporadic face-to-face contact with psychiatrists or none at all. In such instances, it is essential that psychiatrists' nurses or care coordinators play a prominent role in ensuring that these patients' physical health needs are addressed.

Psychiatrists should also be able to understand the reason why the patient is being referred to them, and what they hope to achieve from their psychiatric examination. They should be able to interpret medical letters, examine reports of tests, and communicate effectively with a patient's medical team to manage any medication or treatment.

The medical history is an essential element of any psychiatric assessment and should include the patient's diagnosis of initial psychiatric assessment psychiatric illness and treatment history and details about their alcohol and drug usage. It is also important to collect a detailed family history, if possible, in order to establish the risk of certain disorders, like bipolar disorder, which is known to be inherited by families. Screens to collect life-long psychiatric information on informants and first-degree relatives are helpful however, there is a value in obtaining a full family psychiatric history as well.

Signs and symptoms

During the psychiatric examination Your doctor may inquire about your symptoms and how they impact your life. Your psychiatrist will also inquire about any pertinent questions like your family history. The process can be uncomfortable at times, but it is essential that you answer honestly and completely so that an accurate diagnosis can be given.

If you are suffering from mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, it is important to seek a psychiatric examination to determine whether or not you need treatment. While it is normal to have periods of depression or stress at times but if the symptoms last more than two weeks and interfere with your daily functioning, it is likely that you require treatment.

Your psychiatrist will inquire about your symptoms and any other issues impacting you, like work or family problems or abuse of substances. They will also ask about your physical health, sleep habits and if you have tried other ways to help your symptoms.

Your psychiatrist could also ask you about your past experiences of mental illness. They could also employ standard assessment tools such as psychological tests to help you understand your current situation. These tests could include personality assessments, questionnaires or cognitive tests that assess the level of stress you are experiencing.

If your psychiatric evaluation shows that you have psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions which are a significant departure from what is believed to be real, then the psychiatrist may need to conduct a thorough examination and then admit you to the hospital to be observed. In these instances you'll need to be evaluated by a different psychiatrist before you can return home.

If you're in need of an evaluation for psychiatric disorders, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates can provide the support and care you need. The team of helpful and knowledgeable professionals is dedicated to providing you with the necessary information regarding your diagnosis and treatment options. You can book your psychiatric examination via the internet or call us now.

Psychological Tests

A significant aspect of a psychological evaluation is the use of different tests. Psychological tests are written assessments or verbal evaluations which measure unobserved constructs. They are used to determine the person's emotional health and personality traits. They can be used to determine a person's mental illness' severity, such as anxiety or depression. Psychological testing is typically conducted by a qualified psychologist and requires the patient to follow certain instructions to obtain exact results.

The psychiatric assessment can vary in the amount and type of psychological tests they use according to the person's condition and symptoms. A general psychiatric test could be short, like the Mini-Mental State Examination (MSE), or more in-depth and time-consuming, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological tests can be used to determine if a patient has a concussion or brain injury.

All types of psychiatric assessments provide a look at the patient's psychological and emotional functioning. In the hospital, doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists sometimes conduct these assessments to determine a patient's mood and emotional reactivity as well as cognitive capabilities. Private therapists are also able to conduct them in their offices to collect information for a treatment plan, and to determine whether patients would benefit from medication or another method of therapy.

Intelligence and Achievement Tests are examples of psychological assessments. These tests measure cognitive performance (often referred as IQ) in comparison to a normated group. Other tests are designed to assess the ability to complete tasks, like a word association test or a memory test. Psychologists are the only experts with extensive training as well as experience conducting and interpreting psychological tests.

A psychiatric examination is designed to match the patient with a medical professional who can offer treatment and management. The doctor will explain the diagnosis to the patient and explain how it relates to their symptoms. The doctor will also speak about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis will expected progress over time.