General Psychiatric Assessment
There are many challenges to completing psychiatric evaluations in general medical settings. There are numerous challenges, including privacy issues and ward rounds, evaluations by other specialists, secured mealtimes, and scheduled family visits.
It can be difficult to determine the outcome in this setting, with particular difficulties for outcomes specific to diseases and satisfaction of patients and referrers ratings.
Medical Histories
The first step in a general psychiatric assessment is to learn about the patient’s medical history. This includes information about the patient’s current health, any medications they are taking and any major past medical problems that could have impacted their health and well-being. This information will also help the physician determine what psychological tests would be appropriate and the number of appointments they might require before determining the diagnosis.
This step is often difficult to complete on medical wards due the limited space available and interruptions due to visits to the ward, assessments by other specialties and health specialists, protected mealtimes and scheduled visitors. It is worth trying to schedule an appointment time that is not in conflict with any of these activities, and find somewhere quiet for the examination to be conducted. It is also helpful to ask the person who refers you what their specific concerns are to identify precisely what type of psychiatric examination is required.
It is essential to keep in mind that physical health issues may influence or even obscure psychiatric symptoms. Overshadowing of diagnostics is a common problem and is difficult to avoid. For instance the case where a patient 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 by assuming it is due to 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 taking a look at the patient is trying to establish the relationship between the patient’s physical and independent psychiatric assessment issues, and also to identify any complaints or concerns the patient may have about their treatment, care or the manner in which their health condition is being handled. The basic model suggested in the reference Osborn and Warner (1998) is an easy way to accomplish this, but it can be difficult to implement this in the real world.
Family History
The psychiatrist will inquire about your family history to determine if there are any mental health problems within your family. They will also inquire about any traumas you’ve experienced or abused, as well as your current status in the social world (including your work, relationships, and if you have support from home). You could be asked about your religious beliefs and your dreams and goals. The psychiatrist will then formulate an assessment and formulate a treatment plan to meet your requirements.
The psychiatrist should also examine physical symptoms. They will examine the patient’s blood pressure, listen to the lungs and heart and look for any other medical issues which could be causing or exacerbating the psychiatric symptoms.
It is important for a psychiatrist to receive an entire physical examination from the patient’s doctor, but this may not always be possible, particularly with those who are sick or are inpatients in psychiatric units. Patients with these conditions may have very little or no interactions with psychiatrists. In these cases, it is essential that psychiatric nurses and care coordinators play an active part in ensuring these patients’ physical health concerns are met.
Psychiatrists should also be able comprehend why a person has been referred and what they expect to achieve through their psychiatric examination. They must be able to read medical letters, examine 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 component of any psychiatric assessment. It must include information about the patient’s psychiatric diagnosis as well as past treatment, as well as drug and alcohol usage. It is also crucial to collect a detailed family history, if it is possible, in order to establish the likelihood of developing certain disorders, like bipolar disorder, which tends to run in families. It is helpful to use brief 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 examination the doctor will inquire about your symptoms and how they affect your life. Your doctor will also inquire about your family history and other issues that might be relevant. It can be a bit intrusive at times, but it is important to provide a complete and honest answer to ensure that you receive a correct diagnosis.
If you’re suffering from mental health problems like depression or anxiety, it is important to get a psychiatric evaluation to determine if you require treatment. It is normal to experience periods of stress and low mood however if they last more than several days or impact your daily activities, then you may require treatment.
In addition to discussing your symptoms Your psychiatrist will also ask about any other issues that might be impacting you, such as family and work problems or addiction issues. They will also ask about your physical health, sleeping habits, and if you’ve tried other ways to help your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist may also inquire about your previous experiences with mental illness. They could also employ standard assessment tools, or psychological tests, to help you understand your current situation. These tests may include questionnaires, personality tests or cognitive tests that measure the level of stress you are experiencing.
If your psychiatric examination indicates that you are suffering from psychotic symptoms, for example hallucinations or delusions that are a significant departure from what is believed to be real, then the psychiatrist might need to perform an in-depth exam and admit you to the hospital to be observed. You will need to be evaluated again by an experienced psychiatrist before you are allowed to go home.
Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates will provide you with the support and care you need. The team of helpful and experienced professionals are committed to giving you the information you need about your diagnosis and treatment options. You can arrange a psychiatric evaluation online or over the phone today.
Psychological tests
The use of a variety of tests is an important part of a psycho-psychological assessment. Psychological tests are written assessments or verbal evaluations which measure unobserved constructs. They are often used to assess the traits of a person’s personality and emotional functioning. They can also be used to determine the severity of a specific mental illness, for example, anxiety or depression. Psychological testing is typically done by an experienced psychologist who has been trained. The patient must follow certain instructions for accurate results.
The psychiatric assessment can vary in terms of the type and quantity of psychological tests they use, depending on the person’s condition and symptoms. A general psychiatric examination could be short, like the Mini-Mental State Examination (MSE) or more thorough and time-consuming tests, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological tests that are in-depth can be used to assess the presence of brain injuries, concussions, or other neurological conditions.
All kinds of psychiatric assessments can provide a picture of the patient’s psychological and emotional functioning. They are performed by psychologists, doctors and sometimes psychiatrists in the hospital setting to evaluate a person’s present mood, emotional reactivity and cognitive capabilities. Private therapists are also able to conduct these tests in their offices to gather data to develop a treatment plan, and to determine if a psych patient assessment would benefit from medication or a different method of therapy.
Intelligence and Achievement Tests are an example of psychological assessments. These tests assess cognitive performance (often called IQ) in comparison to a normal group. Other tests are designed to test the ability of a task, such as memory tests or a word association test. Psychologists are the only experts with a vast amount of training and experience to conduct and interpret psychological tests.
The goal of a psychiatric exam is to pair the patient with a medical professional who can offer treatment and management. The doctor will explain the diagnosis to the patient, and how it relates with their symptoms. The doctor will also discuss the prognosis. This is how a particular diagnosis is expected to progress in time.