General Psychiatric Assessment
There are many challenges to conducting psychiatric assessments in general medical settings. These include problems with privacy as well as ward rounds and assessments by other specialties. They also have issues with meal times and planned visits from family members.
It is also difficult to determine the outcome in this setting, with particular difficulties for outcomes specific to diseases and patient and referrer satisfaction ratings.
Medical History
The first step in a general psychiatric assessment is to learn about the patient's medical background. This includes details of their current health and any medications they're taking and any significant previous medical problems that may have influenced their current health and wellbeing. This information can help the professional decide the appropriate psychological tests and how many appointments will be needed before making a diagnose.
This procedure can be a challenge to complete in medical wards because of the limited space and interruptions by the ward's rounds, examinations from other specialties or allied health professionals as well as protected mealtimes. It is crucial to find an area with enough privacy to conduct the examination and then schedule an appointment that does not conflict with any of these activities. Asking the referrer about their particular concerns will help you determine what type of psychiatric evaluation is needed.
It is essential to be aware that physical health issues may influence or even shadow symptoms of psychiatric illness. Diagnostic overshadowing is a very common problem and is difficult to avoid. If the patient is admitted to hospital with delirium and has an indication of dementia in their medical records, it may be tempting to "shadow the delirium', assuming that it is caused by the mental illness they have already suffered from. This is rather than performing a complete screen for delirium to rule out treatable reasons such as stroke.
It is crucial that the psychiatrist assessing the patient is able to establish a connection between the psychiatric and physical concerns of the patient and to elicit concerns or complaints from the patient about their treatment, treatment or how their condition is being managed. Reference Osborn and Warner (1998) recommends an approach to achieve this. However, it can be difficult to implement in practice.
Family History
The psychiatrist will ask you about your family history in order to determine if there is a mental health problem in your family. They will also ask about any experiences you've had with trauma or abused, as well as your current social status (including your work, relationships and if you receive assistance from your home). You might be asked questions about your beliefs regarding religion and about your ambitions and hopes. The psychiatrist will then make a diagnosis and develop an appropriate treatment plan to fit your needs.
The psychiatrist should also examine physical symptoms. They will examine the patient's blood pressure, listen to the heart and lungs and search for any other medical issues which could be causing or exacerbating the psychiatric symptoms.
It is beneficial for psychiatrists to receive a complete physical from the patient's GP however this might not always be feasible, particularly for people who are very sick or inpatients at psychiatric units. They may have very little or no interaction with psychiatrists. In such cases it is important that psychiatrists' nurses or care coordinators play a prominent role in ensuring that these patients' physical health needs are met.
Psychiatrists also need to understand the reason why the patient has been referred, and what they are hoping to gain from their psychiatric examination. They must be able interpret medical letters, investigate reports of tests and communicate effectively with a person'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 must include information about the diagnosis of the patient's psychiatric illness, past treatment and drinking and drug use. If possible, it is important to collect a family history to determine the risk of certain disorders, such as bipolar disorder. Brief screens to collect lifetime information about psychiatric conditions on informants as well as first-degree relatives can be useful however, there is a merit in having a complete family history of psychiatric issues in addition.
Symptoms
During the psychiatric examination the doctor will ask you about your symptoms and how they have impacted your life. Your psychiatrist will also inquire about any pertinent questions, such as your family history. The interview may be uncomfortable at times, but it is essential that you answer honestly and completely to ensure that a correct diagnosis can be determined.
If you are experiencing mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression it is crucial to undergo a psychiatric assessment to determine if you need treatment. It is normal to experience periods of low mood and stress, but should they last for more than several days or impact your daily functioning then you may need treatment.
Your psychiatrist will ask you about your symptoms as well as any other issues that are affecting you, such as family or work-related issues or abuse of substances. They will also inquire about your physical health, your sleeping habits and whether or not you have tried any other strategies to help with your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist could also inquire about your experiences with mental illness. They can also use assessments that are standardised, or psychological tests, to get a better understanding of your situation. These tests could include questionnaires, personality assessments or cognitive tests to determine the level of stress you are experiencing.
If your psychiatric assessment shows that you have psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions that are quite different from what is believed to be real, the psychiatrist might have to perform an in-depth exam and send you to the hospital for observation. You will be required to undergo a second assessment by an experienced psychiatrist before you are allowed to go home.
If you are seeking an evaluation of your psychiatric condition, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates can provide you with the assistance and care you deserve. The team of helpful and knowledgeable professionals is dedicated to providing you with the information you require about your diagnosis and possible treatment options. You can book your psychiatric examination on the internet or by calling us now.
Psychological tests
The use of various tests is an essential part of a psycho-psychological evaluation. Psychological tests are written or oral assessments designed to measure non-observed aspects. They are commonly used to determine a person's personality traits and emotional functioning. They can be used to determine the severity of a specific mental illness, for example, anxiety or depression. Psychological testing is typically conducted by psychologists who have been trained. The patient must follow certain instructions to obtain accurate results.
Psychiatric assessment can vary in terms of the number and types of psychological tests that are employed, based on the individual's symptoms. A general psychiatric assessment can be brief, like the Mini-Mental State Examination, or extensive and long, such as a Montreal Cognitive Assessment. A thorough neuropsychological test can be used to determine the presence of concussion, brain injury or other neurological issues.
All kinds of psychiatric tests offer a glimpse of the patient's emotional and psychological functioning. They are conducted by doctors, psychologists, and sometimes psychiatrists in hospitals to assess a person's current mood, emotional reactivity and cognitive abilities. Private therapists are also able to conduct them in their offices to collect data to develop an appropriate treatment plan, and to determine if patients would benefit from medication or another method of therapy.
Some examples of psychological evaluations include tests for intelligence and achievement which test certain types of cognitive functioning (often called IQ) and performance in comparison to a normed group. Other tests are designed to test the ability to perform tasks, like memory tests or the test of word association. Psychologists are the only professionals who have extensive education and experience in administering and interpreting psychological tests.
A psychiatric exam is designed to connect the patient with a medical professional that can provide treatment and management. After the exam is completed, the psychiatric assessment report doctor will inform the patient about the diagnosis and how it is related to their present symptoms. The doctor will also talk about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis can be likely to develop over time.