General Psychiatric Assessment
The difficulties associated with conducting mental health assessments in general medical settings are many. There are many challenges, including privacy issues and ward rounds, evaluations by other specialists, protected mealtimes and planned family visits.
It can also be difficult to determine the outcome in this setting, with specific challenges for disease-specific outcomes as well as patient and referrer satisfaction ratings.
Medical History
The first step in the general psychiatric examination is to determine the medical background of the patient. This will include details of their current health and any medication they are taking and any medical issues that have occurred in the past that could have affected their health and well-being. This information will help the professional decide the appropriate psychological tests and how many appointments may be necessary prior to making an assessment.
This step can be difficult to complete on medical wards because of the limited space and interruptions from ward rounds, assessments from other specialties or allied health professionals as well as scheduled meal times. It is important to find a time that is not in conflict with any of these activities and find a quiet space for the examination to take place. It is also useful to ask the referrer what their particular concerns are so that you can determine exactly what kind of psychiatric examination is required.
When performing psychiatric assessments on the medical wards of general hospitals, it is crucial to keep in mind that physical health issues a patient presents with can affect or even obscure their psychiatric symptoms and behavior. This is a frequent issue that is referred to as diagnostic overshadowing and can be very difficult to avoid. For example the case where an individual has been admitted for a delirium and they have a pre-existing diagnosis of dementia on their medical record it can be tempting to 'overshadow' the delirium by assuming it is caused by their existing mental illness instead of carry out a full delirium screen to rule out treatable causes like 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 also to identify any concerns or complaints that the patient might have regarding their treatment, care or the way their health condition is being treated. The basic model that is recommended in the reference Osborn and Warner (1998) is an easy method to achieve this, however it can be difficult to implement this in practice.
Family History
The psychiatrist will inquire about your family history to determine whether there are any mental health problems within your family. They will also want to be aware of any past incidents of abuse or trauma you've experienced and your current situation in the social world (including work, relationships and if you have support at home). You could be asked about your beliefs in religion as well as your goals and dreams. The psychiatrist will make an assessment, and then create a treatment plan that suits your requirements.
The psychiatrist should also look at physical symptoms. They will check the patient's blood pressure, listen to the lungs and heart and examine for any other medical issues that may be causing or aggravate the symptoms of psychiatric illness.
It is often helpful for the psychiatrist to obtain an entire physical exam from the general practitioner however, it's not always possible especially for patients who are extremely sick or inpatients on psychiatric hospitals. These patients may have only very little or no interaction with psychiatrists. In such cases it is essential that psychiatric nurses or care coordinators take an active part in ensuring these patients' physical health needs are met.
Psychiatrists should also be able to understand why a patient is being evaluated and what they expect to achieve with their psychiatric evaluation. They must be able to interpret medical letters and review reports of tests received from a GP or other health professional, and they must communicate effectively with medical team of the patient about the investigations carried out so that any medications or other treatments can be coordinated.
The medical history is a key component of any psychiatric evaluation, and this must include the patient's own mental health diagnosis and previous treatment and details about their alcohol and drug use. If you can, it's important to obtain the family history to determine the likelihood of developing certain disorders like bipolar disorder. It is beneficial to use brief screens that record lifetime psychiatric data on informants and their first-degree relatives, but it is also important to obtain a complete family psychiatric record.
Symptoms
In the course of a psychiatric evaluation the doctor will ask you about your symptoms and how they have impacted your life. Your psychiatrist will ask you about any relevant issues like your family history. The interview may be uncomfortable at times, but it is essential that you answer honestly and fully so that an accurate diagnosis can be determined.
If you're suffering from mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression it is essential to get a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether or not you need treatment. While it is normal to experience periods of low mood or stress at times but if the symptoms last more than a few weeks and affect your daily life it is likely you need treatment.
In addition to discussing your symptoms Your psychiatrist will also ask about any other issues that might be affecting you, such as family and work problems or abuse of substances. They will also inquire about your physical health, sleeping habits, and whether or not you've tried other methods to alleviate your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist may also ask you about your past experiences of mental illness. They may also use standard assessment tools, or psychological tests, to get a better understanding of your current situation. These tests may include personality tests, questionnaires or cognitive tests to gauge the level of stress you are experiencing.
If the psychiatric assessment indicates that you are suffering from psychotic symptoms that are marked by hallucinations or delusions that are substantial departures from the reality of consensual The psychiatrist will have to conduct a more thorough examination and may be required to take you to the hospital for observation. In these cases you'll need be evaluated by a different psychiatrist before you can return home.
Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates will give you the support and care you need. The team of knowledgeable and friendly professionals are committed to ensuring that you have the information you need about your diagnosis and treatment options. You can book your psychiatric examination on the internet or by calling us today.
Psychological tests
The use of various tests is an important part of a psycho-psychological examination. Psychological tests are written assessments or verbal evaluations which measure unobserved aspects of a person's personality. They are typically used to assess a person's personality traits and emotional functioning. They can be used to identify a mental health condition's severity, such as depression or anxiety. Psychological testing is usually conducted by a trained psychologist and requires the patient to follow specific guidelines to get exact results.
Psychiatric assessment can vary in the amount and types of psychological tests used, depending on an individual's symptoms. A general psychiatric examination could be short, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MSE) or more detailed and time-consuming, such as a Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological tests can be used to determine if there's a concussion or brain injury.
All kinds of psychiatric assessments help provide a snapshot of the patient's psychological and emotional functioning. They are performed by psychologists, doctors, and sometimes psychiatrists in the hospital setting to determine a person's current adhd assessment psychiatrist mood, emotional reactivity and cognitive abilities. Private therapists can also conduct them in their offices to collect information for the development of a treatment plan and to determine whether a patient would benefit from medication or another form of therapy.
Intelligence and Achievement Tests are an example of psychological assessments. These tests test cognitive functioning (often known as IQ) in comparison to a normated group. Other tests are designed for evaluating the ability of a person to perform tasks, like memory or 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 connect the patient with a doctor who can offer treatment and management. When the examination is completed, the doctor will inform the patient about the diagnosis and how it is related to their current symptoms. The doctor will also inform the patient about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis will expected progress in time.