General Psychiatric Assessment
There are a variety of challenges when completing psychiatric evaluations in general medical settings. There are numerous challenges such as privacy issues, ward rounds, assessments by other specialists, protected meals, and scheduled family visits.
It can also be difficult to measure outcome in this context, and there are particular difficulties for outcomes specific to diseases and patient and referrer satisfaction ratings.
Medical History
The first step of a general psychiatric evaluation is to determine the medical background of the patient. This will include information regarding the patient's present condition as well as any medications they are taking and any significant past medical problems that could have impacted their health and well-being. This information can aid the doctor in determining what psychological tests might be suitable and how many appointments they might require before determining a diagnosis.
This step can be difficult to complete on medical wards due to the limited space and interruptions by ward rounds, assessments from other specialties or allied health professionals as well as protected mealtimes. It is worthwhile to find a time that is not in conflict with the other activities listed above and find a quiet space for the examination to be conducted. It is also beneficial to ask the referrer what their concerns are so that you can determine precisely what type of psychiatric evaluation is required.
It is essential to keep in mind that physical health issues may affect or even overshadow symptoms of psychiatric illness. This is a frequent issue that is referred to as diagnostic overshadowing and is extremely difficult to avoid. If the patient is admitted to hospital with delirium but has an diagnosis of dementia in their medical records, it could be tempting to 'overshadow the delirium', assuming that it is the result of their existing mental illness. This is rather than performing a complete screen for delirium to rule out treatmentable causes like stroke.
It is essential that the psychiatrist who is assessing the patient tries to establish the relationship between the patient's physical and psychological problems and to elicit any concerns or complaints that the patient has about their treatment, care or the manner in which their health condition is being handled. Reference Osborn & Warner (1998) recommends a basic model for achieving this. However, it can be difficult to implement in real life.
Family History
The psychiatrist will inquire about your family history in order to determine if there's an issue with mental health in your family. They'll also want to be aware of any traumas or abuse you've had and your current situation in the social world (including relationships, work and whether you have support at home). You could be asked about your beliefs in religion as well as your goals and dreams. The psychiatrist will provide a diagnosis, and then design a treatment plan that is suited to your requirements.
The psychiatrist should also check physical symptoms. They will examine their blood pressure, listen to and feel the heart and lungs and also examine for any other medical conditions that could cause the psychiatric symptoms.
It is beneficial for a psychiatrist to receive an entire physical examination from the doctor who is treating the patient However, this might not always be possible, especially with patients who are extremely sick or are inpatients in psychiatric units. Those on these wards may have only sporadic face-toface contact with psychiatrists, or perhaps none at all. In these instances it is crucial that psychiatric nursing staff or care coordinators take an proactive role in ensuring the physical health needs of patients are met.
Psychiatrists should also be able to comprehend why a person has been referred, and what they expect to gain from their psychiatric examination. They should be able to interpret medical letters, examine reports of tests, and communicate effectively with a person's medical team to coordinate any medication or treatment.
The medical history is a key component of any psychiatric evaluation and must include the patient's own psychiatric diagnosis and past treatment and also information regarding their alcohol and drug usage. It is also essential to gather a thorough family history, if possible, in order to establish the risk of certain disorders, such as bipolar disorder, which is known to be inherited by families. Brief screens to collect lifetime psychiatric information on informants and first-degree relatives can be helpful however, there is a value in obtaining a full family psychiatric history as well.
Signs and symptoms
During the psychiatric evaluation Your doctor may inquire about your symptoms and how they impact your life. Your psychiatrist will inquire about any relevant issues like your family history. It may be uncomfortable at times, but you must answer honestly and completely to ensure that you receive a correct diagnosis.
If you're experiencing mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, it is important to undergo a psychiatric assessment to determine if you require treatment. While it is normal to be afflicted with depression or stress at times but if the symptoms last more than several weeks and impact your daily activities, it is likely that you require treatment.
In addition to discussing your symptoms Your psychiatrist will inquire about any other issues that may be affecting you, such as issues with work and family or substance abuse. They will also inquire about your physical health, sleeping habits and if you have tried other methods to treat your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist may also ask you questions regarding your previous experiences with mental illness and they might use standard assessment tools or psychological tests to gain more understanding of your current situation. These tests may include questionnaires, personality tests or cognitive tests to measure the level of stress you are experiencing.
If the psychiatric assessment confirms that you are experiencing psychotic symptoms, which are caused by hallucinations, delusions or hallucinations that are significant deviations from the reality of consensual, the psychiatrist will need to perform a more in-depth examination and may be required to take you to the hospital to be observed. You will be required to undergo a second evaluation by a psychiatrist before you are allowed to go home.
If you are seeking an evaluation for psychiatric disorders, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates can provide the care and support you require. The team of caring and experienced professionals are committed to providing you with the necessary information regarding your diagnosis and possible treatment options. You can book your psychiatric examination via the internet or call us today.
Psychological Tests
An essential part of a psychological assessment involves the use of different tests. Psychological tests are written assessments or verbal evaluations that measure unobserved aspects of a person's personality. They are often used to assess the traits of a person's personality and emotional functioning. They can be used to determine a person's mental illness' severity, like depression or anxiety. Psychological testing is typically done by a psychologist who has been trained. The patient must follow specific instructions to get accurate results.
The psychiatric assessment can vary in the number and type of psychological tests they use dependent on the individual and their presenting symptoms. A general psychiatric assessment may be short, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination, or in-depth and lengthy, like a Montreal Cognitive Assessment. A thorough neuropsychological test can be used to assess the presence of concussion, brain injury or other neurological issues.
All types of psychiatric evaluations offer a glimpse of the patient's emotional and psychological functioning. They are conducted by doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists in the hospital setting to evaluate a person's present mood, emotional reactivity, and cognitive abilities. They are also conducted by private therapists at their offices to collect information for a treatment plan as well as to determine if a patient may benefit from a medication or other kinds of therapy.
Intelligence and Achievement Tests are examples of psychological assessments. These tests measure cognitive performance (often called IQ) in contrast to a normative group. Other tests are designed for evaluating the ability of a person to perform tasks, for example, read more memory or word association test. Psychologists are the only experts who have extensive training as well as experience administering and interpreting psychological tests.
The goal of a psychiatric assessment is to match the patient with a doctor who can offer treatment and treatment. The doctor will explain the diagnosis to the patient and explain how it relates with the symptoms. The doctor will also talk about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis will expected to progress in time.