General Psychiatric Assessment
The challenges of carrying out psychiatric assessments in general medical settings are many. These include problems with privacy as well as ward rounds and assessments by other specialties, secure meal times and planned visits from family members.
In this way it can be a challenge to determine the impact of outcomes, especially when it comes to outcomes that are specific to a disease.
Medical History
The first step in a general psychiatric evaluation is to understand the patient's medical history. This will include details of their current condition and any medication they are taking in addition to any previous medical issues that may have influenced their health and well-being. This information can also help the professional decide which psychological tests are appropriate and how many appointments may be necessary prior to making diagnosis.
This step can be difficult to complete in medical wards due to the limited space and interruptions by visits to wards, assessments from other specialties as well as allied health professionals, and scheduled meal times. It is important to find a quiet place to conduct the examination and to make an appointment that doesn't conflict with any of these activities. It is also helpful to ask the referrer what their specific concerns are to determine exactly what kind of psychiatric evaluation is required.
When performing psychiatric assessments on medical wards of general hospitals, it is crucial to remember that the physical health issues the patient is suffering from can influence or even mask their psychiatric symptoms and behaviour. Overshadowing by diagnosis is a frequent issue and is hard to avoid. For example, if the patient was admitted to a delirium hospital and has a pre-existing diagnosis of dementia on their medical record it can be tempting to "shadow" the delirium and assume it is caused by their existing mental illness rather than carry out a full screening for delirium to rule out treatment-able causes like stroke.
It is crucial that the psychiatrist assessing the patient tries to establish the connection between the patient's physical and mental problems and to elicit any complaints or concerns the patient might have regarding their treatment, care or the way 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 the real world.
Family History
The psychiatrist will ask you about your family history to determine if there is a mental health problem within your family. They'll also want know about any experiences of abuse or trauma and your current social circumstances (including your relationships, work and whether you have support at home). You might be asked about your religion, your dreams and ambitions. The psychiatrist will then make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan that will fit your needs.
The psychiatrist should also examine physical symptoms. They will check the patient's blood pressure and listen to the heart and lungs and examine for any other medical issues that may be causing or aggravating the psychiatric symptoms.
It is usually beneficial for the psychiatrist to get an all-encompassing physical from the general practitioner, but this isn't always possible especially for patients who are seriously ill or inpatients on psychiatric hospitals. Patients on these wards might only have very infrequent face-to-face contact with psychiatrists, or none at all. In these situations it is crucial that the psychiatrist's nursing staff or care coordinators take an active role in ensuring that the physical health requirements of patients are satisfied.
Psychiatrists should also be able to understand why the person has been referred, and what they hope to achieve from their psychiatric assessment. They need to be able to interpret medical letters and examine reports of tests received from the GP or another health professional, and they must communicate effectively with the medical team of the patient about the tests carried out so that any medication or other treatments can be coordinated.
The medical history is an important part of any psychiatric evaluation. It should include details about the patient's psychiatric diagnosis, past treatment and alcohol and drug usage. It is also essential to gather a thorough family history, if possible, in order to establish the likelihood of developing certain disorders, like bipolar disorder, which is known to occur in families. It is beneficial to use brief screens that collect all of the psychiatric records for a lifetime on informants and their first-degree relatives but it is also essential to collect a complete family psychiatric record.
Symptoms
In the course of a psychiatric evaluation your doctor will inquire with you about your symptoms and how they have impacted your life. Your psychiatrist will also ask you about your family history and any other issues that might be relevant. It may be uncomfortable at times, but you must be honest and complete to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
If you're suffering from mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression, it is important to get a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether or not you require treatment. While it is normal to experience periods of stress or low mood at times but if the symptoms last more than several weeks and impact your daily activities it is likely you require treatment.
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and any other issues that are impacting you, like family or work-related issues, or substance abuse. They will also ask about your physical health, sleeping habits and if you have tried other methods to treat your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist may also inquire about your experiences with mental illness. They could also employ assessments that are standardised or psychological tests to get a better understanding of your current situation. These tests may include personality tests, questionnaires or cognitive tests to gauge your level of distress.
If the psychiatric evaluation shows that you are experiencing psychotic symptoms, which are caused by hallucinations, delusions or hallucinations that are a significant departure from reality as a consensual entity, the psychiatrist will need to conduct a more thorough exam and may have to take you to the hospital for observation. In such cases you'll need to be evaluated by a different psychiatrist before returning home.
If you are in need of an evaluation of your psychiatric condition, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates will provide you with the assistance and care you require. The team of friendly and experienced professionals are committed to providing you with the necessary information regarding your diagnosis and possible treatment options. You can schedule your psychiatric evaluation via the internet or call us today.
Psychological Tests
The use of a variety of tests is an important part of a psycho-psychological evaluation. Psychological tests are either written or verbal evaluations designed to measure unobserved aspects. They are commonly used to evaluate the traits of a person's personality and emotional functioning. They can be used to determine the severity of a particular mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. Psychological testing is typically conducted by a trained psychologist and requires the patient to adhere to specific instructions in order to get precise results.
The psychiatric assessment may differ in the amount and types of psychological tests that are used, depending on the symptoms of an individual. A general psychiatric examination may be short, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination, or extensive and long, such as a Montreal Cognitive psychiatry assessment Assessment. Neuropsychological testing can be used to determine if a patient has a brain injury or concussion.
All kinds of psychiatric tests offer a glimpse of the patient's emotional and psychological functioning. In hospitals doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists may conduct these assessments to determine the patient's mood and emotional reactivity as well as cognitive abilities. They are also conducted by private therapists in their offices to gather data for a treatment plan and to determine if a patient would benefit from medication or other forms of therapy.
Intelligence and Achievement Tests are an example of psychological evaluations. These tests assess cognitive functioning (often referred as IQ) in comparison to a normal group. Other tests are designed to evaluate the ability to complete an activity, such as an assessment of memory or a word association test. Psychologists are the only experts with extensive training and expertise to conduct and interpret psychological tests.
The aim of a psychiatric assessment is to connect the patient with a medical professional who can provide treatment and treatment. The doctor will explain the diagnosis to the patient and how it relates with the symptoms. The doctor will also inform the patient about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis can be expected progress in time.