General Psychiatric Assessment
There are a variety of challenges when conducting psychiatric assessments in general medical settings. This includes privacy issues assessment, ward rounds, and visits by other specialties, secure meal times and planned visits from family members.
It can also be difficult to quantify outcomes in this situation, due to specific challenges for disease-specific outcomes and patient and referrer satisfaction ratings.
Medical Histories
The first step in a general psychiatric evaluation is to understand the patient's medical history. This includes information about the patient's current health and any medications they're taking and any major past medical issues that may affect their current health and well-being. This information can help the physician determine the appropriate psychological tests and how many appointments may be needed before making diagnosis.
This process can be difficult to complete on medical wards because of the small space and interruptions caused by visits to wards, assessments from other specialties, allied health professionals and scheduled meal times. It is worth trying to arrange an appointment time that does not clash with any of these activities, and find somewhere quiet for the assessment to take place. It is also useful to inquire from the referrer what their specific concerns are, so that you can identify precisely what type of psychiatric assessment is required.
When performing psychiatric assessments on the medical wards in general hospitals, it is crucial to be aware that the physical health problems patients present with may influence or even overshadow their psychiatric symptoms and behaviour. This is a common problem that is known as diagnostic overshadowing and is extremely difficult to avoid. If the patient is admitted to hospital with delirium and has an diagnosis of dementia in their medical records, it may be tempting to "shadow" the delirium', assuming that it is caused by their mental illness. This is in contrast to carrying out a full screen for delirium to rule out treatable reasons such as stroke.
It is crucial that the psychiatrist who is conducting the assessment of the patient seeks to establish the relationship between the patient's physical and psychiatric problems and to elicit any concerns or complaints that the patient might have regarding their treatment, care or the treatment they receive or the way their health issue is being handled. Reference Osborn and Warner (1998) recommends the most basic approach to accomplishing 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 is an issue with mental health in your family. They'll also want know about any traumas or abuse you've had and your current social situation (including work, relationships and if you have support at home). You may be asked about your religious beliefs, your dreams and ambitions. The psychiatrist will determine an assessment, and then create a treatment plan that is suited to your needs.
The psychiatrist should also examine physical symptoms. They will examine the patient's blood pressure and listen to the lungs and heart and look for any other medical conditions that could be causing or aggravate the symptoms of psychiatric illness.
It is often helpful for the psychiatrist to get an entire physical exam from the general practitioner of the patient however, this isn't always possible particularly for those who are very ill or inpatients on psychiatric hospitals. Those on these wards may only have sporadic face-to-face contact with psychiatrists, or none at all. In these situations it is crucial that the psychiatrist's staff or care coordinators play a active role in ensuring that the physical health requirements of patients are satisfied.
Psychiatrists should also be able comprehend why a person is being evaluated and what they are hoping to achieve with their psychiatric assessment. They need to be capable of interpreting medical reports and investigate reports of tests from a GP or other health professional, and they must communicate effectively with the person's medical team about the investigations conducted so that any medication or other treatments can be coordinated.
The medical history is a key element of any psychiatric assessment and must include the patient's personal diagnosis of psychiatric illness and treatment history and also details about their drug and alcohol use. If possible, it is essential to gather the family history to determine the likelihood of developing certain disorders like bipolar disorder. It is useful to use brief screens that collect all of the psychiatric records for a lifetime on informants and their first-degree relatives, but it is equally crucial to have a complete family psychiatric record.
Symptoms
During the psychiatric assessment the doctor will ask you about your symptoms and how they have affected your life. Your doctor will also inquire about your family history, as well as any other issues that may be relevant. It can feel intrusive at times, but it is important to be honest and complete to ensure that you receive a correct diagnosis.
If you are suffering from mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression it is crucial to get a psychiatric evaluation to see whether or not you require treatment. It is normal to experience periods of depression and stress, but when they last longer than one or two days or interfere with your daily activities, then you may need treatment.
Your psychiatrist will inquire about your symptoms as well as any other issues affecting you, such as work or family problems or addiction issues. They will also inquire about your physical health, sleeping habits, and whether or not you've tried any other strategies to alleviate your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist will also ask you questions about your past experiences with mental illness, and they might use standard assessment tools or psychological tests to gain insight into your situation. These tests can include questionnaires, personality tests or cognitive tests that measure your level of distress.
If the psychiatric evaluation confirms that you are experiencing psychotic symptoms, marked by hallucinations or delusions that are a significant departure from consensual reality The psychiatrist will have to perform a more in-depth examination and may be required to admit you to a hospital to be observed. In these cases you'll need to be re-evaluated by another psychiatrist before you are able to return home.
Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates will provide you with the support and care you need. The team of skilled and friendly professionals are committed to providing you with all the information you require about your diagnosis and treatment options. You can schedule a psychiatric assessment on the internet or by phone today.
Psychological Tests
The use of a variety of tests is a crucial aspect of a psycho-psychological examination. Psychological tests are written assessments or verbal evaluations that assess unobserved constructs. They are often used to determine a person's personality traits and emotional functioning. They can also be used to determine the severity of a particular mental illness, such as anxiety or depression. Psychological testing is typically conducted by psychologists who have been trained. The patient must follow certain instructions to get accurate results.
Psychiatric assessments can vary in terms of the type and quantity of tests they employ according to the person's condition and symptoms. A general psychiatric evaluation can be brief, like read more the Mini-Mental State Examination, or in-depth and lengthy, like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological tests that are in-depth can be used to assess the presence of concussion, brain injury, or other neurological conditions.
All kinds of psychiatric assessments help provide a snapshot of the patient's overall psychological and emotional functioning. In the hospital, doctors, psychologists and sometimes psychiatrists conduct these evaluations to assess the patient's mood, emotional reactivity and cognitive abilities. They are also conducted by private therapists in their offices to collect information to develop a treatment plan and to determine if a patient may benefit from medication or other forms of therapy.
Some examples of psychological evaluations include intelligence & achievement tests, which measure certain kinds of cognitive functioning (often called IQ) and performance against a normative group. Other tests are designed to assess the ability to perform tasks, such as a word association or memory test. Psychologists are the only experts with extensive training as well as experience conducting and interpreting psychological tests.
A psychiatric exam is designed to match the patient with a doctor that can provide treatment and management. After the exam is completed the doctor will inform the patient of the diagnosis and the relationship to their presenting symptoms. The doctor will also inform the patient about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis is expected progress over time.