General Psychiatric Assessment
The difficulties of conducting mental health assessments in general medical settings are many. These include problems with privacy assessment, ward rounds, and visits by other specialties, secure meal times and planned visits from family members.
In this regard, it can be difficult to quantify outcomes, particularly when it comes to outcomes that are specific to a disease.
Medical History
The first step in the general psychiatric examination is to understand the medical background of the patient. This will include information about the patient's current health, any medications they are taking, as well as any significant previous medical conditions that may have affected their current health and well-being. This information can help the professional decide which psychological tests are appropriate and how many appointments they will require before determining an assessment.
This is often a challenge to complete on medical wards due the limited space available and interruptions during ward rounds, assessments by other specialties, allied health professionals, protected mealtimes and scheduled visitors. It is crucial to find an area with enough privacy to conduct the examination and then schedule an appointment that doesn't conflict with any of these activities. It is also beneficial to ask the referrer what their specific concerns are to identify precisely what type of psychiatric assessment is required.
When performing psychiatric assessments on the medical wards in general hospitals, it is important to keep in mind that physical health problems patients present with may affect or even obscure their psychiatric symptoms and behavior. Overshadowing of diagnostics is a common problem and is difficult to avoid. For example, if a patient has been admitted to a delirium hospital and they have a pre-existing diagnosis of dementia on their medical record then it is tempting to 'overshadow' the delirium by assuming it is caused by their existing mental illness rather than carry out a full delirium screen to rule out treatable causes like stroke.
It is essential that the psychiatrist assessing the patient attempts to establish a relationship between the physical and psychiatric concerns of the patient as well as to elicit concerns or complaints from the patient regarding their treatment, their care, or how their condition is handled. Reference Osborn & Warner (1998) suggests the most basic approach to accomplishing this. However, it can be difficult to implement in practice.
Family History
The psychiatrist will ask about your family history to see whether there are any mental health issues within your family. They'll also inquire about any traumas you've experienced or abused, as well as your current status in the social world (including your work, relationships and if you receive assistance from your home). You might be asked about your religion as well as your goals and dreams. The psychiatrist will then make an assessment and create an appropriate treatment plan to fit your requirements.
The psychiatrist should also look at physical symptoms. They will examine the patient's blood pressure and listen to the heart and lungs and look for any other medical conditions that may be causing or exacerbating the psychiatric symptoms.
It is important for a psychiatrist to receive a complete physical from the patient's GP however this may not always be possible, especially with those who are sick or inpatients at psychiatric units. The patients on these wards may only have sporadic face-to-face contact with psychiatrists, or perhaps none at all. In these instances, it is vital that the psychiatric nurses or care coordinators play a proactive role in ensuring the physical health requirements of patients are satisfied.
Psychiatrists should also be able to comprehend why a person was referred to them and what they are hoping to achieve through their psychiatric evaluation. They need to be capable of interpreting medical reports and examine the results of tests provided by the GP or another health professional, and they must communicate effectively with the medical team that is treating the patient to determine the tests carried out so that any medication or other treatments can be coordinated.
The medical history is an essential aspect of any psychiatric examination and must include the patient's diagnosis of psychiatric illness and treatment history, as well as information about their alcohol and drug use. If it is possible, it is important to collect the family history to determine the risk of developing certain disorders such as bipolar disorder. Screens that are brief to gather lifetime psychiatric information on informants and first-degree relatives are helpful but there is merit in having a complete family history of psychiatric disorders as well.
Symptoms
During the psychiatric examination, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and how they have impacted your life. Your psychiatrist will ask you about any pertinent issues including your family history. The process can be uncomfortable at times, but it is important to answer honestly and fully to ensure that a correct diagnosis can be made.
If you're experiencing mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety it is crucial to seek a psychiatric examination to determine if you require treatment. It is normal to experience periods of low mood and stress however if they last more than a few days or affect your daily life, then you might require treatment.
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms as well as any other issues that are affecting you, such as family or work issues or addiction issues. They will also inquire about your physical health, sleeping habits, and if you've tried other methods to treat your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist may also ask you questions about your previous experiences with mental illness, and they may use standardized assessment tools or psychological tests to gain more understanding of your current situation. These tests can include personality assessments, questionnaires or cognitive tests that assess your level of distress.
If the psychiatric evaluation shows that you are experiencing psychotic symptoms that are caused by hallucinations, delusions or hallucinations that are substantial departures from the reality of consensual, the psychiatrist will need to conduct a more thorough examination and may need to take you to the hospital to be observed. In these cases, you will need to be evaluated by a different psychiatrist before you are able to return home.
If you're in need of an evaluation for psychiatric disorders, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates can provide the support and care you need. The team of helpful and experienced professionals are committed to giving you the information you need about your diagnosis and treatment options. You can arrange a psychiatric evaluation on the internet or by phone today.
Psychological Tests
A significant aspect of a psychological assessment involves the use of different tests. Psychological tests are written or verbal assessments that are designed to test unobserved aspects. They are used to determine the person's emotional health and personality characteristics. They can be used to determine a mental illness' severity, like anxiety or depression. Psychological testing is usually conducted by a psychologist who has been trained. The patient must adhere to certain guidelines to get accurate results.
Psychological assessments can differ in regards to the number and type psychological tests employed, based on an individual's symptoms. A general psychiatric assessment can be brief, like the Mini-Mental State Examination, or extended and thorough, like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological tests that are in-depth can be used to determine the presence of brain injuries, concussions or other neurological issues.
All kinds of psychiatric assessments can provide a picture of the patient's psychological and emotional functioning. They are conducted by doctors, psychologists and sometimes psychiatrists in the hospital setting to determine a person's current mood, emotional reactivity and cognitive capabilities. They are also performed by private therapists in their offices to gather information for a treatment plan and to determine if a patient may benefit from a medication or other kinds of therapy.
Intelligence & Achievement Tests are an example of psychological tests. These tests test cognitive functioning (often called IQ) in comparison to a normated group. Other tests are designed to assess the ability to perform tasks, like an assessment of memory or an assessment of word association. Psychologists are the only professionals 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 provide treatment and treatment. When the examination is completed the more info 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 in time.