General Psychiatric Assessment
The challenges of carrying out mental health assessments in general medical settings are numerous. There are many challenges such as privacy issues as well as ward rounds, examinations by other specialists, secure mealtimes, and planned family visits.
It is also difficult to quantify outcomes in this setting, with 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 medical history of the patient. This includes details of their current condition and any medications they're taking, as well as any previous medical issues that may have influenced their current health and wellbeing. This information can aid the doctor in determining what psychological tests would be appropriate and the number of appointments they may need to make before making an assessment.
This procedure can be a challenge to complete in medical wards because of the limited space and interruptions from visits to wards, assessments from other specialties or allied health professionals as well as meals that are protected. It is important to find a quiet place to conduct the assessment and to schedule an appointment that does not interfere with any of these activities. Asking the referrer about their particular concerns will help you determine which psychiatric evaluation is needed.
When conducting psychiatric examinations on the medical wards in general hospitals, it is important to keep in mind that physical health issues that patients present with may influence or even mask their psychiatric symptoms and behaviour. This is a problem that is referred to as diagnostic shadowing and can be very difficult to avoid. If the patient is admitted to hospital with delirium, but has a diagnosis of dementia in their medical records, it can be tempting to "shadow the delirium' and assume that it is the result of their existing mental illness. This is rather than conducting a thorough screening for delirium to rule out treatmentable causes such as stroke.
It is therefore important that the psychiatrist taking a look at the patient is trying to establish the relationship between the patient's physical and mental issues, and also to identify any complaints or concerns the patient may have about their treatment, care or treatment they receive or the way their health issue is being managed. Reference Osborn & Warner (1998) suggests 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 a mental health problem within your family. They will also inquire about any experiences you've had with trauma or abuse, and your current social standing (including your work, relationships, and if you have support from home). You may be asked questions about your religious beliefs and about your ambitions and goals. The psychiatrist will then make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan to meet your needs.
Physical symptoms are also crucial and it is crucial that the psychiatrist checks these as well. They will examine their blood pressure, listen and feel the lungs and heart and look for other medical conditions which could cause the psychiatric symptoms.
It is helpful for a psychiatrist to receive an entire physical examination from the patient's GP however this might not always be possible, particularly with people who are very sick or inpatients in psychiatric units. The patients on these wards may only have very infrequent face-to-face contact with psychiatrists, or none at all. In these cases, it is crucial that psychiatric nurses and care coordinators take an active role in ensuring that these patients' physical health concerns are addressed.
Psychiatrists also need to understand the reason why the patient was referred to them and what they expect to achieve through their psychiatric evaluation. They must be able to read medical letters, review reports of tests, and communicate effectively with a person's medical team to manage any medication or treatment.
The medical history is a key aspect of any psychiatric examination, and this must include the patient's own mental health diagnosis and previous treatment and also information regarding their drug and alcohol use. If you can, it's important to collect a family history to determine the risk of developing certain disorders like bipolar disorder. Screens that are brief to gather lifetime psychiatric information on informants and first-degree relatives can be helpful, but there is value in obtaining a full family history of psychiatric issues as well.
Symptoms
During the psychiatric assessment 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 other issues that might be relevant. It can feel intrusive at times, but you must be honest and complete to ensure a precise diagnosis.
If you're experiencing mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression it is crucial to seek a psychiatric examination to see whether or not you require treatment. While it is normal to experience periods of low mood or stress at times however, if these symptoms last for more than several weeks and impact your daily functioning it is likely you need 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 you about your physical health, your sleeping habits and whether or not you've tried other methods to treat your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist will also ask you questions about your past experiences with mental illness and they may also use standardized assessment tools or psychological tests to gain more insight into your situation. These tests can include personality tests, questionnaires or cognitive tests that measure the level of stress you are experiencing.
If your psychiatric evaluation indicates that you are suffering from psychotic symptoms, like hallucinations and delusions that are a significant departure from what is believed to be real, the psychiatrist might need to conduct a thorough examination and then admit you to the hospital to be observed. You will need to be evaluated again by a psychiatrist before being allowed to return home.
If you're seeking an evaluation of your psychiatric condition, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates will provide you with the support and care you require. The team of helpful and experienced professionals are committed to giving you the information you require about the diagnosis you have received and possible treatment options. You can book your psychiatric examination via the internet or call us now.
Psychological tests
A significant aspect of a psychological evaluation is the use of different tests. Psychological tests are written assessments or verbal evaluations that assess unobserved constructs. They are often used to assess the personality of a person and their emotional functioning. They can be used to determine the severity of a certain mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. Psychological testing is usually conducted by psychologists who have been trained. The patient must follow specific instructions to obtain accurate results.
The psychiatric assessment may differ in regards to the number and type psychological tests used, depending on an individual's symptoms. A general psychiatric evaluation may be short, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination, or extensive and long, such as a Montreal Cognitive Assessment. In-depth neuropsychological testing may also be used to assess the presence of a brain injury, concussion or other neurological disorders.
All kinds of psychiatric examinations help provide a snapshot of the patient's psychological and emotional state. In the hospital, doctors, psychologists and sometimes psychiatrists conduct these tests to evaluate a patient's mood emotional reactivity, cognitive abilities. They are also conducted by private therapists in their offices to collect information for a treatment plan as well as to determine if a patient would benefit from medication or other types of therapy.
Intelligence & Achievement Tests are examples of psychological tests. These tests assess more info cognitive functioning (often referred as IQ) in comparison to a normated group. Other tests are designed to evaluate the ability to complete a task, such as a memory test or the test of word association. Psychologists are the only experts with extensive training and expertise to administer and interpret psychological tests.
The goal of a psychiatric assessment is to pair the patient with a doctor who can offer treatment and treatment. After the exam is completed, the doctor will inform the patient about the diagnosis and how it relates to their current symptoms. The doctor will also talk about the prognosis. This is the way in which a specific diagnosis is expected to progress over time.