"Ask Me Anything," 10 Responses To Your Questions About General Psychiatric Assessment
"Ask Me Anything," 10 Responses To Your Questions About General Psychiatric Assessment
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General Psychiatric Assessment
There are many challenges to conducting psychiatric assessments in general medical settings. This includes privacy issues as well as ward rounds and assessments by other specialties. They also have issues with time for meals and visits from family members.
In this way it can be challenging to quantify outcomes, particularly when it comes to disease-specific outcomes.
Medical Histories
The first step in a general psychiatric assessment is to determine the patient's medical history. This will include information about their present condition and any medications they are taking in addition to any previous medical issues that may have influenced their health and well-being. This information will help the professional decide the appropriate psychological tests and how many appointments will be needed before making diagnosis.
This step is often difficult to complete on medical wards because of the limited space available and interruptions due to ward rounds, assessments by other specialties, allied health experts, protected mealtimes, and planned visits. It is worth trying to schedule an appointment time that is not in conflict with the other activities listed above and find somewhere quiet for the examination to be conducted. Asking the referrer about their specific concerns will help you determine which psychiatric evaluation is needed.
It is important to be aware that physical health issues may affect or even overshadow symptoms of psychiatric illness. Overshadowing by diagnosis is a common issue and is 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' by assuming that it is caused by their mental illness. This is not as effective as carrying out a full screen for delirium to rule out treatmentable reasons such as stroke.
It is essential that the psychiatrist assessing the patient is able to establish a link between the psychiatric and physical issues of the patient and to get complaints or concerns from the patient about their treatment, care, or how their condition is managed. Reference Osborn and Warner (1998) recommends an approach to achieve this. However, it can be difficult to implement in real life.
Family History
The psychiatrist will ask you about your family history in order to determine if there is an issue with mental health in your family. They will also want to be aware of any traumas or abuse you've had and your current social circumstances (including work, relationships and if you have support at home). You may be asked about your beliefs in religion and your dreams and goals. The psychiatrist will then formulate a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan that will fit your requirements.
Physical symptoms are equally important and it is crucial that the psychiatrist checks these too. They will examine the patient's blood pressure and listen to the lungs and heart and look for any other medical issues that may be causing or exacerbating the psychiatric symptoms.
It is often beneficial for the psychiatrist to obtain an entire physical exam from the general practitioner of the patient however, this isn't always feasible especially for patients who are extremely sick and those who are inpatients on psychiatric wards. Patients on these wards might have only sporadic face-toface contact with psychiatrists, or none at all. In such instances, it is crucial that psychiatric nurses or care coordinators play a prominent role in ensuring that these patients' physical health needs are addressed.
Psychiatrists must also be able to understand why the person was referred to them and what they hope to achieve from their psychiatric assessment. They must be competent in interpreting medical letters and review the results of tests provided by a GP or other health professional. They must communicate effectively with the medical team that is treating the patient to determine the investigations carried out to ensure that any medication or other treatments can be coordinated.
The medical history is a key aspect of any psychiatric examination, and this must include the patient's mental health diagnosis and previous treatment and also details about their alcohol and drug usage. If you can, it's essential to gather an entire family history to assess the risk of developing certain disorders, such as bipolar disorder. It is helpful to use brief screens that collect all of the psychiatric records for a lifetime on informants and their first-degree relatives however, it is equally crucial to have a complete family psychiatric record.
Symptoms
In the course of a psychiatric evaluation the doctor will ask you about your symptoms and how they've affected your life. Your psychiatrist will ask you about any pertinent questions like your family history. It can feel intrusive at times, but it is important to answer honestly and completely to ensure a precise diagnosis.
If you are experiencing mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety it is essential to get a psychiatric evaluation to see whether or not you need treatment. While it is normal to be afflicted with stress or low mood read more at times however, if these symptoms last more than two weeks and interfere with your daily life it is likely you need treatment.
Your psychiatrist will inquire about your symptoms and any other issues that are impacting you, like 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 ways to help with your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist will also ask you questions about your previous experiences with mental illness and they may use standardized assessment tools or psychological tests to gain insight into your situation. These tests may include questionnaires, personality tests or cognitive tests that measure your level of distress.
If your psychiatric examination shows that you have psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions that are quite different from what is thought to be reality, then the psychiatrist might need to conduct an extensive exam and admit you to the hospital for observation. In these instances you'll need be re-evaluated by another psychiatrist before you are able to return home.
Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates will provide you with the assistance and care you require. The team of experienced and caring professionals are dedicated to providing you with the information you need about your diagnosis and treatment options. You can schedule your psychiatric evaluation via the internet or call us today.
Psychological tests
The use of different tests is an important part of a psycho-psychological evaluation. Psychological tests are written assessments or verbal evaluations which measure unobserved aspects of a person's personality. They are typically used to determine the personality of a person and their emotional functioning. They can be used to determine a mental health condition's severity, like depression or anxiety. Psychological testing is usually conducted by a psychologist who is trained and requires the patient to follow specific instructions to obtain precise results.
Psychological assessments can differ in regards to the number and types of psychological tests that are that are administered, based on the symptoms of an individual. A general psychiatric evaluation can be brief, like the Mini-Mental State Examination, or in-depth and lengthy, like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological tests can be used to determine if there is a brain injury or concussion.
All kinds of psychiatric tests offer a glimpse of the patient's psychological and emotional 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 performed 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 a type of psychological tests. These tests assess cognitive functioning (often known as IQ) in contrast to a normative group. Other tests are designed to evaluate the ability to perform 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 exam is to pair the patient with a medical professional who can provide treatment and management. After the exam is complete the doctor will inform the patient of the diagnosis and how it relates to their presenting symptoms. The doctor will also talk about the prognosis. This is how a particular diagnosis can be expected to change in the future.