A Full Psychiatric Assessment
A psychiatric assessment is the first step in receiving the proper treatment for your mental health. The psychiatrist will ask you a number of questions regarding your work and home life, sources of stress, significant traumas you've had, as well as whether you've had alcohol or drug problems.
Background and History
A full psychiatric examination, also known as psycheval, is a multidisciplinary process that is carried out in hospitals. It involves psychiatric nurses as well as occupational therapy, psychologists, and social workers. The psychiatrist is the one who compiles an extensive medical record and conducts a mental exam. The information could be gathered through direct observation of the person being evaluated their caregivers and also through specific psychological tests.
The doctor will inquire with the person about their symptoms and what they have been doing in the last few weeks, months and years. They will also inquire about family and personal health. This information can aid the doctor in determining what is causing symptoms and if they are the result another health issue.
In this phase, a psychiatrist will ask about your medical history to determine if there's any family history of depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric disorders. They will also want to know if the person is suffering from any physical ailments like diabetes or heart disease and what medications they are taking or were prescribed in the past.
The psychiatrist will also take note of any symptoms that are present and the duration they have been present. They will also ask about the person's lifestyle such as their job and their home environment. They will also discuss the individual's prior treatment and the extent of their adherence to it. Carers and families often share information that the patient hasn't shared with them. This is done in a way of respect for confidentiality and doesn't violate their privacy rights.
Depending on the severity of symptoms, a number of additional tests and examinations could be required. These could include laboratory tests, blood pressure readings or electroencephalography (EEG), which measures brain activity. They could also take IQ tests, which assess the ability to think. These tests can test spatial abilities, concentration memory, memory, as well as communication skills.
All psychiatric tests should be performed by professionals who are skilled and knowledgeable. This will ensure that the diagnosis and treatment plan is correct.
Mental Status Test
The mental status exam (MSE) can be a painful experience for the physician as well as the patient. independent psychiatric assessment is an "snapshot" of the patient at a particular moment in time, and is helpful for describing the patient's behaviours and thoughts at that moment. The MSE can also be useful in describing how a patient's state mind changes over time. For instance, it can show the transition from depression to manic episode.
The MSE begins when the physician makes the first observations of the patient. This is typically performed during the process of taking the history. The way a patient interacts the examiner as well as their surroundings can reveal important information about the root of the disorder in the psyche. This can be the case with the sloppy appearance of a person who is depressed or the exuberant manner of manic patients. It can also be a sign of a lack of motivation or effort in a person who is depressed or on antipsychotic medication.
If a psychiatric exam is performed, it is best done when the patient is at ease and cooperative. Both the examiner and patient might feel uncomfortable during the interview. It is important to convey the right impression. The MSE should only serve as just a tiny portion of the overall intake assessment. The results of the MSE should be compared carefully with those from other sources such as imaging studies or tests in the laboratory.
Like the physical exam, the MSE is not as well suited to a structured approach and much of it is obtained from the physician's unstructured observations during the history-taking. A detailed MSE will include descriptions of behavior and appearance as in addition to alertness and attention as well as speech and motor activity such as mood and affect, perception and thought and attitude as well as awareness. It should also include a detailed assessment of higher cognitive functions such as parietal-lobe functions (pictorial construction and right-left discrimination, as well as spatialization of objects) and frontal lobe executive or diffuse cortical functions (judgment, abstract reasoning, memory).
It is essential that the MSE be viewed as part of a full intake evaluation and that doctors interpret the results with sensitivity and care. A thorough MSE can reveal a range of abnormalities including those that are specific to mental disorders. However it should be considered as a single point of data within the patient's history and is of no clinical significance.
Assessing the Content of Thoughts
The thought content section is the largest of the MSE sections and should include details about delusional thoughts (thoughts that aren't true) - such as jealous, persecutory, or grandiose ideas as well as hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that others do not) and preoccupations (such as worries, obsessions or phobias); and suicidal thoughts. These questions should be directly asked. The intensity and extent of the psychotic thinking should be described. Also whether or not they correspond to the mood (e.g. someone who is depressed hears voices that are angry or instigating them to kill themselves, versus hallucinations that are soothing and calm).
Thought process is the coherence, logic, relevance and flow of the client's thoughts as they respond to the questions of the examiner during the MSE interview. The doctor will also be able to determine if the thought process is unorganized or goal-oriented, and the frequency with which it moves from one subject to the next without a clear connection. Mental health disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and mania may be characterized by tangential, unorganized, and circumstantial thought processes.
Additionally, psychologists and neuropsychologists examine the capacity of the client to pay attention and hold information in memory, which can be measured through examiner observations, client self-report, or short tests like counting backwards from 100 by 7s. They also assess the client's strategies to cope and their cognitive performance in daily life, which is measured through direct questioning and behavioral observation.
During the MSE psychology, psychologists watch the client's facial expressions and body language to determine if they appear to be withdrawn or aggressive. They also examine the client's agitation and fidgeting to determine if they are fearful or anxious. Psychologists frequently employ the MSE along with other tests and assessments to make diagnose and create an appropriate treatment plan. Psychologists are also trained to detect if the client's behavior is in line with a specific mental illness or is instead due to another cause such as alcohol abuse, injury or an adverse reaction to medication. This information is crucial in determining the best treatment and follow-up.
Evaluation of Mood, Anxiety, and Stress
It's normal to experience difficult times. However, when these issues begin to affect relationships, daily activities and even sleep, it may be time to make an appointment for a psychiatric assessment. The mental health test is also referred to as a "psych evaluation" and is usually performed by a psychiatrist or a doctor. The procedure can be a bit daunting and you'll usually have plenty of information you'll need to disclose. It's important to remember that your psychiatrist will want to collect all the details so they can make a correct diagnosis and suggest the appropriate treatment for you.
A psychiatric evaluation will include a review of your past medical history as well as physical examination. This is to confirm that there are no physical problems that could cause your symptoms, such as thyroid issues or a neurologic disorder.
In addition the doctor will ask you about any other psychiatric or medical problems you've had in the past and if you're currently taking any medications currently. If the patient is unable to provide an account of their mental condition, it is essential that their family and caregivers are able to answer the questions. This is not a violation of confidentiality, and it permits the physician to get more complete information than would be possible in a face-to-face interview.
During the psychiatric consult, the doctor will assess the emotional state of the patient by watching their body expression and voice. They will also assess their thoughts to determine if they are related and goal-directed. The doctor will assess, for example, how well the patient is able to concentrate and switch between ideas during the interview. This is an essential aspect to the assessment as a manic or psychotic patient might not be able think clearly and swiftly shift their attention.
For many people an evaluation for psychiatric issues is the first step to get the right treatment they require. Despite the stigma associated with mental illness, it's crucial that anyone who suspects they're suffering from symptoms of mental illness seek an evaluation. Don't let fear or anxiety stop you from seeking help. It could have dire consequences for the people around you as well as for yourself.