20 Myths About General Psychiatric Assessment: Dispelled
General Psychiatric Assessment
There are numerous challenges in completing psychiatric evaluations 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 determine the outcome in this situation, due to particular difficulties for outcomes specific to diseases and patient and referrer satisfaction ratings.
Medical Histories
The first step of the general psychiatric examination is to understand the medical history of the patient. This will include details of their present 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 will also help the professional decide what psychological tests would be appropriate and the number of appointments they might need to make before making an assessment.
This step can be difficult to complete on medical wards due to the small space and interruptions caused by ward rounds, assessments from other specialties, allied health professionals and scheduled meal times. It is worthwhile to schedule an appointment time that is not in conflict with any of these activities, and find somewhere quiet for the examination to take place. The referrer's particular concerns will help you determine what type of assessment is required for psychiatric disorders.
It is crucial to keep in mind that physical health issues can affect or even overshadow psychiatric symptoms. This is a problem that is referred to as diagnostic shadowing and can be very difficult to avoid. If patients are admitted with delirium, but has an diagnosis of dementia in their medical records, it can be tempting to "shadow the delirium' and assume that it is due to their existing mental illness. This is not as effective as conducting a thorough screening for delirium to rule out treatmentable causes like stroke.
It is essential that the psychiatrist assessing the patient tries to establish the relationship between the patient's physical and psychiatric issues, and also to identify any concerns or complaints that the patient has about their treatment, care or treatment they receive or the way their health issue is being treated. The basic model that is recommended in the reference Osborn and Warner (1998) is a simple schema for achieving this, however it can be a challenge to implement this in the real world.
Family History
The psychiatrist will ask about your family history to determine if there are any mental health issues within your family. They will also ask about any past traumas or experienced, as well as your current social status (including your work, relationships, and if you have the support of your family). You may be asked questions about your beliefs regarding religion and about your ambitions and hopes. The psychiatrist will provide an assessment and design a treatment plan that meets your needs.
Physical symptoms are also important and it is vital that the psychiatrist examine these as well. They will check the patient's blood pressure and listen to the heart and lungs and search for any other medical issues that could be causing or aggravate the symptoms of psychiatric illness.
It is often helpful for the psychiatrist to obtain an entire physical exam from the general practitioner however, this isn't always feasible particularly for those who are very ill and those who are inpatients on psychiatric wards. Patients with these conditions may have very little or no face-to-face contact with psychiatrists. In these instances it is crucial that the psychiatrist's staff or care coordinators play a active role in ensuring that the physical health needs of patients are fulfilled.
Psychiatrists also need to comprehend why a person was referred to them and what they expect to gain from their psychiatric examination. They should be able to interpret medical letters and review the results of tests provided by the GP or another health professional, and they must be able to communicate effectively with the medical team of the patient about what investigations have been conducted so that any medication or other treatments can be coordinated.
The medical history is an important component of any psychiatric assessment. It should include details about the diagnosis of the patient's psychiatric illness, past treatment and drinking and drug use. If possible, it is important to obtain an entire family history to assess the likelihood of developing certain disorders such as bipolar disorder. Screens to collect life-long psychopathological information from informants and first-degree relatives are helpful but there is value in obtaining a full family history of psychiatric issues as well.
Symptoms
In the course of a psychiatric evaluation, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and how they've affected your life. Your doctor will also inquire about your family history and any other issues that could be relevant. The interview may be uncomfortable at times, but it's essential that you answer honestly and completely so that a precise diagnosis can be determined.
It is crucial to have a psychiatric assessment when you are suffering from mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression. This will help determine if you need treatment. While it is normal to be afflicted with stress or low mood occasionally, if these symptoms last for more than two weeks and interfere with your daily functioning it is likely you need treatment.
Your psychiatrist will inquire about your symptoms and any other issues impacting you, like family or work-related issues, or substance abuse. Learn Additional will also ask about your physical health, sleeping habits and if you have tried other approaches to manage your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist might also inquire about your experiences with mental illness. They may also use standardized assessment tools, or psychological tests, to help you understand your situation. These tests could include questionnaires, personality assessments or cognitive tests to determine the level of stress you are experiencing.
If your psychiatric assessment finds that you suffer from psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions that are quite different from what is considered to be real, then the psychiatrist might have to conduct an extensive exam and admit you to the hospital for observation. In these instances you'll need be evaluated by a different psychiatrist before you are able to return home.
If you're seeking an evaluation of your psychiatric condition, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates can provide you with the care and support you deserve. The team of experienced and caring professionals are dedicated to providing you with all the information you require about your diagnosis and treatment options. You can schedule your psychiatric exam via the internet or call us today.
Psychological Tests
A significant aspect of a psychological evaluation is the use of a variety of tests. Psychological tests are written or oral evaluations designed to measure unobserved elements. They are often used to assess the personality of a person and their emotional functioning. They can also be used to determine the severity of a specific mental illness, like depression or anxiety. Psychological testing is usually conducted by psychologists who have been trained. The patient must adhere to certain guidelines to obtain accurate results.
Psychological assessments can differ in the number and type of psychological tests they utilize, depending on the person's condition and symptoms. A general psychiatric examination could be brief, like the Mini-Mental State Examination, or extended and thorough, like a Montreal Cognitive Assessment. In-depth neuropsychological testing may also be used to determine the presence of a brain injury, concussion or other neurological issues.
All types of psychiatric examinations provide a snapshot into the patient's emotional and psychological functioning. They are carried out by psychologists, doctors, and sometimes 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 gather data for a treatment plan as well as to determine if a patient would benefit from medication or other forms of therapy.
A few examples of psychological assessments include intelligence & achievement tests which test certain types of cognitive functioning (often referred to as IQ) and performance in comparison to a normed group. Other tests are designed to test the ability to complete tasks, like an assessment of memory or the test of word association. Psychologists are the only professionals who have extensive training and expertise in the administration and interpretation of psychological tests.
A psychiatric examination is designed to match the patient with a doctor who can offer treatment and management. After the exam is completed the doctor will inform the patient about the diagnosis and the relationship to their present symptoms. The doctor will also discuss the prognosis. This is how a particular diagnosis can be expected to change over time.