General Psychiatric Assessment: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
General Psychiatric Assessment
There are many challenges to completing psychiatric evaluations in general medical settings. There are many issues to be faced such as privacy issues, ward rounds, assessments by other specialists, protected mealtimes and scheduled family visits.
In this way it can be challenging to quantify outcomes, particularly when it comes to outcomes that are specific to a disease.
Medical Histories
The first step in a general psychiatric evaluation is to understand the patient's medical history. This will include information about their present condition and any medications they are taking in addition to any medical issues that have occurred in the past that could have affected their health and wellbeing. This information will help the professional decide what psychological tests might be appropriate and the number of appointments they may require before determining the diagnosis.
This process is often difficult to complete on medical wards due to the limited space available and interruptions during ward rounds, assessments by other specialties and health professionals, protected mealtimes and scheduled visitors. It is worthwhile to arrange an appointment time that is not in conflict with the other activities listed above and find a quiet space for the assessment to be conducted. Asking the referrer about their particular concerns will help you determine which assessment is required for psychiatric disorders.
When conducting psychiatric examinations on medical wards of general hospitals, it is important to keep in mind that physical health issues the patient is suffering from can influence or even mask their psychiatric symptoms and behavior. Diagnostic overshadowing is a very common issue and is very difficult to avoid. If patients are admitted with delirium and has an diagnosis of dementia in their medical records, it could be tempting to 'overshadow the delirium' by assuming that it is the result of their mental illness. This is in contrast to conducting a thorough screening for delirium to rule out treatmentable causes like stroke.
It is important that the psychiatrist assessing the patient is able to establish a connection 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 health condition is handled. Reference Osborn and Warner (1998) recommends a basic model for achieving this. However, it could be difficult to implement in practice.
Family History
The psychiatrist will inquire about your family history to determine if there are any mental health issues in your family. They will also ask about any past traumas or abused, as well as your current social status (including your work, relationships and if you receive the support of your family). You may be asked questions about your beliefs in religion and about your ambitions and hopes. The psychiatrist will make an assessment and create a treatment plan that is suited to your requirements.
Physical symptoms are also important and it is essential that the psychiatrist evaluate these as well. They will check the patient's blood pressure and listen to the lungs and heart and search for any other medical issues which could be causing or aggravate the psychiatric symptoms.
It is often beneficial for a psychiatrist to get a full physical from the patient's general practitioner however, it's not always possible, especially in people who are very ill and inpatients on psychiatric wards. Patients on these wards might have only sporadic face-toface contact with psychiatrists, or perhaps none at all. In such instances, it is crucial that psychiatric nurses and care coordinators play a prominent part in ensuring these patients' physical health issues are taken care of.
Psychiatrists should also comprehend why a person has been referred and what they hope to achieve with their psychiatric evaluation. psychiatric assessment private must be able to read medical letters, examine reports of tests, and communicate effectively with a patient's medical team to coordinate any medication or treatment.
The medical history is a key component of any psychiatric evaluation and should include the patient's personal diagnosis of psychiatric illness and treatment history and details about their alcohol and drug usage. It is also essential to gather a thorough family history, if possible, in order to establish the likelihood of developing certain disorders, like bipolar disorder, which is known to run in families. It is beneficial to make use of screens that record the lifetime psychiatric information of informants and their first-degree relatives but it is equally important to obtain a complete family psychiatric record.
Signs and symptoms
In the course of a psychiatric assessment Your doctor may ask you about symptoms and how they affect your life. Your psychiatrist will ask you about any pertinent issues, such as your family history. The interview can feel invasive at times, but it's important to answer honestly and completely to ensure that a correct diagnosis can be made.
If you are suffering from mental health problems like depression or anxiety it is essential to seek a psychiatric examination to determine whether or not you need treatment. It is normal to have periods of low mood and stress however should they last for more than a few days or affect your daily activities, then you may require treatment.
In addition to discussing your symptoms, your psychiatrist will also ask about any other issues that may be affecting your health, such as family and work problems or abuse of substances. They will also inquire about your physical health, your sleeping habits and whether or not you have tried any other ways to treat your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist will also ask you questions regarding your previous experiences with mental illness and they might use standard assessment tools or psychological tests to gain insight into your situation. These tests can include questionnaires, personality assessments or cognitive tests that assess your level of distress.
If your psychiatric examination indicates that you are suffering from psychotic symptoms, for example hallucinations and delusions which differ significantly 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. You will have to be evaluated again by an experienced psychiatrist before you are allowed to return home.
If you're seeking a psychiatric evaluation, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates will provide you with the support and care you deserve. The team of skilled and knowledgeable professionals are committed to providing you with the information you need about your diagnosis and treatment options. You can book your psychiatric examination online or by phone now.
Psychological tests
The use of a variety of tests is an important part of a psycho-psychological assessment. Psychological tests are written assessments or verbal evaluations which measure non-observed elements. They are used to assess a person's emotional functioning and personality traits. They can also be used to determine the severity of a specific mental illness, such as anxiety or depression. Psychological testing is usually conducted by a psychologist who is trained and requires the patient to adhere to specific instructions in order to get exact results.
The psychiatric assessment may differ in terms of the number and types of psychological tests employed, based on the individual's symptoms. A general psychiatric assessment may be short, like the Mini-Mental State Examination (MSE) or more detailed and time-consuming tests, such as a Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological testing can be used to determine if a patient has an injury to the brain or concussion.
All kinds of psychiatric tests provide a look at the patient's emotional and psychological functioning. In the hospital, doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists may conduct these tests to evaluate the patient's mood emotional reactivity, cognitive abilities. They are also conducted by private therapists at their offices to gather data for a treatment plan as well as to determine if a patient could benefit from medication or other forms of therapy.
A few examples of psychological assessments include tests for intelligence and achievement that measure various types of cognitive functioning (often referred to as IQ) and performance against a normative group. Other tests are designed to test the ability of tasks, like a memory test or an assessment of word association. Psychologists are the only professionals with a vast amount of training and experience to administer and interpret psychological tests.
The goal of a psychiatric examination is to match the patient with a physician who can provide treatment and management. After the exam is complete the doctor will inform the patient of the diagnosis and the relationship to their present symptoms. The doctor will also discuss the prognosis. This is the way in which a specific diagnosis is expected to progress over time.