General Psychiatric Assessment
The challenges of carrying out mental health assessments in general medical settings are many. There are many issues to be faced, including privacy issues and ward rounds, evaluations by other specialists, protected mealtimes and scheduled visits to the family.
It is also difficult to quantify outcomes in this setting, with specific challenges for disease-specific outcomes as well as patient and referrer satisfaction ratings.
Medical Histories
The first step in the general psychiatric examination is to determine the medical background of the patient. This includes information about the patient's current condition and any medications they're taking and any significant past medical issues that may have impacted their health and well-being. This information can aid the doctor in determining what psychological tests might be appropriate and the number of appointments they might have to schedule before making an assessment.
This procedure can be a challenge to complete in medical wards due to the small space and interruptions caused by the ward's rounds, examinations from other specialties or allied health professionals as well as protected mealtimes. It is important to schedule an appointment time that does not clash with any of these activities and find a quiet space for the examination to take place. Inquiring about the referrer's specific concerns will help you determine the type of psychotherapy evaluation is needed.
When performing psychiatric assessments on medical wards of general hospitals, it is crucial to keep in mind that physical health problems the patient is suffering from can affect or even obscure their psychiatric symptoms and behaviour. Overshadowing of diagnostics is a common problem and is difficult to avoid. For example the case where an individual has been admitted for a delirium and they have a pre-existing diagnosis of dementia on their medical record it can be tempting to 'overshadow' the delirium by assuming that it is caused by an mental illness, rather than conduct a complete screening for delirium to rule out treatable causes such as stroke.
It is important that the psychiatrist who is assessing the patient tries to establish a relationship between the psychiatric and physical concerns of the patient as well as to elicit concerns or complaints from the patient regarding their treatment, care, or how their condition is being managed. The basic model that is suggested in Reference Osborn and Warner (1998) is a simple schema for achieving this, but it can be difficult to implement this in the real world.
Family History
The psychiatrist will ask you about your family history in order to determine if there is a mental health problem in your family. They'll also inquire about any past traumas or abuse, and your current social standing (including your work, relationships and if you receive the support of your family). You could be asked about your religion and your dreams and goals. The psychiatrist will provide a diagnosis, and then develop a treatment program that suits your needs.
The psychiatrist should also check physical symptoms. They will test the patient's blood pressure and listen to the lungs and heart and examine for any other medical conditions which could be causing or aggravate the psychiatric symptoms.
It is helpful for psychiatrists to get an entire physical examination from the patient's GP however this might not always be possible, particularly with patients who are extremely sick or are inpatients in psychiatric units. Patients with these conditions may have very little or no contact with psychiatrists. In these situations it is essential that the psychiatrist's nursing staff or care coordinators play a proactive role in ensuring the physical health requirements of patients are fulfilled.
Psychiatrists must also be able to understand why the person is being referred to them, and what they expect to accomplish from their psychiatric assessment. They need to be capable of interpreting medical reports and review the results of tests provided by the GP or another health professional, and they must communicate effectively with the person's medical team about the tests completed to ensure that any treatment or medication can be coordinated.
The medical history is an essential element of any psychiatric examination. It should contain information about the patient's psychiatric diagnosis and treatment history as well as any drug and alcohol usage. It is also important to collect a detailed family history, if it is possible, in order to establish the risk of certain disorders, such as bipolar disorder, which is known to run in families. It is useful to make use of screens that collect lifetime psychiatric data on informants and their first-degree family members, but it is equally crucial to have the complete psychiatric records of all family members.
Symptoms
In the course of a psychiatric assessment Your doctor may inquire about your symptoms and how they affect your life. Your psychiatrist will inquire about any pertinent issues like your family history. The interview can feel invasive at times, but it is important to answer honestly and fully so that an accurate diagnosis can be made.
If you are suffering from mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety it is crucial to get a psychiatric evaluation to see whether or not you need treatment. While it is normal to be afflicted with depression or stress at times but if the symptoms last more than two weeks and interfere with your daily functioning, it is likely that you need treatment.
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and any other issues impacting you, like family or work-related issues or addiction issues. They will also inquire about your physical health, sleep habits, and whether you've tried other methods to treat your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist will also ask you questions regarding your previous experiences with mental illness and they may also use standardized assessment tools or psychological tests to gain understanding of your situation. These tests can include questionnaires, personality tests or cognitive tests to measure your level of distress.
If the psychiatric examination indicates that you are suffering from psychotic symptoms, which are marked by hallucinations or delusions that are a significant departure from the reality of consensual The psychiatrist will have to conduct a more thorough examination and may be required to take you to the hospital to be observed. You will need to be evaluated again by an experienced psychiatrist before you are website allowed to return home.
If you are seeking an evaluation of your psychiatric condition, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates can provide you with the assistance and care you need. The team of knowledgeable and caring professionals are dedicated to providing you with the necessary information regarding your diagnosis and treatment options. You can book your psychiatric examination via the internet or call us today.
Psychological Tests
The use of different tests is a crucial aspect of a psycho-psychological assessment. Psychological tests are written or oral assessments designed to measure non-observed aspects. They are used to assess the emotional state of a person and personality characteristics. They can be used to determine a mental health condition's severity, such as anxiety or depression. Psychological testing is usually conducted by an experienced psychologist who has been trained. The patient must follow certain instructions to obtain accurate results.
Psychological assessments can differ in terms of the number and types of psychological tests used, depending on an individual's symptoms. A general psychiatric examination could be brief, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MSE), or more in-depth and time-consuming, like a Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological tests can be used to determine if a patient has a concussion or brain injury.
All types of psychiatric evaluations help provide a snapshot of the patient's overall psychological and emotional state. In hospitals, doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists may conduct these evaluations to assess the patient's mood emotional reactivity, cognitive capabilities. Private therapists may also conduct them in their offices to collect data to develop the development of a treatment plan and to determine whether a patient would benefit from medication or a different method of therapy.
Intelligence and Achievement Tests are a type of psychological evaluations. These tests assess cognitive performance (often known as IQ) in contrast to a normative group. Other tests are designed to evaluate the ability to perform tasks, for example, memory or word association test. Psychologists are the only professionals who have the training and experience to conduct and interpret psychological tests.
A psychiatric exam is designed to match the patient with a physician who can offer treatment and management. The doctor will explain the diagnosis to the patient, and how it is related to their symptoms. The doctor will also speak about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis will expected to progress over time.