General Psychiatric Assessment
The difficulties of conducting psychosis tests in general medical settings are numerous. There are numerous challenges such as privacy issues, ward rounds, assessments by other specialists, protected mealtimes, and scheduled visits to the family.
It is also difficult to determine the outcome in this context, and there are particular difficulties for outcomes specific to diseases and patient and referrer satisfaction ratings.
Medical History
The first step in a general psychiatric evaluation is to determine the patient's medical background. This will include information about the patient's present condition and any medications they're taking and any major past medical issues that may have impacted their health and well-being. This information can aid the doctor in determining what psychological tests are appropriate and how many appointments will be necessary prior to making a diagnose.
This is often a challenge to complete on medical wards due to the limited space available as well as interruptions during visits to the ward, assessments by other specialties and health specialists, protected mealtimes and planned visitors. It is essential to locate an area that is quiet to conduct the assessment and to schedule an appointment that doesn't conflict with any of these activities. Inquiring about the referrer's particular concerns will help you determine which psychiatric evaluation is needed.
When performing psychiatric assessments on the medical wards of general hospitals, it is crucial to be aware that the physical health problems a patient presents with can affect or even obscure their psychiatric signs and behaviors. This is a frequent issue that is known as diagnostic overshadowing and is extremely difficult to avoid. For example, if an individual has been admitted for a delirium and they have a pre-existing diagnosis of dementia in their medical record then it is tempting to "shadow" the delirium as if it is due to their existing mental illness rather than perform a full screening for delirium to rule out causes that are treatable such as stroke.
It is crucial that the psychiatrist who is assessing the patient tries to establish the connection between the patient's physical and psychological problems and to elicit any concerns or complaints that the patient might have regarding their treatment, care or the way their health condition is being managed. Reference Osborn & Warner (1998) recommends an approach to achieve this. However, it can be difficult to implement in practice.
Family History
The psychiatrist will ask about your family history to determine whether there are any mental health problems within your family. They'll also want know about any incidents of abuse or trauma you've experienced and your current situation in the social world (including work, relationships and whether you have support at home). You could be asked about your religion as well as your goals and dreams. The psychiatrist will provide a diagnosis, and then develop a treatment program that meets your needs.
The psychiatrist should also examine physical symptoms. They will test their blood pressure, listen and feel the lungs and the heart as well as examine for any other medical conditions that could be causing the psychiatric symptom.
It is helpful for a psychiatrist to receive an exhaustive physical from the patient's doctor however this may not always be feasible, particularly for people who are very sick or inpatients in psychiatric units. Patients on these wards might have only sporadic face-toface contact with psychiatrists, or perhaps none at all. In these situations it is crucial that the psychiatric nursing staff or care coordinators take an active role in ensuring that the physical health requirements of patients are fulfilled.
Psychiatrists also need to understand the reason why the patient has been referred, and what they are hoping to achieve from their psychiatric assessment. They should be able to interpret medical letters and review reports of tests from an GP or other health professional. They must be able to communicate effectively with the medical team of the patient about the tests completed to ensure that any medications or other treatments can be coordinated.
The medical history is an essential element of any psychiatric assessment and must include the patient's own mental health diagnosis and previous treatment and also information regarding their drug and alcohol use. It psychiatry assessment is also important to gather a thorough family history, if it is possible to determine the likelihood of developing certain disorders, like bipolar disorder, which is known to occur in families. 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 disorders as well.
Symptoms
During the psychiatric examination the doctor will ask you about your symptoms and how they have affected your life. Your psychiatrist will also ask you about your family history and any other issues that may be relevant. The interview can feel invasive at times, but it's vital that you speak truthfully and fully to ensure that a correct diagnosis can be given.
It is essential to undergo an assessment for psychiatric disorders in case you suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. This will determine whether you require treatment. It is normal to have periods of depression and stress but should they last for more than several days or impact your daily activities, then you might require treatment.
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and any other issues impacting you, like family or work issues or addiction issues. They will also ask you about your physical health, your sleeping habits and whether or not you have tried any other strategies to help with your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist may also ask you questions about your previous experiences with mental illness and they may use standardized assessment tools or psychological tests to gain more insight into your situation. These tests can include questionnaires, personality assessments or cognitive tests that measure your level of distress.
If your psychiatric evaluation shows that you have psychotic symptoms, for example hallucinations and delusions that are quite different from what is thought to be real, the psychiatrist may need to conduct an extensive exam and send you to the hospital to be observed. You will need to be evaluated again by a psychiatrist before being allowed to return home.
If you're in need of an evaluation for psychiatric disorders, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates can provide you with the care and support you need. The team of friendly and experienced professionals is committed to providing you with the information you need about the diagnosis you have received and possible treatment options. You can schedule a psychiatric assessment via the internet or by calling today.
Psychological Tests
The use of a variety of tests is an important part of a psycho-psychological assessment. Psychological tests are written or oral assessments that are designed to test unobserved aspects. They are often used to evaluate the personality of a person and their emotional functioning. They can be used to determine a person's mental illness' severity, like depression or anxiety. Psychological testing is typically conducted by psychologists who have been trained. The patient must adhere to certain guidelines to get accurate results.
Psychiatric assessments can vary in the amount and type of psychological tests they utilize dependent on the person and their symptoms. A general psychiatric evaluation could be brief, like the Mini-Mental State Examination, or extended and thorough, like a Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological testing can be used to determine if a patient has a brain injury or concussion.
All types of psychiatric assessments provide a snapshot into the patient's psychological and emotional functioning. They are performed by psychologists, doctors and sometimes psychiatrists in the hospital setting to assess a person's current mood, emotional reactivity and cognitive abilities. They are also conducted by private therapists at their offices to gather information to develop a treatment plan and to determine if a patient would benefit from medication or other forms of therapy.
Intelligence & Achievement Tests are examples of psychological evaluations. These tests measure cognitive performance (often referred as IQ) in comparison to a normal group. Other tests are designed to test the ability of a task, such as an assessment of memory or an assessment of word association. Psychologists are the only professionals with a vast amount of training and experience to conduct and interpret psychological tests.
The aim of a psychiatric examination is to connect the patient with a doctor who can provide treatment and treatment. The doctor will explain the diagnosis to the patient and how it is related to their symptoms. The doctor will also inform the patient about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis can be expected to progress over time.