General Psychiatric Assessment
There are many challenges to performing psychiatric examinations in general medical settings. These include problems with privacy assessment, ward rounds, and visits by other specialties, secure meals and scheduled visits from family members.
In this context it can be a challenge 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 background. This will include information about the patient's current condition, any medications they are taking and any significant past medical issues that may have affected their current health and well-being. This information will help the physician determine what psychological tests would be appropriate and the number of appointments they might need to make before making an assessment.
This is often a challenge to complete on medical wards because of the limited space available and interruptions during ward rounds, assessments by other specialties and health specialists, protected mealtimes and planned visits. It is crucial to find an area that is quiet to conduct the examination and then schedule an appointment that doesn't conflict with any of these activities. It is also beneficial to ask the referrer what their specific concerns are so that you can determine precisely what type of psychiatric examination is required.
When carrying out psychiatric assessments on the medical wards of general hospitals, it is crucial to keep in mind that physical health problems a patient presents with can influence or even mask their psychiatric symptoms and behavior. Overshadowing of diagnostics is a frequent issue and is hard to avoid. For example the case where an individual has been admitted to a delirium hospital and has a pre-existing diagnosis of dementia in their medical record then it is tempting to "shadow" the delirium and assume that it is caused by an existing mental illness rather than carry out a full screening for delirium to rule out causes that are treatable such as stroke.
It is important that the psychiatrist who is assessing the patient attempts to establish a relationship between the physical and psychiatric issues of the patient and to get complaints or concerns from the patient regarding their treatment, care or how their health condition is managed. Reference Osborn & Warner (1998) recommends a basic model for achieving this. However, it could be difficult to implement in the real world.
Family History
The psychiatrist will inquire about your family history to determine if there is a mental health issue within your family. They'll also inquire about any past traumas or experienced, as well as your current social status (including your relationships, work and if you receive support from home). You may be asked questions about your beliefs in religion as well as about your goals and hopes. The psychiatrist will make a diagnosis, and then design a treatment plan that is suited to your needs.
Physical symptoms are also important and it is vital that the psychiatrist examine these too. They will examine their blood pressure, listen and feel the lungs and heart and look for other medical conditions which could be causing the psychiatric sign.
It is often helpful for the psychiatrist to obtain an entire physical exam from the general practitioner of the patient, but this isn't always possible particularly for those who are extremely sick and inpatients on psychiatric wards. They may have very little or no interaction with psychiatrists. In such cases it is crucial that psychiatric nurses and care coordinators play an active part in ensuring these patients' physical health issues are met.
Psychiatrists should also to understand why a patient is being referred to them and what they hope to achieve with their psychiatric examination. They should here be competent in interpreting medical letters and examine the results of tests provided by an GP or other health professional. They must be able to communicate effectively with the person's medical team about the investigations completed to ensure that any treatment or medication can be coordinated.
The medical history is an essential component of any psychiatric assessment. It must include information about the diagnosis of the patient's psychiatric illness as well as past treatment, as well as alcohol and drug usage. It is also important to collect a detailed family history, if you can, in order to establish the risk of certain disorders, such as bipolar disorder, which tends to be inherited by families. It is beneficial to make use of screens that collect all of the psychiatric records for a lifetime on informants and their first-degree family members, but it is equally essential to collect the complete psychiatric records of all family members.
Signs and symptoms
In the course of a psychiatric evaluation the 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 process can be uncomfortable at times, but it is vital that you speak truthfully and fully so that a precise diagnosis can be determined.
It is crucial to have a psychiatric assessment if you suffer from mental health issues, like anxiety or depression. This will determine whether you require treatment. It is normal to experience periods of low mood and stress, but when they last longer than a few days or affect your daily functioning then you might require treatment.
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and any other issues that are affecting you, such as 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 other methods to treat your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist may also inquire about your previous experiences with mental illness. They could also employ standardized assessment tools or psychological tests to gain a better understanding of your current situation. These tests may include questionnaires, personality tests or cognitive tests to measure the level of stress you are experiencing.
If the psychiatric assessment indicates that you are suffering from psychotic symptoms that are manifested by hallucinations or delusions that are substantial departures from the reality of consensual The psychiatrist will have to perform a more in-depth examination and may need to admit you to a hospital for observation. You will need to be evaluated again by a psychiatrist before being allowed to return home.
If you are seeking an evaluation for psychiatric disorders, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates can provide the care and support you require. The team of caring and knowledgeable professionals is dedicated to giving you the information you need about your diagnosis and possible treatment options. You can schedule your psychiatric exam via the internet or call us today.
Psychological Tests
The use of different tests is an essential part of a psycho-psychological evaluation. Psychological tests are written or verbal assessments that are designed to test unobserved aspects. They are used to evaluate the person's emotional health and personality traits. They can also be used to determine the severity of a specific mental illness, like anxiety or depression. Psychological testing is usually conducted by a trained psychologist and requires the patient to adhere to specific instructions in order to get exact results.
Psychiatric assessments can vary in terms of the type and quantity of psychological tests they utilize, depending on the individual and their presenting symptoms. A general psychiatric test could be short, like the Mini-Mental State Examination (MSE) or more thorough and time-consuming tests, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological testing can be used to determine if there is an injury to the brain or concussion.
All types of psychiatric evaluations offer a glimpse of the patient's overall emotional and psychological functioning. In the hospital, doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists may conduct these tests to evaluate a patient's mood emotional reactivity, cognitive abilities. They are also performed by private therapists in their offices to gather information to develop a treatment plan and to determine if a patient would benefit from medication or other types of therapy.
A few examples of psychological assessments include tests for intelligence and achievement which test certain types of cognitive functioning (often referred to as IQ) and performance in comparison to a standard group. Other tests are designed for evaluating the ability to perform tasks, such as a word association or memory test. Psychologists are the only professionals who have extensive education and expertise in the administration and interpretation of psychological tests.
A psychiatric examination is designed to connect the patient with a medical professional that can provide treatment and management. The doctor will explain the diagnosis to the patient, and how it relates with their symptoms. The doctor will also inform the patient about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis is expected progress in time.