A Full Psychiatric Assessment
A psychiatric assessment is the first step to getting proper mental care. The psychiatrist will ask you a lot questions about your home and work life stress triggers, trauma events that you've been through, as well as any alcohol or drug-related issues.
Background and Histories
A full psychiatric assessment, or psych eval, is typically a multi-disciplinary process in hospitals that involves psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists and social workers. However, the psychiatrist takes the lead role in taking a detailed medical history and carrying out an examination of mental health. The information could be gathered directly from observation or the person being examined as well as their carers, and also through specific psychological tests.
The doctor will inquire about the patient's symptoms as well as what the patient has done in the last few weeks, months, and years. They will also want to know about family and personal health. This will help the doctor to understand what is causing the symptoms and if they are due to a different issue.
In this stage the psychiatrist will inquire about your medical history to determine if there's an ancestral history of anxiety, depression or other mental disorders. They will also inquire whether there are any physical problems such as heart disease or diabetes and what medications the person is taking or was prescribed.
The psychiatrist will also be aware of any symptoms that are present and the amount of time they have been present. They will also ask the person about their lifestyle including their work and home life. They will also discuss prior treatments and the degree of adhering to. Often family members and caregivers offer information that the patient hasn't disclosed, but it is a matter of confidentiality and doesn't violate their rights to privacy.
Depending on the severity, other tests and observations might be needed. These could include laboratory tests, blood pressure readings or electroencephalography (EEG), which measures brain activity. They may also use IQ test, which evaluates cognitive ability. These tests can test spatial skills, concentration, memory and communication skills.
It is crucial that all psychiatric tests are performed by qualified and experienced professionals. This will help ensure that the diagnosis is accurate and that the person receives a treatment plan that best suits their needs.
Mental Status Examination
The mental state examination (MSE) can be a terrifying experience for both the physician and patient. It is a "snapshot" which is an image of the patient in a certain moment. It can be used to describe the patient's thoughts and behavior at that particular time. The MSE can also be helpful in showing how a patient's mental state changes over time, for example, from depression to mania.
The MSE begins with the doctor's initial observations of the patient, usually during the process of taking a history. The how a patient interacts and behaves around the examiner can reveal something about the root of the mental disorder. This includes the discolored appearance of a person who is depressed or the provocative style of manic patients. It can also be a sign of lack of motivation or effort from someone who is depressed or taking antipsychotic medication.
It is ideal to conduct a psychiatric test when the patient is at ease, cooperative and willing. Both the examiner and patient may feel uncomfortable during the interview. It is important to convey the right impression. The MSE should be only just a tiny portion of the overall intake evaluation. The results of the MSE should be carefully compared to other results such as imaging studies or tests in the laboratory.
Similar to the physical exam, the MSE lends itself less well to a structured approach, and the majority of it is gathered by the physician's unstructured observations during the history-taking. However, a thorough MSE should include descriptions of general appearance and behavior, alertness and attentiveness as well as speech and motor activity, mood and affect, thought and perception, attitude and insight. It should also include an evaluation of higher cognitive abilities like parietal-lobe function (pictorial representation as well as right-left discrimination and localization of objects in space).
It is important that the MSE be considered as part of a complete intake assessment and that doctors interpret results with care and sensitivity. A thorough MSE could reveal a range of abnormalities including those that are specific to mental disorders. However, it should be viewed as a single point of data within the patient's history and is of no clinical significance.
Assessment of Thought Content
The thought content section is the biggest of the MSE general psychiatric assessment sections and should include information on delusional thinking (thoughts that aren't true) for example, jealous, persecutory or grandiose thoughts as well as hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that others don't) Preoccupations (such as obsessions, worries or fears) and suicidal ideas. These questions should be directly asked. The intensity and severity of the pathological thinking should be described. Also whether or not they correspond to the mood (e.g. A person suffering from depression may hear voices that are angry and prompt to commit suicide, versus calm and peaceful hallucinations.
Thought process refers to the logic, relevance, coherence and flow of the client's thoughts when they respond to the questions of the examiner during the MSE interview. Physicians also note if the thought process is goal-directed or disorganized and if it is a rapid flow between topics without a clear connection between them. Disorganized, tangential, and circumstantial associations are thought processes that can indicate mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, mania and bipolar disorder.
Additionally, psychologists and neuropsychologists examine the capacity of the client to pay on a single subject and then hold it in memory. This can be measured by observing examiners, the client's self-report, or short tests such as counting backwards from 100 by sevens. They also can assess the client's coping strategies and cognitive functioning by assessing it by direct questions and behavioral observations.
During the MSE psychologists will be observing the client's body language and facial expressions to determine if they seem aggressive or withdrawn. They also examine the client's agitation and fidgeting in order to determine whether they are fearful or anxious. Psychologists employ the MSE together with other tests and assessments to diagnose and develop a treatment plan. Psychologists are trained to identify whether a person's behavior is caused by a mental illness, or if it is due to a different cause, such as addiction, accident or a medication side result. This information is crucial to determining the best treatment and follow-up.
Assessment of Mood and Anxiety
There are times when we all experience hardships, but when those difficulties begin to affect relationships, daily activities and even the ability to sleep, it could be time to schedule a psychiatric assessment. Also called a psych eval and a mental health check, this test is usually performed by a psychiatrist or physician. The procedure isn't easy and you'll usually have plenty of information you'll have to share. But, it's essential to realize that your psychiatrist is working to gather all the facts so they can provide a correct diagnosis and recommend the best treatment for you.
A psychiatric evaluation will include a review of your past medical history and an examination of your body. This is to make sure that your symptoms are not caused by a physical problem such as thyroid disease or a neurological disorder.
Your doctor will also inquire about any previous psychiatric or medical problems and if you are currently taking any medication. In cases where patients are incapable of providing a full history due to their mental state it is essential that their family members and caregivers are able to respond to the doctor's questions. This isn't a breach of confidentiality and allows the doctor to obtain more information than he would in a face-toface interview.
In the psychiatric consultation the doctor will evaluate the patient's emotional state by paying attention to their voice tone and body language. They'll also look at their thoughts to determine if they're connected and goal-oriented. The doctor will also examine, for example, how the patient is able to focus and switch between thoughts during the interview. This is an important aspect to the assessment because the manic or psychotic patient may not be able to think clearly and swiftly shift their focus of thought.
A psychiatric assessment is often the first step in getting the care you need. It is essential that anyone who believes they are suffering from symptoms of mental illness get an evaluation. Don't let your anxiety or fear stop you from seeking assistance. It could have dire consequences for you and those around.