A Full Psychiatric Assessment
A psychiatric examination is the first step to getting proper mental health care. The psychiatrist will ask you a many questions about your home and work life, stress sources, traumatic events you've experienced and any alcohol or drug-related issues.
Background and Histories
A complete psychiatric assessment, also known as psycheval, is a multidisciplinary process that is carried out in hospital settings. It involves psychiatric nursing, psychologists, occupational therapy, and social workers. However, the psychiatrist takes the lead role in taking a complete medical history and performing an examination of mental health. The information is gathered through direct observation, the person being assessed and their carers as well as specific psychological tests.
The doctor will ask about the patient's symptoms and what he or she has done in the past few weeks, months, and years. They will also ask questions about family and personal health. This information can help the doctor determine what is causing symptoms and if they're the result another illness.
In this phase an psychiatric doctor will inquire about your medical background to determine if there's an ancestral history of anxiety, depression or other mental health disorders. They will also inquire if there are any physical problems like heart disease or diabetes and what medications the person is taking or has been prescribed.
Additionally the psychiatrist will make note of current symptoms and how long they have been present. They will also ask about the person's life such as their job and home environment. They will also discuss the person's prior treatment and the extent of their adherence to it. Most often family members and caregivers give information that the patient has not disclosed but this is a matter of confidentiality and does not violate their right to privacy.
Based on the severity, other tests and observations might be required. These could include laboratory tests, blood pressure readings or electroencephalography (EEG), which measures brain activity. They could also use the IQ test, which evaluates the cognitive capacity. These tests can measure spatial abilities, concentration memory, memory, and communication skills.
All psychiatric examinations should be performed by professionals who are qualified and experienced. This will ensure that the diagnosis and treatment plan is correct.
Mental Status Examining
Mental status examinations (MSEs) can be a terrifying experience for both the doctor and patient. It is a "snapshot" of the patient at a particular moment, and is useful to describe the patient's behavior and thoughts at that moment. The MSE can also be helpful in describing how a person's mental state changes in time, ranging from depression to mania.
The MSE begins when the physician begins to make the first observations about the patient. It is usually performed during the process of taking the history. The way a patient interacts the examiner and their environment can reveal crucial details about the underlying psychiatric disturbance. This can be the case with the sloppy appearance of a depressed person or the an aggressive style of a manic patient. It can also be a sign of lack motivation or effort in someone who is depressed or on antipsychotic medication.
If a psychiatric test is conducted, it is best done when the patient is calm and cooperative. It can be a challenging and uncomfortable experience for both the patient and the examiner and it is crucial to make a good impression. The MSE should be a small portion of the overall intake assessment and the results should be carefully considered in conjunction with findings from other sources, such as imaging studies or lab tests.
Like the physical exam as well, the MSE lends itself less well to a structured approach, and most of it is determined through the physician's observations during the taking of a history. However, a thorough MSE should include descriptions of the general appearance and behavior, alertness and attentiveness, motor and speech activity mood and affect, thinking and perception as well as attitude and understanding. It should also include a review of higher cognitive abilities like parietal-lobe abilities (pictorial representation, right-left discrimination and localization of objects within space).
It is essential that the MSE be considered in the context of a complete intake assessment, and that physicians interpret results with sensitivity and care. A thorough MSE could reveal a range of abnormalities, including those that are specific to mental disorders. However it should be considered as one data point within the patient's history and is of no clinical value.
Evaluation of Thought Content
The thought content section is the most extensive of the MSE sections and should contain information about delusional thinking (thoughts that aren't true) - such as jealous, persecutory, or grandiose thoughts; hallucinations (hearing or seeing things others do not); preoccupations (such as worries, obsessions or fears) and suicidal thoughts. These questions should be directly asked. The intensity and extent of the pathological thinking should be described. Also here whether or not they are in line with the mood (e.g. someone who is depressed hears voices that are angry or instigating them to kill themselves, versus hallucinations that are peaceful and calm).
The thought process is the logic, relevance and coherence of the client's responses to MSE interviewer's questions. The doctor will also be able to determine if the thought process is not organized or goal-oriented, and also when it flits from one subject to the next without any clear connection. Disorganized, tangential or circumstantial connections are thought processes that may be indicators of mental health issues such as mania, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Psychologists and neuropsychologists also evaluate the client's focus on task and capacity to hold information in short-term memory. This can be determined through self-reports, examiner observations or brief tests like counting backwards from 100 and multiplying it by sevens. They also can assess the client's coping strategies and cognitive performance that is measured through direct questions and behavioral observations.
During the MSE psychologists observe the client's body language and facial expressions to determine if they appear anxious or withdrawn. They also look at the client's nervousness or fidgeting to determine if they're scared or anxious. Psychologists often employ the MSE along with other testing and assessments to determine a diagnosis and formulate the treatment plan. Psychologists are trained to identify the severity of a client's behavior due to a mental disorder, or if it is due to a different cause, such as substance abuse, an accident, or a medication adverse result. This information is crucial in determining the most appropriate treatment and follow-up care.
Assessment of Mood, Anxiety, and Stress
It's normal to have difficult times. But when these problems start to affect relationships, everyday tasks or even sleep, it may be time to schedule an appointment for a psychiatric examination. Also known as a psych eval, this mental health test is usually performed by a psychiatrist or a doctor. It can be a bit difficult, and you'll need to provide a wealth of personal information. It's important to remember that your psychiatrist will want to collect all the information so they can make a correct diagnosis and recommend the best treatment for you.
A psychiatric evaluation will include an examination of your previous medical history as well as a physical examination. This is to make sure that your symptoms aren't caused by a physical problem such as a thyroid disorder or a neurological disorder.
Your psychiatrist will also ask about any past psychiatric and medical issues, as well as whether you are currently taking any medication. In cases where patients are not able to provide a medical account due to their mental condition, it's crucial that their family members and caregivers can answer the doctor's questions. This isn't a breach of confidentiality, and allows the doctor to gather more information than he could during a face-toface conversation.
During the psychiatric interview, the physician will assess the patient's emotional state by observing their tone of voice and body language. They will also assess their thoughts to determine if they are connected and goal-oriented. For instance the doctor will examine how the patient is able to focus during the interview and if they can easily switch between different thoughts. This is a vital piece to the assessment because the manic or psychotic patient may not be able to think clearly and quickly shift their focus of thought.
A psychiatric evaluation is usually the first step to get the care you require. Despite the stigma that surrounds mental illness, it's imperative that anyone who suspects they're suffering from symptoms of a mental disorder seek an evaluation. Don't let fear or anxiety prevent you from seeking help because it could have grave and life-threatening consequences for yourself and the people surrounding you.