General Psychiatric Assessment
There are a variety of challenges when conducting psychiatric assessments in general medical settings. There are numerous challenges such as privacy concerns as well as ward rounds, examinations by other specialists, secured mealtimes, and planned family visits.
It can also be difficult to quantify outcomes in this situation, due to particular challenges for specific outcomes related to disease as well as patient and referrer satisfaction ratings.
Medical Histories
The first step in a comprehensive psychiatric examination is to understand the patient's medical history. This will include information regarding the patient's current condition, any medications they are taking and any significant past medical issues that may have impacted their health and well-being. This information can also aid the doctor in determining what psychological tests are appropriate and how many visits may be needed before making diagnosis.
This step can be difficult to complete in medical wards because of the limited space and interruptions from the ward's rounds, examinations from other specialties or allied health professionals as well as protected mealtimes. It is important to find a time that doesn't clash with the other activities listed above and find a quiet space for the assessment to take place. It is also helpful to inquire from the referrer what their particular concerns are to determine precisely what type of psychiatric evaluation is required.
When conducting psychiatric examinations 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. Overshadowing of diagnostics is a frequent issue and is hard to avoid. If a patient is admitted with delirium but has an diagnosis of dementia in their medical records, it may be tempting to "shadow the delirium' and assume that it is due to their existing mental illness. This is not as effective as performing a complete screen for delirium to rule out treatmentable causes such as stroke.
It is therefore important that the psychiatrist assessing the patient tries to establish the connection between the patient's physical and mental 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. The basic model that is suggested in Reference Osborn and Warner (1998) is a simple schema for achieving this, however it can be a challenge to implement this in practice.
Family History
The psychiatrist will ask about your family history to determine whether there are any mental health issues in your family. They'll also inquire about any past traumas or experienced, as well as your current status in the social world (including your work, relationships, and if you have assistance from your home). You may be asked about your religion, your dreams and ambitions. The psychiatrist will then formulate a diagnosis and develop an appropriate treatment plan to fit your needs.
The psychiatrist should also examine physical symptoms. They will examine their blood pressure, listen and feel the heart and lungs and look for other medical conditions which could be causing the psychiatric sign.
It is helpful for psychiatrists to get an exhaustive physical 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. They may have minimal or no face-to-face interactions with psychiatrists. In these situations, it is vital that psychiatric nursing staff or care coordinators play a proactive role in ensuring the physical health needs of patients are met.
Psychiatrists should also comprehend why a person has been referred and what they hope to achieve through their psychiatric evaluation. They need to be capable of interpreting medical reports and examine reports of tests received from the GP or another health professional. They must communicate effectively with the medical team that is treating the patient to determine the investigations completed to ensure that any treatment or medication can be coordinated.
The medical history is a key component of any psychiatric evaluation and should include the patient's personal mental health diagnosis and previous treatment, as well as information regarding their drug and alcohol use. It is also important to obtain a complete family history, if you can to determine the likelihood of developing certain disorders, such as bipolar disorder, which is known to run in families. It is useful to use brief screens that record the lifetime psychiatric information of informants and their first-degree relatives, however, it is equally important to obtain an entire family psychiatric history.
Signs and symptoms
In the course of a psychiatric evaluation, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and how they have affected your life. My Source will also inquire about your family history and any other issues that could be relevant. The interview can feel invasive at times, but it is important to answer honestly and fully so that a precise diagnosis can be determined.
It is essential to undergo an assessment for psychiatric disorders when you are suffering from mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety. This will help determine if you need treatment. It is normal to have periods of stress and low mood however when they last longer than one or two days or interfere with your daily functioning then you may need treatment.
Your psychiatrist will inquire about your symptoms and any other issues impacting you, like work or family problems, or substance abuse. They will also ask about your physical health, sleep habits and if you have tried other methods to treat your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist may also ask you questions about your past experiences with mental illness and they may use standardized assessment tools or psychological tests to gain insight into your situation. These tests could include personality assessments, questionnaires or cognitive tests that measure the level of stress you are experiencing.
If the psychiatric evaluation indicates that you are suffering from psychotic symptoms, which are caused by hallucinations, delusions or hallucinations that are significant deviations from the reality of consensual, the psychiatrist will need to conduct a more thorough examination and may need to admit you to a hospital to be observed. In these instances, you will need to be evaluated by a different psychiatrist before you can return home.
Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates will give you the support and care you need. The team of skilled and knowledgeable professionals are committed to ensuring that you have the necessary information regarding your diagnosis and treatment options. You can book your psychiatric examination online or by phone now.
Psychological Tests
An essential part of a psychological examination is the use of various tests. Psychological tests are either written or verbal assessments that are designed to test unobserved aspects. They are often used to assess the traits of a person's personality and emotional functioning. They can also be used to determine the severity of a particular mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. Psychological testing is typically conducted by a qualified psychologist and requires the patient to follow specific instructions in order to get accurate results.
The psychiatric assessment can vary in the amount and type of psychological tests they use dependent 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, such as a Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological tests can be used to determine if a patient has a concussion or brain injury.
All types of psychiatric examinations provide a snapshot into the patient's emotional and psychological functioning. In the hospital, doctors, psychologists and sometimes psychiatrists conduct these evaluations to assess the patient's mood, emotional reactivity and cognitive abilities. They are also performed by private therapists in their offices to gather data to develop a treatment plan and to determine if a patient could benefit from medication or other forms of therapy.
Some examples of psychological evaluations include tests of intelligence and achievement, which measure certain kinds of cognitive functioning (often called IQ) and performance in comparison to a standard group. Other tests are designed for evaluating the ability to perform tasks, for example, memory or word association test. Psychologists are the only experts who have extensive training as well as experience conducting and interpreting psychological tests.
A psychiatric evaluation is designed to connect the patient with a physician that can provide treatment and management. After the exam is completed the doctor will inform the patient of the diagnosis and how it relates to their present symptoms. The doctor will also talk about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis can be expected progress over time.