10 Quick Tips About General Psychiatric Assessment
10 Quick Tips About General Psychiatric Assessment
Blog Article
General Psychiatric Assessment
The challenges of carrying out psychiatric assessments in general medical settings are numerous. There are numerous challenges such as privacy issues and ward rounds, evaluations by other specialists, protected mealtimes and planned family visits.
It is also difficult to determine the outcome in this situation, due to particular challenges for specific outcomes related to disease as well as patient and referrer satisfaction ratings.
Medical History
The first step in the general psychiatric examination is to understand the medical background of the patient. This will include details of their current condition and any medications they're taking in addition to any previous medical issues that may have influenced their health and well-being. This information will also help the professional decide what psychological tests would be appropriate and the number of appointments they might need to make before making the diagnosis.
This process can be difficult to complete on medical wards due to the limited space and interruptions by visits to wards, assessments from other specialties as well as allied health professionals, and scheduled meal times. It is worthwhile to schedule an appointment time that doesn't clash with any of these activities and locate a quiet place for the examination to be conducted. Asking the referrer about their particular concerns will help you determine the type of psychiatric evaluation is needed.
It is important to be aware that physical health issues may affect or even overshadow symptoms of psychiatric illness. This is a frequent issue that is known as diagnostic overshadowing and can be very difficult to avoid. If patients are admitted with delirium and has an diagnosis of dementia in their medical records, it may be tempting to "shadow" the delirium' and assume that it is the result of their existing mental illness. This is rather than performing a complete screen for delirium to rule out treatmentable reasons such as stroke.
It is crucial that the psychiatrist who is assessing the patient attempts to establish a connection between the psychiatric and physical issues of the patient and to elicit concerns or complaints from the patient regarding their treatment, care or how their health condition is handled. Reference Osborn and Warner (1998) suggests an approach to achieve this. However, it can be difficult to implement in real life.
Family History
The psychiatrist will ask about your family history to determine if there are any mental health problems within your family. They'll also want be aware of any past experiences of abuse or trauma and your current social circumstances (including your relationships, work and whether you have a support system at home). You may be asked questions about your religious beliefs as well as about your goals and hopes. The psychiatrist will make an assessment, and then design a treatment plan that is suited to your needs.
Physical symptoms are also important and it is crucial that the psychiatrist examine these too. They will examine the patient's blood pressure and listen to the heart and lungs and search for any other medical issues that may be causing or aggravate the psychiatric symptoms.
It is often beneficial for the psychiatrist to get an all-encompassing physical from the general practitioner, but this isn't always feasible especially for patients who are seriously ill and inpatients on psychiatric wards. Those on these wards may only have sporadic face-to-face contact with psychiatrists, or none at all. In these situations, it is vital that psychiatric staff or care coordinators play a proactive role in ensuring the physical health needs of patients are satisfied.
Psychiatrists must also be able to comprehend why a person is being referred to them, and what they hope to achieve through their psychiatric evaluation. They need to be competent in interpreting medical letters and investigate reports of tests from a GP or other health professional. They must be able here to communicate effectively with the medical team of the patient about the investigations conducted so that any medication or other treatments can be coordinated.
The medical history is a key component of any psychiatric evaluation and must include the patient's diagnosis of psychiatric illness and treatment history, as well as information regarding their alcohol and drug usage. It is also important to obtain a complete family history, if possible to determine the risk of certain disorders, like bipolar disorder, which tends to be inherited by families. It is useful to use brief screens that collect lifetime psychiatric data on informants and their first-degree relatives however, it is equally essential to collect the complete psychiatric records of all family members.
Symptoms
In the course of a psychiatric evaluation the doctor will ask you about your symptoms and how they have affected your life. Your psychiatrist will ask you about any pertinent questions including your family history. The interview can feel invasive at times, but it's important to answer honestly and fully so that an accurate diagnosis can be made.
If you are suffering from mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety it is crucial to seek a psychiatric examination to determine if you need treatment. While it is normal to be afflicted with low mood or stress from time to time but if the symptoms last more than two weeks and interfere with your daily life It is likely that you need treatment.
In addition to discussing your symptoms Your psychiatrist will ask about any other issues that could be affecting you, such as issues with work and family or abuse of substances. They will also inquire about your physical health, your sleeping habits and whether or not you have tried other methods to help with your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist might also inquire about your previous experiences with mental illness. They could also employ standardized assessment tools, or psychological tests, to help you understand your situation. These tests may include questionnaires, personality assessments or cognitive tests that measure your level of distress.
If the psychiatric assessment shows that you are experiencing psychotic symptoms, which are marked by hallucinations or delusions that are substantial departures from consensual reality, the psychiatrist will need to perform a more in-depth exam and may have to admit you to hospital for observation. In such cases you'll need to be re-evaluated by another psychiatrist before returning home.
If you're seeking a psychiatric evaluation, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates will provide you with the assistance and care you need. The team of skilled and knowledgeable professionals are committed to providing you with all the information you require about your diagnosis and treatment options. You can schedule a psychiatric assessment via the internet or by calling today.
Psychological Tests
The use of different tests is a crucial aspect of a psycho-psychological examination. Psychological tests are written assessments or verbal evaluations which measure unobserved aspects of a person's personality. 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 certain mental illness, for example, anxiety or depression. Psychological testing is typically conducted by an experienced psychologist who has been trained. The patient must follow certain instructions to obtain accurate results.
Psychological assessments can differ in regards to the number and type psychological tests employed, based on the individual's symptoms. A general psychiatric examination could be short, like the Mini-Mental State Examination (MSE) or more detailed and time-consuming tests, such as a Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological tests can be used to determine if there is a concussion or brain injury.
All kinds of psychiatric assessments help provide a snapshot of the patient's overall emotional and psychological functioning. They are conducted by doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists in hospitals to determine a person's current mood, emotional reactivity and cognitive abilities. They are also conducted by private therapists in their offices to collect information to develop a treatment plan and to determine if a patient may benefit from medication or other types of therapy.
Psychological evaluations include tests of intelligence and achievement which test certain types of cognitive functioning (often called IQ) and performance in comparison to a standard group. Other tests are designed for evaluating the ability of a person to perform tasks, for example, a word association or memory test. Psychologists are the only experts with extensive training and expertise to administer and interpret psychological tests.
A psychiatric evaluation is designed to match the patient with a physician who can offer treatment and management. The doctor will explain the diagnosis to the patient and explain how it relates to the symptoms. The doctor will also discuss the prognosis. This is how a particular diagnosis can be expected to change in time.