A Full Psychiatric Assessment
A psychiatric examination is the first step to receiving the proper treatment for your mental health. The psychiatrist will ask you a lot questions about your home and work environment and stress-related factors, as well as traumatic events you've experienced, as well as any alcohol or drug issues.
Background and Histories
A complete psychiatric assessment, also known as psycheval, is a multidisciplinary procedure that is carried out in hospitals. It involves psychiatric nursing as well as psychologists, occupational therapy and social workers. However, the psychiatrist plays the lead role in taking a complete medical history and performing an examination of mental health. The information can be obtained through direct observation, the person being examined and their caregivers as well as specific psychological tests.
The doctor will inquire about the patient's health issues and what he or she has done in the past few months, weeks, and years. They will also ask about your family health and personal health. This information will help the doctor to determine what is the cause of the symptoms and whether they are the result of another condition.
In this phase an psychiatric doctor will inquire about your medical background to determine if you have any family history of anxiety, depression or other mental disorders. They will also inquire if there are any physical issues, such as heart disease or diabetes, and what medication the patient is taking or has been prescribed.
In addition the psychiatrist will take note of the current symptoms and how long they have been present. They will also ask the patient about their daily routine including their work and home environment. They will also talk about previous treatment and the level of adherence. Carers and families often share information that the patient hasn't shared with them. This is done out of respect for confidentiality and does not violate their privacy rights.
Based on the severity of the symptoms, a number of other tests and observations might be required. These could include laboratory tests, blood pressure readings or electroencephalography (EEG), which measures brain activity. They can also take an IQ test, which tests cognitive ability. They can test spatial abilities as well as concentration, memory and communication skills.
It is crucial that all psychiatric assessments are performed by qualified and experienced professionals. This will ensure the diagnosis is correct and that the person receives a treatment program that is best suited to their needs.
Mental Status Examining
The mental status exam (MSE) can be a harrowing experience for both the doctor as well as the patient. It is an "snapshot", an image of the patient's behavior at a certain moment. It is used to document the patient's thoughts and behaviours at that specific moment. The MSE can also be useful in showing how a patient's mental state changes over time, such as from depression to mania.
The MSE starts when the doctor begins to make the first observations about the patient. It is usually done during the taking of the history. How a patient interacts the examiner and with their surroundings can reveal important details about the underlying mental illness. This includes the dishevelled appearance of a depressed patient, or the provocative appearance of manic patients. It could also be a sign of a lack of motivation or energy, as in a depressed patient or agitated person on antipsychotic medication.
If a psychiatric test is performed, it is best done when the patient is relaxed and cooperative. Both the examiner and patient might be uncomfortable during the interview. It is essential to convey the right impression. The MSE should be a short part of the overall intake assessment and the results should be carefully evaluated in conjunction with findings from other sources like imaging studies or lab tests.
The MSE is not as structured as the physical exam and most of the information gathered is taken by the physician during the process of taking a history. A thorough MSE will include descriptions of appearance and behavior as well as alertness and attention, motor and speech activities, mood and affect, perception and thinking and attitude, as well as understanding. It should also include a review of higher cognitive capabilities such as parietal-lobe functions (pictorial representation of right-left discrimination, right-left localization and the representation of objects within space).
It is essential that the MSE be viewed as part of a thorough intake evaluation, and that physicians interpret results with care and sensitivity. A thorough MSE could reveal a range of abnormalities, some of which general psychiatric assessment are specific to mental disorders. However it should be seen 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 largest of the MSE sections and should include information about delusional thinking (thoughts that aren't true) like jealous, persecutory, or grandiose ideas and hallucinations (hearing or seeing things others don't) Preoccupations (such as obsessions, worries or phobias); and suicidal thoughts. These questions should be clearly asked. The intensity and extent of the psychotic thinking should be described. Also, whether or not they are in sync with the mood (e.g. A person suffering from depression may hear voices that are angry, and may urge them to commit suicide, but not calm and soothing hallucinations.
Thought process refers to the coherence, logic, relevance and flow of the client's thoughts as they respond to the examiner's questions during the MSE interview. The doctor will also be able to determine if the thought process is not organized or goal-oriented, and the frequency with which it moves from one subject to the next without making a clear connection. Mental health disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and mania are often characterized by tangential, unorganized and tangential thought processes.
Psychologists and neuropsychologists also evaluate the client's attentional focus and capacity to hold information in short-term memory. This can be measured by examiner observations, self-reports or brief tests such as counting backwards from 100 and then multiplying it by sevens. They also evaluate the client's strategies to cope and cognitive functioning in daily life, which can be evaluated through direct questions and behavioral observation.
During the MSE psychologists will be observing the client's body language and facial expressions to determine if they appear aggressive or withdrawn. They also examine the client's agitation and fidgeting to determine if they are anxious or scared. Psychologists utilize the MSE alongside other tests and assessments to determine the cause and formulate a treatment program. Psychologists are also trained to determine if the client's behavior is similar to a particular mental illness or due to another cause like substance abuse, an injury or medication side effect. This is essential in determining the best treatment and follow-up.
Assessment of Mood and Anxiety
Everyone experiences tough times, but when those difficulties begin to affect relationships, daily activities and even one's ability to sleep, it may be time to schedule a psychiatric evaluation. Also called a psych eval, this mental health test is usually performed by a psychiatrist or physician. It can be difficult, and you'll be required to provide lots of personal details. But, it's essential to know that your therapist will be trying to gather all the facts they need so they can provide a correct diagnosis and suggest the best treatment for you.
A psychiatric evaluation will consist of a review and physical examination of your medical history. This is to ensure that there aren't any physical issues that could be causing your symptoms such as thyroid problems or neurologic disorder.
Your psychiatrist will also ask about any past psychiatric and medical problems and whether you are currently taking any medications. In cases where patients are incapable of providing a full background due to their mental state it is essential that their caregivers and family members are able to answer the questions of the doctor. This isn't an invasion of privacy, and allows the doctor to get more details than he would in a face-toface interview.
During the psychiatric consultation, the doctor will evaluate the emotional state of the patient by watching their body language and tone of voice. They will also look at their thoughts to determine whether they are focused and connected. For instance the doctor will look at how the patient is able to concentrate during the interview and whether they are able to easily switch between different ideas. This is an important part of the examination, as a patient who is manic or psychotic may not be able think clearly or quickly change their focus.
A psychiatric examination is often the first step to get the care you require. It is important that anyone who believes that they are suffering from symptoms of mental illness get an evaluation. Don't let fear or anxiety keep you from seeking help because it could have life-threatening implications for you and others who are around you.