A Full Psychiatric Assessment
A psychiatric evaluation is the first step towards receiving the proper treatment for your mental health. The psychiatrist will ask you a number of questions about your work and personal life, the causes of stress, major traumatic experiences you have experienced, and whether you have experienced any issues with alcohol or drugs.
Background and Histories
A full psychiatric assessment, or psych eval is typically a multi-disciplinary exercise in hospital settings, which includes psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists and social workers. The psychiatrist is the one who creates a detailed medical record and conducts a mental exam. This information can be gathered by direct observation, the person being evaluated and their carers and also through specific psychological tests.
The doctor will ask the person about their symptoms and what they've been up to in the past few weeks, months, and years. They will also want to know about their personal and family health. This information will aid the doctor in determining the cause of symptoms and if they are the result of another illness.
During this phase where the psychiatrist will take a medical history and determine whether there is a history of anxiety, depression, or other psychiatric conditions within the family. They will also need to know if the person is suffering from any physical ailments like diabetes or heart disease and what medications they are currently taking or have been prescribed in the past.
The psychiatrist will also keep track of any symptoms that are present and the duration they've been suffering. They will also ask about the person's lifestyle, including their job and their home. They will also talk about previous treatments and the degree of adherence. Families and carers often provide information the patient hasn't told them. This is done to show respect for confidentiality and does not violate their privacy rights.
Depending on the severity of the symptoms, a range of other tests and evaluations might be required. These could include laboratory tests, blood pressure readings or electroencephalography (EEG), which measures brain activity. They might also use IQ tests, which assess cognitive abilities. These tests measure spatial abilities, concentration memory, memory, as well as communication skills.
It is important that all psychiatric assessments are carried out by qualified and experienced professionals. This will ensure the diagnosis is correct and that the person is offered a treatment plan that is most suitable for their needs.
Mental Status Examination
Mental status examinations (MSEs) can be a frightening experience for both the doctor and patient. It is an "snapshot" which is an image of the patient in an exact moment. It can be used to describe the patient's thoughts and behaviours at that specific moment. The MSE can also be useful in describing the way a patient's mind changes over time. For example, from depression to manic episodes.
The MSE starts with the doctor's initial observations of the patient, usually during the history-taking. How a patient interacts the examiner and their environment can reveal vital details about the underlying disorder in the psyche. This includes the discolored appearance of a depressed person or the an aggressive style of a manic patient. It could also be a sign of an absence of motivation or effort as in a depressed patient or an agitated person taking antipsychotic medication.
It is ideal to conduct a psychiatric exam when the patient is relaxed, cooperative and willing. Both the patient and the examiner may feel uncomfortable during the interview. It is important to make the right impression. The MSE is a short part of the overall intake evaluation and the results must be carefully evaluated together with the results from other sources such as imaging studies or laboratory tests.
The MSE is less structured than the physical exam and most of the information gathered is taken by the physician during the history-taking process. However, a thorough MSE should include descriptions of the general appearance and behavior, alertness and attention as well as speech and motor activity, mood and affect, thought and perception and attitude as well as insight. It should also include a detailed evaluation of higher cognitive functions such as parietal lobe functions (pictorial construction and discrimination between right-left and left, spatialization of objects) and frontal lobe executive or diffuse cerebral cortical functions (judgment abstract reasoning memory).
It is vital that the MSE is embedded within the context of the complete intake evaluation and that physicians interpret the results with sensitivity and care. A thorough MSE will reveal a wide variety of abnormalities, including those that are specific to psychiatric disorders, however, it should be considered as a single point of data within the overall patient's history and is of limited clinical significance on its own.
Reviewing Thought Content
The thought content section is the largest of the MSE sections and should contain information about delusional thinking (thoughts that are untrue) - such as jealous, persecutory, or grandiose thoughts and hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that others don't) Preoccupations (such as obsessions, worries or fears) and suicidal thoughts. These questions should be addressed directly. The intensity and extent of the psychopathic thoughts should be outlined, along with whether they are mood-congruent or incongruous (e.g. a depressed patient hearing voices that are angry or instigating them to kill themselves, versus hallucinations that are peaceful and calm).
The thought process is the coherence, logic, and relevance of the client's responses to MSE interviewer's questions. The doctor will also determine if the thought process is disorganized or goal-directed and if it is a rapid flow from one topic to the next without any apparent connection between them. Mental health disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and mania may be characterized by tangential, unorganized and tangential thought processes.
Additionally, psychologists and neuropsychologists examine the ability of the client to pay attention and briefly hold information in their memory. This can be assessed through observer observations, self-report or brief tests such as counting backwards from 100 by sevens. They also evaluate the client's coping mechanisms and cognitive functioning by assessing it by direct questions and behavioral observations.
During the MSE, psychologists observe the client's facial expressions and body language to assess whether they appear withdrawn or aggressive. They also look at the client's restlessness or fidgeting to determine if they're anxious and fearful. Psychologists use the MSE together with other tests and assessments to diagnose and develop a treatment plan. Psychologists are also trained to determine if the client's behavior is consistent with a particular mental illness or due to a different cause like substance abuse, an injury or medication side effects. This is essential in determining the best treatment option and follow-up.
Evaluation of Mood, Anxiety, and Stress
It's normal to experience difficult times. But when these problems begin to affect relationships, daily activities or even sleep, it may be a good idea to schedule an appointment for a psychiatric assessment. Also known as a psych eval and a mental health check, this test is usually performed by a psychiatrist or doctor. It can be a bit daunting, and you'll need to provide a wealth of personal details. It's important to remember that your therapist will want to collect all the details so they can come up with a valid diagnosis and recommend the best treatment for you.
A psychiatric assessment will include an examination of your previous medical history as well as an examination of your body. This is to confirm that there aren't any physical problems that could be causing your symptoms such as a thyroid problem or a neurologic condition.
Your doctor will also inquire about any previous psychiatric or medical issues, as well as whether you are currently taking any medications. In cases where the patient is unable to give a history because of their mental condition, it is essential that their family members and caregivers can answer the questions. This is not a breach of confidentiality, and it allows the doctor to gather more information than he could during a face-toface conversation.
During the psychiatric consult, the doctor will evaluate the emotional state of the patient by psychiatry assessment uk observing their body expression and voice. They will also look at their thoughts to see whether they are goal-oriented and connected. The doctor will assess for instance, how the patient can concentrate and switch between ideas during the interview. This is a vital piece to the assessment as the manic or psychotic patient might not be able to think clearly and swiftly shift their focus.
For many people an evaluation for psychiatric issues is the first step to get the appropriate treatment they require. It is crucial that anyone who believes they suffer from symptoms of mental illness should seek an evaluation. Don't let your fear or anxiety prevent you from seeking help because it could have life-threatening consequences for yourself and others around you.