A Full Psychiatric Assessment
A psychiatric assessment is the first step towards receiving the proper treatment for your mental health. The psychiatrist will ask you lots of questions about your work and private life, sources of stress, any significant traumas you've endured, and whether you've had substance or alcohol-related issues.
Background and History
A full psychiatric assessment, or psych eval, is typically a multi-disciplinary process in hospital settings that includes psychiatric nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, and social workers. The psychiatrist, however, takes the lead in taking a complete medical history and conducting a mental state examination. The information is gathered by direct observation of the person being examined and their caregivers as well as specific psychological tests.
The doctor will ask the person about their symptoms and what they have been doing in the last few weeks, months, and years. They will also inquire about your family and personal health. This information will allow the doctor to understand what is the cause of the symptoms and whether they are the result of another condition.
In this phase, a psychiatrist will ask about your medical background to determine if you have any family history of depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric disorders. They will also want to find out if the patient is suffering from any physical ailments like heart disease or diabetes, and the medications they are taking or were prescribed in the past.
The psychiatrist will also keep track of any current symptoms and the amount of time they have been present. They will also inquire with the person about their lifestyle like their work and home environment. They will also discuss previous treatment and the degree of adherence. In many cases family members and carers provide information that the patient has not disclosed but this is a matter of confidentiality and doesn't violate their rights to privacy.
Depending on the severity of the symptoms, a range of other tests and evaluations could be required. These could include laboratory tests, blood pressure readings or electroencephalography (EEG), which measures brain activity. They may also use IQ test, which evaluates cognitive ability. These tests can test spatial abilities, concentration memory, memory, as well as communication skills.
All psychiatric assessments must be conducted by professionals who are qualified and experienced. This will help ensure that the diagnosis is accurate and that the patient receives a treatment program that is best suited to their needs.
Mental Status Test
The mental state examination (MSE) can be a terrifying experience for the physician and patient. It is a "snapshot" that is which is a snapshot of the patient's behavior at an exact moment. It is used to document the patient's thoughts, behavior and attitudes at that specific 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 taken during the recording of the history. The manner in which a patient interacts with and behaves with the examiner can reveal something about the root of the mental disorder. This includes the discolored appearance of a person who is depressed or the exuberant manner of manic patients. It could also be a sign of lack of motivation or effort from a person who is depressed or on antipsychotic medication.
When a psychiatric examination is undertaken, it is best done when the patient is relaxed and cooperative. It can be a challenging and uncomfortable interview for both the patient and the examiner and it is important to make a good impression. The MSE should only serve as a small part of the overall intake evaluation. The results of the MSE should be carefully compared to other results, such as imaging studies or tests in the laboratory.
Similar to the physical exam it is the MSE is not as well suited to a structured approach, and much of it is obtained from the physician's unstructured observations during the history-taking. However, a thorough MSE should include descriptions of general appearance and behavior, alertness and attention, motor and speech activity, mood and affect, thoughts and perception as well as attitude and insight. It should also include a detailed evaluation of higher cognitive abilities such as parietal-lobe functions (pictorial construction and discrimination between right-left and left, localization of objects in space) and frontal lobe executive or diffuse cerebral cortical functions (judgment abstract reasoning memory).
It is important that the MSE be considered in the context of a complete intake assessment and that doctors interpret the results with care and sensitivity. A thorough MSE can reveal a wide spectrum of abnormalities, which includes those that are specific to psychiatric disorders but it must be viewed as a singular data point in the patient's overall history and has little clinical value by itself.
Reviewing Thought Content
The thought content section is the most extensive of the MSE sections and should include information on delusional thinking (thoughts that are not true) like jealous, persecutory or grandiose thoughts as well as hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that others do not) and preoccupations (such as obsessions, worries or phobias) and suicidal ideas. These questions should be addressed directly. The severity and frequency of the pathological thoughts should be outlined, along with whether they are mood compatible or incongruous (e.g. A depressed patient may hear voices that are angry and urge them to commit suicide, versus peaceful and peaceful hallucinations.
The thought process is the logic, relevance and coherence of the client's responses to MSE interviewer's questions. Physicians also note if the thought process is oriented towards a goal or disorganized and if it is a rapid flow between topics without a obvious connection between them. Disorganized, tangential or circumstantial connections are thought processes that can indicate mental health conditions such as mania, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Psychologists and neuropsychologists also evaluate the client's attentional focus and capacity to hold information in short-term memory. This can be assessed by self-reports, examiner observation or tests that are brief, such as counting backwards from 100 and then multiplying it by sevens. They also can assess the client’s coping mechanisms and cognitive performance that is measured through direct questions and behavioral observations.
During the MSE psychologists will be observing the client's body language and facial expressions to determine if they appear anxious or withdrawn. They also observe the client's fidgeting and restlessness in order to determine whether they are anxious or fearful. Psychologists often employ the MSE in combination with other tests and assessments to determine an assessment and develop the treatment plan. Psychologists are trained to determine the severity of a client's behavior due to a mental disorder, or if it is caused by another cause like substance abuse, an accident or a medication side effect. This is essential in determining the appropriate treatment and follow-up care.
Evaluation of Mood, Anxiety, and Stress
It's normal for people to experience difficult times. But when these difficulties begin to affect relationships, daily tasks, and even sleep, it could be time to make an appointment for a psychiatric assessment. This test for mental health is also known as "psych evaluation" and is usually conducted by a psychiatrist or doctor. The procedure can be a bit daunting and usually there's lots of information you'll need to disclose. 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 suggest the appropriate treatment for you.
A psychiatric examination will consist of physical and mental examinations of your medical history. This is to ensure that your symptoms aren't caused by a physical problem like thyroid disorders or an illness of the nervous system.
Your doctor will also inquire about any previous psychiatric or medical problems and if you are currently taking any medication. If a patient is unable to give a history because of their mental condition, it is essential that their family and caregivers can answer the questions. This is not a breach of confidentiality and it allows the doctor to gather more details than he would in a face-to-face interview.
In the psychiatric consultation the doctor will evaluate the emotional state of the patient by watching their body expression and voice. They'll also look at their thoughts to determine if they are focused and related. The doctor will assess, for example, how the patient is able to focus and switch between thoughts during the interview. This is an essential aspect to the assessment because the manic or psychotic patient might not be able think clearly and quickly shift their attention.
For many an evaluation for psychiatric issues is the first step to get the right treatment they require. Despite the stigma that surrounds mental illness, it's crucial that anyone who suspects suffering from the symptoms of a mental disorder seek an evaluation. Don't let your anxiety or fear stop you from seeking assistance. It could have a serious impact on you and others around.