A Full Psychiatric Assessment
A psychiatric examination is the first step towards receiving the proper treatment for your mental health. The psychiatrist will ask a number of questions about your family and work environment, stress sources, traumatic events you've experienced, as well as any drug or alcohol issues.
Background and History
A complete psychiatric assessment or psycheval is a multidisciplinary process that takes place in hospital settings. It involves psychiatric nurses as well as psychologists, occupational therapy and social workers. The psychiatrist, however, takes the lead in taking a complete medical history and performing an examination of the mental state. The information could be gathered from direct observation or the person being evaluated themselves and carers, and also through specific psychological tests.
The doctor will inquire with the person about their symptoms and what they've been up to in the past few weeks, months and years. They will also inquire about their personal and family health. This information can help the doctor determine what is causing symptoms and if they are the result of another condition.
In this phase an psychiatric doctor will inquire about your medical history to determine if there's a family history of anxiety, depression, or other psychiatric disorders. They will also want to know if the person suffers from any physical issues like diabetes or heart disease and what medications they are currently taking or were prescribed in the past.
The psychiatrist will also keep track of any symptoms that are present and the duration they've been experiencing symptoms. They will also inquire about the lifestyle of the patient such as their job and their home environment. They will also discuss the patient's previous treatment as well as the degree of compliance to it. Carers and families often share information the patient hasn't told them. This is done to show respect for confidentiality and doesn't violate their right to privacy.
Depending on the severity, other tests and/or observations may be required. These could include laboratory tests, blood pressure readings or electroencephalography (EEG), which measures brain activity. It is also possible to use IQ tests, which test cognitive ability. They can test spatial abilities, concentration, memory and communication abilities.
All psychiatric examinations must be conducted by professionals who are skilled and knowledgeable. This will ensure the diagnosis is correct and that the person receives a treatment plan that is most suitable for their needs.
Mental Status Examining
The mental status examination (MSE) can be a painful experience for both the doctor and patient. It's a "snapshot" of the patient in a specific moment in time, and is helpful to describe the patient's behavior and thoughts at that moment. The MSE can also be useful in describing how a patient's mental state changes in time, ranging from depression to mania.
The MSE starts with the doctor's initial observations of the patient, typically during the taking of a medical history. The how a patient interacts and behaves with the examiner can reveal something about the root of the mental disorder. This includes the dishevelled look of a depressed individual or the provocative style of manic patients. It could also be a sign of lack of motivation or effort in the person who is depressed or on antipsychotic medication.
If a psychiatric test is performed, it is best done when the patient is relaxed and cooperative. It can be a difficult and uncomfortable interview for both the patient and the examiner, and it is crucial to make a good impression. The MSE should only serve as just a tiny portion of the overall intake evaluation. Its results must be compared carefully with the results from other sources such as imaging studies or tests in the laboratory.
The MSE is not as structured as the physical exam and most of the information is gathered by the physician during the history-taking process. However, a thorough MSE should include descriptions of the general appearance and behavior, alertness and attention, motor and speech activity as well as mood and affect, thought and perception as well as attitude and understanding. It should also include a review of higher cognitive abilities like parietal-lobe function (pictorial representation as well as right-left discrimination and localization of objects within space).
It is essential that the MSE be viewed in the context of a complete intake assessment and that doctors interpret the results with sensitivity and care. A thorough MSE can reveal a broad range of abnormalities, including those that are specific to psychiatric disorders but it must be viewed as a singular data point in the patient's overall history and is of little clinical value on its own.
Evaluation of Thought Content
The thought content section is the largest of the MSE sections and should include information about delusional thinking (thoughts that are untrue) like jealous, persecutory or grandiose thoughts; hallucinations (hearing or seeing things others do not); preoccupations (such as worries, obsessions or phobias); and suicidal thoughts. These questions should be asked directly. The severity and frequency of the pathological thoughts should be documented, including whether they are mood congruent or not (e.g. someone who is depressed hears voices that are angry or encouraging them to kill themselves versus hallucinations that are soothing and calm).
Thought process refers to the logic, relevance, coherence and flow of the client's thinking as they respond to questions from the examiner during the MSE interview. Doctors also look for signs that the thought process is oriented towards a goal or disorganized and if it flits from one topic to the next without any apparent connection between them. Mental health disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and mania may be characterized by tangential, unorganized and circumstantial thinking processes.
In addition, psychologists and neuropsychologists examine the client's ability to focus attention and briefly hold information in their memory. This can be assessed by observing examiners, the client's self-report or tests such as counting backwards from 100 by 7s. They can also assess the client's coping strategies and cognitive performance, which is assessed by direct questions and behavioral observations.
During the MSE, psychologists observe the client's facial expressions as here well as body language to assess whether they appear withdrawn or aggressive. They also examine the client's fidgeting and restlessness to determine if they are anxious or scared. Psychologists use the MSE along with other tests and assessments to identify and develop a treatment plan. Psychologists are also trained to detect whether the client's behavior is similar to a particular mental illness or is instead due to another cause such as substance abuse, an injury or medication side effect. This information is crucial in determining the appropriate treatment and follow-up care.
Assessment of anxiety and mood
It's normal to have difficult times. However, when these issues start to affect relationships, daily activities, and even sleep, it could be time to make an appointment for a psychiatric assessment. The mental health test is also known as "psych eval" and is usually performed by a psychiatrist or a doctor. It can be a bit daunting, and you'll have to provide a lot of personal details. It's important to remember that your therapist will want to collect all the information so they can make a correct diagnosis and recommend the right treatment for you.
A psychiatric assessment will include an examination of your previous medical history as well as a physical examination. This is to make sure that your symptoms aren't caused by a physical problem such as thyroid disease or an illness of the nervous system.
Your doctor will also inquire about any psychiatric or medical issues, as well as whether you are currently taking any medication. If a patient is not able to give an account due to their mental state it's important that their family members and caregivers are able to answer the questions. This isn't a violation of confidentiality and allows the doctor to get more detailed information than could be obtained in a face-to-face interview.
During the psychiatric consult, the doctor will evaluate the emotional state of the patient through observation of their body expression and voice. They'll also evaluate their thoughts to determine if they're related and goal-directed. The doctor will also examine for instance, how the patient can focus and switch between thoughts during the interview. This is an essential aspect to the assessment as the manic or psychotic patient might not be able think clearly and swiftly shift their focus of thought.
For many an evaluation for psychiatric issues is the first step to get the appropriate treatment they require. Despite the stigma that surrounds mental illness, it's imperative that anyone who suspects suffering from the symptoms of a mental disorder seek out 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.