A Full Psychiatric Assessment
A psychiatric evaluation is the first step towards getting proper mental care. The psychiatrist will ask you a lot of questions about your work and private life, sources of stress, any significant traumas you've had, as well as whether you've had substance or alcohol-related issues.
Background and History
A complete psychiatric assessment or psycheval is a multidisciplinary procedure that takes place in hospitals. It involves psychiatric nursing, occupational therapy, psychologists, and social workers. The psychiatrist, however, takes a lead role in taking a detailed medical history and conducting an examination of mental health. The information is gathered through direct observation, the person being examined and their family members and also through specific psychological tests.
The doctor will inquire with the person about their symptoms and what they've been doing over the last few weeks, months, and years. They will also inquire about your family and personal health. This information will aid the doctor in determining what is causing the symptoms and if they're the result another condition.
During this phase where the psychiatrist will take an medical history and determine whether there is a history of anxiety, depression or other psychiatric disorders in the family. They will also ask whether there are any physical problems such as heart disease or diabetes and what medication the patient is taking or has been prescribed.
The psychiatrist will also keep track of any current symptoms and the amount of time they've been experiencing symptoms. They will also ask the patient about their life like their work and home life. They will also discuss prior treatment and the level of adhering to. Families and carers often provide information that the patient hasn't shared with them. This is done to show respect for confidentiality and doesn't violate their privacy rights.
Based 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. They can also take an IQ test, which evaluates cognitive ability. These tests measure spatial abilities, concentration, memory, and communication abilities.
All psychiatric examinations should be performed by professionals who are experienced and qualified. This will ensure that the diagnosis and treatment plan is correct.
Mental Status Examining
Mental status examinations (MSEs) can be frightening for both the doctor and patient. It is a "snapshot" of the patient at a particular moment, and can be useful for describing the patient's behaviours and thoughts at that time. The MSE can also be helpful in describing how a person's mental state changes over time, for example, from depression to mania.
The MSE begins with the physician's initial observations of the patient, usually during the history-taking. The way a patient interacts and behaves with the examiner can reveal something about the root of the mental disorder. This can be the case with the sloppy appearance of a depressed individual or the provocative style of manic patients. It can also be a sign of a lack of motivation or effort in a person who is depressed or on antipsychotic medication.
If a psychiatric exam is undertaken it is best to do it when the patient is at ease and cooperative. It is a stressful and uncomfortable experience for the patient and the examiner, and it is crucial to make a good impression. The MSE should only serve as a small part of the overall intake assessment. Its results must be carefully compared with those from other sources like imaging studies or laboratory tests.
As with the physical exam it is the MSE does not lend itself to a structured approach, and most of it is determined by the physician's unstructured observations during the history-taking. A thorough MSE will include descriptions of the appearance and behavior as also alertness and focus, motor and speech activities such as mood and affect, perception and perception, attitude and insight. It should also include an evaluation of higher cognitive capabilities such as parietal-lobe functions (pictorial representation, right-left discrimination and localization of objects within space).
It is important that the MSE be considered as part of a thorough intake evaluation, and that physicians interpret results with sensitivity and care. A thorough MSE will reveal a wide range of abnormalities, including some that are specific to psychiatric disorders, however, it must be seen as a singular data point in the patient's overall history and has little clinical value by itself.
Examining Thought Content
The biggest portion of the MSE is the thought content. It should include information about delusional ideas (thoughts which are not true) - such a persecutory or grandiose website ideas hallucinations (hearing things or seeing things that others can't) and preoccupations (such as obsessions or worries) and suicidal thoughts. These questions should be addressed directly. The extent and intensity of the psychopathic thoughts should be documented, including whether they are mood congruent or incongruent (e.g. A depressed patient might hear voices that are angry and urge them to commit suicide, as opposed to calm and soothing hallucinations.
Thought process is the coherence, logic, relevance and flow of the client's thoughts as they respond to questions from the examiner during the MSE interview. The doctor will also determine if the thought process is oriented towards a goal or disorganized and if it flits between topics without a apparent connection between them. Mental health disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and mania are often characterized by tangential, unorganized and circumstantial thinking processes.
Additionally, psychologists and neuropsychologists assess the client's ability to focus on a single subject and then hold it in memory, which can be measured through observer observations, self-report or brief tests like counting backwards from 100 by 7s. They can also assess the client's coping strategies and cognitive functioning, which is assessed through direct questions and behavioral observations.
During the MSE the psychologists will observe the client's facial expressions and body language to determine if they appear nervous or shy. They also look at the client's restlessness and fidgeting to determine if they are anxious or fearful. Psychologists often employ the MSE in combination with other assessments and tests to establish a diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan. Psychologists are also trained to determine the signs that a client's behavior may be in line with a specific mental illness or is instead caused by a different reason such as addiction to drugs, an injury or medication side effects. This information is important in determining the most appropriate treatment and follow-up.
Assessment of Mood, Anxiety, and Stress
We all have tough times and when those issues become a problem for relationships, everyday tasks, and even the ability to sleep, it may be the right time to schedule a psychiatric assessment. Also called a psych eval or mental health examination, this type of examination is typically conducted by a psychiatrist or a doctor. The procedure isn't easy and there's usually plenty of information you'll have to share. It's important to remember that your doctor wants to gather all the relevant information so that they can come up with a valid diagnosis and suggest the appropriate treatment for you.
A psychiatric examination will consist of an examination of your previous medical history as well as a physical examination. This is to make sure that there are no physical problems that could be causing your symptoms like thyroid issues or a neurologic condition.
Additionally the doctor will ask you about any other medical or psychiatric issues you've faced in the past and if you're currently taking any medications at present. In cases where the patient is not able to give an account due to their mental condition, it is essential that their family and caregivers can answer the questions. This is not a violation of confidentiality, and it permits the doctor to obtain more complete information than could be obtained during a face-toface interview.
During the psychiatric examination the doctor will examine the patient's emotional state by paying attention to their tone of voice and body language. They will also evaluate their thoughts to determine if they are goal-directed and connected. The doctor will also examine for instance, how the patient is able to focus and switch between ideas during the interview. This is an important aspect of the examination, as those who are psychotic or manic may not be able think clearly or quickly shift their focus.
For many, a psychiatric evaluation is the first step in getting the proper care they need. It is important that anyone who suspects that they are suffering from symptoms of mental illness seeks an evaluation. Do not let your anxiety or fear stop you from seeking assistance. It could have serious consequences for the people around you as well as for yourself.