A Full Psychiatric Assessment

A psychiatric evaluation is the first step to receiving proper mental health care. The psychiatrist will ask you a number of questions about your work and home life, sources of stress, any major traumatic experiences you have had, as well as if you have had any alcohol or drug problems.

Background and Histories

A complete psychiatric evaluation, also known as psych eval, is typically a multi-disciplinary exercise in hospital settings that involves psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers. However, the psychiatrist plays the lead role in taking a complete medical history and carrying out an examination of the mental state. The information could be gathered from direct observation or the person being examined themselves and carers, as well as 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 can aid the doctor in determining the cause of symptoms and if they're the result of another illness.

In this stage, a psychiatrist will ask about your medical history to determine if you have a family history of anxiety, depression or other psychiatric disorders. They will also want be aware of if the patient suffers from any physical issues, such as heart disease or diabetes, and what medications they are taking or were prescribed in the past.

Additionally the psychiatrist will take a note of the current symptoms and how long they've been experiencing them for. They will also inquire with the patient about their daily routine, such as their job and home life. They will also talk about previous treatment and the level of adhering to. Most often family members and carers offer information that the patient has not previously disclosed however, it is a matter of confidentiality and doesn't violate their rights to privacy.

Based on the severity of the symptoms, a range of other tests and observations might be required. These could include laboratory tests, blood pressure readings or electroencephalography (EEG), which measures brain activity. They could also take IQ tests, which measure cognitive ability. These tests can test spatial skills as well as concentration, memory and communication skills.

All psychiatric assessments should be conducted by a professional who are skilled and knowledgeable. This will ensure that the diagnosis and treatment plan is correct.

Mental Status Examination

Mental status examinations (MSEs) can be frightening for both the doctor and patient. It is an "snapshot" of the patient at a specific moment in time, and is helpful to describe the patient's behavior and thoughts at that time. The MSE can also be useful in describing how a patient's state of mind changes over time. For instance, it can show the transition from depression to manic episode.

The MSE begins when the physician makes the first observations of the patient. This is usually done during the taking of the history. The manner in which a patient interacts with and behaves in front of the examiner can reveal a lot about the underlying 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 lack of motivation or effort from a person who is depressed or taking antipsychotic medication.

When a psychiatric examination is conducted it is best when the patient is at ease and cooperative. It can be a difficult and uncomfortable interview for both the patient and the examiner and it is important to leave a good impression. The MSE should be a short part of the overall intake assessment and the results should be carefully evaluated together with the results from other sources such as laboratory tests or imaging studies.

Similar to the physical exam, the MSE does not lend itself to a structured approach, and much of it is obtained through the physician's observations during history-taking. A thorough MSE will include descriptions of behavior and appearance as well as alertness and attention, motor and speech activities, mood and affect, perception and thinking, attitude and awareness. It should also include an assessment of higher cognitive capabilities such as parietal-lobe functions (pictorial representation of right-left discrimination, right-left localization and the representation of objects in space).

It is important 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 may reveal a variety of abnormalities, including those that are specific to mental disorders. However it should be seen as one data point within the patient's medical history and has no clinical significance.

Assessing Thought Content

The largest section of the MSE is the thought content. It should include information about delusional ideas (thoughts that are not real) that include persecutory or grandiose ideas; hallucinations, (hearing things or seeing things that others cannot) and preoccupations (such as worries or obsessions); and suicidal thinking. These questions should be explicitly asked. The intensity and severity of the psychotic thinking should be described. Also whether or not they correspond to the mood (e.g. A depressed patient might hear voices that are angry and prompt to commit suicide, but not calm and peaceful hallucinations.

Thought process refers to the coherence, logic, relevance and flow of the client's thinking as they respond to questions from the examiner during the MSE interview. The doctor will also be able to determine if the thought process is unorganized or goal-directed, and the frequency with which it moves between one topic and the next without any clear connection. Mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and mania can be indicated by tangential, disorganized and circumstantial thinking processes.

Psychologists and neuropsychologists also assess the client's attentional focus and ability to hold information in short-term memory. This can be determined by self-reports, examiner observation or brief tests such as counting backwards starting at 100 and then multiplying it by sevens. They also assess the client's strategies to cope and cognitive functioning in daily life, which is assessed through direct questioning and behavioral observation.

During the MSE psychology, psychologists watch the client's facial expressions and body language to determine if they appear withdrawn or aggressive. They also observe the client's agitation and fidgeting to determine if they are anxious or scared. Psychologists often employ the MSE along with other testing and assessments to make an assessment and develop a treatment plan. Psychologists are also trained to determine the signs that a client's behavior may be similar to a particular mental illness or is due to another cause such as alcohol abuse, injury or an adverse reaction to medication. This is essential in determining the best treatment and follow-up care.

Evaluation of Mood, Anxiety and Stress

Everyone experiences tough times and when those issues begin to affect relationships, everyday tasks, and even one's ability to sleep, it may be time to schedule a psychiatric evaluation. This mental health test is also known as "psych evaluation" and is usually performed by a psychiatrist or a doctor. The process can be a bit daunting 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 and a physical examination. This is to ensure that your symptoms aren't caused by a physical condition such as thyroid disease or an illness of the nervous system.

Additionally your psychiatrist will also inquire about any other psychiatric or medical problems you've had in the past and if you're taking any medications at present. In cases where the patient is unable to provide an account due to their mental condition, it is essential that their family members and caregivers are able to answer the questions. This is not a violation of confidentiality and allows the physician to get more complete information than would be possible in a face-to-face conversation.

In the psychiatric consultation the doctor will evaluate the patient's emotional state by paying attention to their tone of voice and body language. They'll also evaluate their thoughts to determine if they are focused and related. For example the doctor will examine how the patient is able to concentrate during the interview and whether they are read more able to easily switch between ideas. This is an essential aspect to the evaluation as psychotic or manic patients might not be able to think clearly and swiftly shift their focus of thought.

For many, a psychiatric evaluation is the first step in getting the right treatment they require. It is important that anyone who believes that they suffer from symptoms of mental illness should seek an evaluation. Do not let your anxiety or fear prevent you from seeking assistance. It could have a serious impact on the people around you as well as for yourself.