"Ask Me Anything": Ten Answers To Your Questions About General Psychiatric Assessment
"Ask Me Anything": Ten Answers To Your Questions About General Psychiatric Assessment
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General Psychiatric Assessment
There are numerous challenges in performing psychiatric examinations in general medical settings. This includes privacy issues as well as ward rounds and assessments by other specialties, secure meals and scheduled visits from family members.
It is also difficult to measure outcome in this setting, with particular challenges for specific outcomes related to disease and patient and referrer satisfaction ratings.
Medical History
The first step of the general psychiatric examination is to determine the medical background of the patient. This will include information about their current health and any medication they are taking, as well as any significant previous medical problems that could have affected their current health and wellbeing. This information will aid the doctor in determining what psychological tests are appropriate and how many visits may be needed before making a diagnose.
This step is often difficult to complete on medical wards due the limited space available as well as interruptions due to the ward's rounds, examinations by other specialties, allied health experts, protected mealtimes, and planned visits. It is important to arrange an appointment time that is not in conflict with any of these activities and locate a quiet place for the assessment to take place. Inquiring about the referrer's specific concerns will help determine what type of psychiatric evaluation is needed.
When conducting psychiatric examinations on the medical wards in general hospitals it is important to keep in mind that physical health problems the patient is suffering from can affect or even obscure their psychiatric signs and behaviors. This is a common problem that is referred to as diagnostic overshadowing and is very difficult to avoid. If patients are admitted with delirium and has a diagnosis of dementia in their medical records, it may be tempting to "shadow" the delirium', assuming that it is the result of the mental illness they have already suffered from. This is in contrast to performing a complete screen for delirium to rule out treatable causes such as stroke.
It is crucial that the psychiatrist who is assessing the patient tries to establish a relationship between the psychiatric and physical concerns of the patient and to solicit complaints or concerns from the patient about their treatment, their care, or how their condition is handled. The basic model that is suggested in the reference Osborn and Warner (1998) is an easy method to achieve this, but it could be difficult to implement this in the real world.
Family History
The psychiatrist will ask about your family history to see if there are any mental health issues in your family. They'll also want know about any traumas or abuse you've had and your current social circumstances (including relationships, work and whether you have support at home). You might be asked about your religious beliefs, your dreams and ambitions. The psychiatrist will determine an assessment and create a treatment plan that meets your needs.
The psychiatrist should also check physical symptoms. They will test their blood pressure, listen and feel the heart and lungs as well as examine for any other medical conditions that could be causing the psychiatric symptom.
It is helpful for psychiatrists to get a complete physical from the patient's doctor however this might not be possible, especially with people who are very sick or inpatients at psychiatric units. Patients on these wards might only have sporadic face-to-face contact with psychiatrists or none at all. In these situations it is crucial that the psychiatrist's staff or care coordinators take an proactive role in ensuring the physical health needs of patients are fulfilled.
Psychiatrists should also to understand why a patient is being referred to them and what they hope to achieve with their psychiatric examination. They should be competent in interpreting medical letters and examine reports of tests from a GP or other health professional. They must communicate effectively with medical team of the patient about the tests completed to ensure that any treatment or medication can be coordinated.
The medical history is a key element of any psychiatric assessment and must include the patient's own psychiatric diagnosis and past treatment, as well as information regarding their alcohol and drug usage. It is also crucial to obtain a complete family history, if possible, in order to establish the risk of certain disorders, such as bipolar disorder, which is known to occur in families. It is helpful to use brief screens that collect the lifetime psychiatric information of informants and their first-degree family members, but it is equally crucial to have the complete psychiatric records of all more info family members.
Symptoms
During the psychiatric examination the doctor will ask you about symptoms and how they impact your life. Your psychiatrist will ask you about any pertinent questions including your family history. The process can be uncomfortable at times, but it's essential that you answer honestly and completely so that a precise diagnosis can be determined.
If you are suffering from mental health problems like depression or anxiety, it is important to get a psychiatric evaluation to see whether or not you require treatment. While it is normal to be afflicted with depression or stress occasionally however, if these symptoms last for more than a few weeks and affect your daily functioning, it is likely that you require treatment.
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and any other issues that are affecting you, such as family or work issues, or substance abuse. They will also ask you about your physical health, sleeping habits and whether or not you've tried any other ways to alleviate your symptoms.
Your psychiatrist will also ask you questions about your past experiences with mental illness, and they might use standard assessment tools or psychological tests to gain more understanding of your situation. These tests may include questionnaires, personality tests or cognitive tests that measure the level of stress you are experiencing.
If your psychiatric assessment indicates that you are suffering from psychotic symptoms, like hallucinations and delusions which are quite different from what is considered to be real, then the psychiatrist may need to perform an in-depth exam and then admit you to the hospital to be observed. You will have to undergo a second evaluation by a psychiatrist before being allowed to go home.
If you are in need of a psychiatric evaluation, Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates can provide you with the care and support you require. The team of friendly and knowledgeable professionals is dedicated to providing you with the information you require about your diagnosis and treatment options. You can arrange a psychiatric evaluation online or over the phone today.
Psychological Tests
A significant aspect of a psychological examination is the use of various tests. Psychological tests are written evaluations or verbal evaluations that measure unobserved aspects of a person's personality. They are used to evaluate the person's emotional health and personality traits. They can be used to determine a person's mental health condition's severity, such as depression or anxiety. Psychological testing is typically conducted by a qualified psychologist and requires the patient to adhere to specific guidelines to get exact results.
Psychological assessments can differ in the amount and type psychological tests that are administered, based on the symptoms of an individual. A general psychiatric assessment could be brief, like the Mini-Mental State Examination, or extensive and long, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological tests can be used to determine if there is a brain injury or concussion.
All types of psychiatric examinations offer a glimpse of the patient's psychological and emotional functioning. In the hospital doctors, psychologists, and sometimes psychiatrists conduct these assessments to determine the patient's mood and emotional reactivity as well as cognitive capabilities. They are also conducted by private therapists at their offices to collect information to develop a treatment plan and to determine if a patient would benefit from medication or other types of therapy.
Intelligence & Achievement Tests are an example of psychological evaluations. These tests measure cognitive performance (often called IQ) in comparison to a normal group. Other tests are designed to assess the ability of a person to perform tasks, for example, a word association or memory test. Psychologists are the only professionals with a vast amount of training and experience to conduct and interpret psychological tests.
A psychiatric exam is designed to connect the patient with a doctor who can offer treatment and treatment. After the exam is complete the doctor will inform the patient about the diagnosis and how it is related to their present symptoms. The doctor will also speak about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis can be expected progress in time.