A Full Psychiatric Assessment
A psychiatric examination is the first step to receiving proper mental health care. The psychiatrist will ask a many questions about your home and work life, stress sources, traumatic events that you've been through, as well as any drug or alcohol issues.
Background and History
A full psychiatric examination, also known as psycheval, is a multidisciplinary process that takes place in hospital settings. It involves psychiatric nursing and psychologists, occupational therapy, and social workers. However, the psychiatrist takes a lead role in obtaining a thorough medical history and conducting a mental state examination. This information can be gathered through direct observation, the person being examined and their family members and also through specific psychological tests.
The doctor will inquire about the patient's symptoms and what he or she has done in the past few months, weeks, and years. They will also inquire about your family and personal health. This information can help the doctor determine what is causing symptoms and if they are the result of another health issue.
During this time where the psychiatrist will take a medical history and determine whether there is a history of anxiety, depression or other psychiatric conditions in the family. They will also inquire if there are any physical issues, such as heart disease or diabetes and what medications the person is taking or was prescribed.
In addition the psychiatrist will make note of the present symptoms and how long they've been experiencing them for. They will also ask the patient about their daily routine, such as their job and home life. They will also discuss previous treatment and the degree of adherence. Often family members and caregivers give information that the patient has not previously disclosed however, this is an issue of confidentiality and does not violate their rights to privacy.
Depending on the severity of the symptoms, a range of other tests and observations could 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 abilities. These tests measure spatial abilities, concentration, memory, and communication skills.
It is essential that all psychiatric tests are carried out by qualified and experienced experts. This will ensure that the diagnosis is correct and that the patient is offered a treatment plan that best suits their needs.
Mental Status Examining
Mental status examinations (MSEs) can be a terrifying experience for both the doctor and patient. It is an "snapshot" of the patient at a particular moment in time, and is helpful for describing the patient's behaviours and thoughts at that time. The MSE can also prove useful in showing how a patient's mental state changes over time, for example, from depression to mania.
The MSE starts with the doctor's initial observations of the patient during the history-taking. The way a patient interacts and behaves around the examiner can reveal a lot about the underlying mental disorder. This can be the case with the sloppy appearance of a depressed patient, or the provocative style of a manic patient. It could also be a sign of lack of motivation or effort from the person who is depressed or taking antipsychotic medication.
It is best to conduct a psychiatric test when the patient is calm, cooperative and willing. Both the patient and the examiner may feel uncomfortable during the interview. It is important to convey the right impression. The MSE should be a small portion of the overall intake evaluation, and the results should be carefully considered in conjunction with findings from other sources such as imaging studies or laboratory tests.
Similar to the physical exam it is the MSE lends itself less well to a structured approach, and most of it is determined from the physician's unstructured observations during history-taking. Nevertheless, a detailed MSE should include descriptions of the general appearance and behavior, alertness and attentiveness as well as speech and motor activity mood and affect, thinking and perception, attitude and understanding. It should also contain a comprehensive evaluation of higher cognitive abilities such as parietal-lobe functions (pictorial construction and discrimination between right-left and left, spatialization of objects) and frontal lobe executive or diffuse cortical functions (judgment abstract reasoning, memory).
It is crucial that the MSE be considered as part of a thorough intake evaluation, and that physicians interpret the results with care and sensitivity. A thorough MSE could reveal a range of abnormalities, some of which are specific to mental disorders. However, it should be viewed as one data point within the patient's history and is of no clinical value.
Reviewing Thought Content
The most important part of the MSE is the thought content. It should include information on delusional thoughts (thoughts that are not real) that include persecutory or grandiose idea hallucinations (hearing things or seeing things that other people cannot); preoccupations, (such as worries or obsessions); and suicidal thinking. These questions should be asked directly. The intensity and extent of the pathological thoughts should be documented, including whether they are mood congruent or incongruous (e.g. A depressed patient may hear voices that are angry, and may urge to commit suicide, as opposed to calm and soothing hallucinations.
Thought process refers to the coherence, logic, relevance and flow of the client's thoughts as they respond to questions from the examiner during the MSE interview. Physicians also note if the thought process is disorganized or goal-directed and if it is a rapid flow between topics without a obvious connection between them. Mental health disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and mania may be characterized by tangential, disorganized and circumstantial thinking processes.
Psychologists and neuropsychologists read more also test the client's attentional focus and ability to hold information in short-term memory. This can be assessed through self-reports, examiner observations or tests that are brief such as counting backwards starting at 100 and then multiplying it by sevens. They also can assess the client's coping strategies and cognitive performance by assessing it by direct questions and behavioral observations.
During the MSE psychology, psychologists watch the client's facial expressions as well as body language to assess whether they appear to be withdrawn or aggressive. They also look at the client's nervousness or fidgeting to determine if they are nervous or anxious. Psychologists utilize the MSE alongside other tests and assessments to identify and develop a treatment plan. Psychologists are trained to determine if a client's behavior is due to a mental disorder or caused by a different cause such as alcohol abuse, an accident or a medication side result. This is essential in determining the best treatment option and follow-up.
Evaluation of Mood, Anxiety, and Stress
There are times when we all experience hardships and when those issues become a problem for relationships, everyday tasks, and even one's ability to sleep, it may be time to schedule a mental health evaluation. Also known as a psych eval or mental health examination, this type of exam is typically performed by a psychiatrist or a doctor. It can be a bit intimidating, and you will be required to provide lots of personal information. It's crucial to realize that your therapist is working to gather all the facts so they can make a precise diagnosis and recommend the most effective treatment for you.
A psychiatric examination will consist of a review and physical examination of your medical history. This is to confirm that there aren't any physical issues that could be causing your symptoms such as thyroid issues or a neurologic condition.
Your doctor will also inquire about any psychiatric or medical issues, as well as whether you are currently taking any medications. When patients are not able to provide a medical background due to their mental health it is crucial that the caregivers and family members of the patient can answer the doctor's questions. This isn't a breach of confidentiality, and allows the doctor to get more information than he would during a face-toface conversation.
In the psychiatric consultation the doctor will examine the patient's emotional state by paying attention to their voice tone and body language. They will also look at their thoughts to determine if they are goal-directed and connected. For example the doctor will examine the ability of the patient to focus during the interview and how easily they switch between various ideas. This is an essential aspect to the assessment as psychotic or manic patients might not be able to think clearly and quickly shift their focus.
A psychiatric evaluation is usually the first step to get the treatment you require. Despite the stigma associated with mental illness, it's essential that anyone who suspects suffering from the symptoms of a mental disorder seek out an evaluation. Don't let your anxiety or fear prevent you from seeking assistance. It could have serious consequences for you and others around.