A psychiatric evaluation is the first step to receiving the proper treatment for your mental health. The psychiatrist will ask you a number of questions about your family and work life, stress sources, traumatic events you’ve experienced and any drug or alcohol issues.
Background and Histories
A full psychiatric evaluation, also known as psycheval, is a multidisciplinary process that occurs in hospital settings. It involves psychiatric nurses, Full Psychiatric Assessment psychologists, occupational therapy and social workers. However, the psychiatrist plays a lead role in obtaining a thorough medical history and conducting a mental state examination. The information could be gathered directly from observation or the person being evaluated as well as their carers, and also through specific psychological tests.
The doctor will ask the patient about their symptoms and what they’ve been doing over the last few months, weeks and years. They will also ask about your family health and personal health. This information can help the doctor determine the cause of symptoms and if they’re the result another health issue.
In this phase an psychiatric doctor will inquire about your medical history to determine if you have an ancestral history of anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorders. They will also inquire whether there are any physical concerns like heart disease or diabetes, and what medications the patient is taking or has been prescribed.
The psychiatrist will also keep track of any current symptoms and the duration they’ve been experiencing symptoms. They will also inquire with the patient about their life like their work and home environment. They will also discuss prior treatment and the degree of adhering to. Carers and family members often share details that the patient hasn’t disclosed to them. This is done out of respect for confidentiality and doesn’t violate their privacy rights.
Based on the severity of symptoms, a number of other tests and observations may be required. These could include laboratory tests, blood pressure readings or electroencephalography (EEG), which measures brain activity. They could also use the IQ test, which evaluates cognitive abilities. These tests can test spatial skills, concentration, memory and communication abilities.
It is essential that all psychiatric tests are conducted by trained and skilled professionals. This will ensure that the diagnosis and treatment plan is correct.
Mental Status Test
Mental status examinations (MSEs) can be frightening for both the patient and the physician. It is an “snapshot” of the patient in a specific moment, and is useful in describing the patient’s actions and thoughts at that moment. The MSE is also useful in demonstrating the way a patient’s mind changes over time. For example, from depression to manic episodes.
The MSE starts with the doctor’s initial observations of the patient during the process of taking a history. The manner in which a patient interacts with and behaves around the examiner can reveal a lot about the underlying mental disorder. This includes the discolored appearance of a person who is depressed 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 taking antipsychotic medication.
When a psychiatric examination is performed, it is best done when the patient is at ease and cooperative. It can be a difficult and uncomfortable experience for the patient and the examiner and it is essential to leave a good impression. The MSE should only serve as a small part of the overall intake assessment. Its results must be carefully compared with the results from other sources, such as imaging studies or laboratory tests.
Like the physical exam it is the MSE lends itself less well to a structured approach, and much of it is obtained by the physician’s unstructured observations during the taking of a history. A thorough MSE will include descriptions of behavior and appearance as well as alertness and attention, motor and speech activities as well as mood and affect perception and thinking and attitude, Full Psychiatric Assessment as well as insight. It should also contain a comprehensive assessment of higher cognitive functions such as parietal lobe functions (pictorial construction, right-left discrimination, localization of objects in space) and frontal lobe executive or diffuse cortical functions (judgment, abstract reasoning memory).
It is essential that the MSE is considered in the context of the full psychiatric assessment intake evaluation and that physicians 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 a single point of data within the patient’s medical history and has no clinical value.
Evaluation of Thought Content
The thought content section is the most extensive of the MSE sections and should include information about delusional thinking (thoughts that aren’t true) like persecutory, grandiose or jealous ideas; hallucinations (hearing or seeing things others do not) and preoccupations (such as obsessions, worries or fears); and suicidal thoughts. These questions should be explicitly asked. The intensity and extent of the psychotic thoughts must be documented, including whether they are mood compatible or not (e.g. a patient who is depressed hearing voices that are angry or urging them to kill themselves, versus hallucinations that are calm and soothing).
Thought process is the logic, relevance, coherence 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 disorganized or goal-directed, and when it flits between one topic and the next without making a clear connection. Disorganized, tangential, and circumstantial connections are thought processes that can indicate mental health conditions such as mania, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
In addition, psychologists and neuropsychologists evaluate the ability of the client to pay attention and briefly hold information in their memory. This can be determined by observing examiners, the client’s self-report or tests such as counting backwards from 100 by sevens. They also assess the client’s strategies to cope and cognitive functioning in daily life, which can be measured through direct questioning and observation of behavior.
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 examine the client’s fidgeting and restlessness to determine if they are anxious or scared. Psychologists typically use the MSE in combination with other testing and assessments to make diagnose and create an appropriate treatment plan. Psychologists are trained to identify whether a person’s behavior is due to a mental disorder, or if it is caused by a different cause such as substance abuse, an accident, or a medication side result. This is essential in determining the best treatment and follow-up.
Assessment of anxiety and mood
We all have tough times however, when these issues start to interfere with relationships, everyday tasks, and even the ability to sleep, it may be time to schedule a psychiatric assessment. This test for mental health is also known as a “psych eval” and is usually performed by a psychiatrist or a doctor. The process can be a little intimidating and usually there’s plenty of information you’ll have to share. However, it’s important to understand that your doctor is working to gather all the facts so they can make a precise diagnosis and suggest the best treatment for you.
A psychiatric assessment will include a review and physical examination of your medical history. This is to make sure that your symptoms are not caused by a physical condition such as a thyroid disorder or an illness of the nervous system.
Your psychiatrist will also ask about any psychiatric or medical conditions and whether you are currently taking any medication. If the patient is unable to give an account of 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 it permits the physician to get more information than would be possible in a face-to-face interview.
During the psychiatric interview the doctor will examine the patient’s emotional state by paying attention to their voice tone and body language. They will also assess their thoughts to see whether they are focused and related. For example the doctor will assess the ability of the patient to focus during the interview, and if they can easily switch between different thoughts. This is an essential aspect to the evaluation as the manic or psychotic patient might not be able to think clearly and swiftly shift their attention.
For many, a psychiatric evaluation is the first step in getting the appropriate treatment they require. It is crucial that anyone who believes they are suffering from symptoms of mental illness get an evaluation. Do not let your fear or anxiety stop you from seeking assistance. It could have dire consequences for you and others around.