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A Full Psychiatric Assessment A psychiatric evaluation is the first step towards receiving the proper treatment for your mental health. The psychiatrist will ask you lots of questions about your job and private life, sources of stress, any significant traumas you've endured, and whether you have experienced any alcohol or drug problems. Background and Histories A full psychiatric assessment , also known as psych eval, is typically a multi-disciplinary exercise in hospital settings, which involves occupational therapists, psychologists and social workers. The psychiatrist, however, takes a lead role in taking a complete medical history and performing an examination of mental health. The information is gathered through direct observation, the person being evaluated and their family members and through specific psychological tests. The doctor will inquire about the patient's health issues and what the patient has done in the last few weeks, months, and years. They will also want to know about their personal and family health. This information will help the doctor to understand what is the cause of the symptoms and if they are the result of another condition. During this phase where the psychiatrist will take an examination of the medical history and find out whether there is any history of anxiety, depression, or other psychiatric disorders within the family. They will also want find out if the patient suffers from any physical issues, such as heart disease or diabetes, and the medications they are taking or have been prescribed in the past. Additionally the psychiatrist will make note of current symptoms and the length of time they've been suffering for. They will also inquire about the person's life, including their job and home environment. They will also discuss the person's previous treatment and degree of adherence to it. Families and carers often provide details that the patient hasn't disclosed to them. This is done to show respect for confidentiality and doesn't infringe on their privacy rights. Depending on the severity of the issue, additional tests and examinations may be needed. These could include laboratory tests, blood pressure readings or electroencephalography (EEG), which measures brain activity. They could also use the IQ test, which measures the cognitive capacity. These tests test concentration, spatial abilities, memory, and communication skills. All psychiatric examinations should be performed by professionals who are qualified and experienced. This will ensure that the diagnosis is accurate and that the person is offered a treatment plan that is most suitable for their needs. Mental Status Test Mental status examinations (MSEs) can be a terrifying experience for both the doctor and patient. It is an “snapshot” of the patient in 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 mental state changes over time, for example, from depression to mania. The MSE begins when the physician makes the first observations about the patient. It is usually performed during the process of taking the history. How a patient interacts the examiner as well as their surroundings can reveal crucial information about the underlying disorder in the psyche. This includes the dishevelled look of a person who is depressed or the provocative style of manic patients. It can also be a sign of lack of motivation or effort in someone who is depressed or on antipsychotic medication. If a psychiatric exam is conducted, it is best done when the patient is calm and cooperative. It is a stressful and uncomfortable interview for both the patient and the examiner and it is essential to present a positive impression. The MSE should only serve as an element of the overall intake evaluation. Its results should also be carefully compared to those from other sources such as imaging studies or tests in the laboratory. The MSE is not as structured as the physical exam, and the majority of the information gathered is taken by the physician during the history-taking procedure. A complete MSE will include descriptions of the appearance and behavior as also alertness and focus, motor and speech activities as well as mood and affect perception and perception and attitude, as well as understanding. It should also include a detailed assessment of higher cognitive functions such as parietal-lobe functions (pictorial construction, right-left discrimination, spatialization of objects) 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 complete intake evaluation and that physicians interpret the results with care and sensitivity. A thorough MSE can reveal a broad range of abnormalities, including some that are specific to psychiatric disorders however, it should be considered as a single point of data within the overall patient's history and has little clinical significance on its own. Assessment of Thought Content The most important part of the MSE is the thought content. It should include information on delusional thoughts (thoughts which are not true) like persecutory or grandiose idea hallucinations (hearing things or seeing things that others can't); preoccupations, (such as worries or obsessions) and suicidal thought. These questions should be asked directly. The extent and intensity of the psychopathic thoughts should be described, including whether they are mood compatible or incongruent (e.g. A person suffering from depression may hear voices that are angry and urge them to commit suicide, but not calm and peaceful hallucinations. Thought process is the logic, relevance, coherence and flow of the client's thinking as they respond to the questions of the examiner during the MSE interview. Physicians will also determine if the thought process is unorganized or goal-oriented, and also when it flits from one subject to the next without making a clear connection. Disorganized, tangential, and circumstantial connections are thought processes that may be indicators of mental health issues such as mania, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Psychologists and neuropsychologists evaluate the client's ability to focus attention and briefly hold information in their memory. This can be assessed by observing examiners, the client's self-report or tests such as counting backwards from 100 by 7s. They also can assess the client's coping mechanisms and cognitive performance by assessing it through direct questions and observations. During the MSE the psychologists will observe the client's facial expressions and body language to determine if they seem anxious or withdrawn. They also look at the client's restlessness and fidgeting to determine if they are fearful or anxious. Psychologists employ the MSE alongside other tests and assessments to identify and develop a treatment plan. Psychologists are also trained to detect whether the client's behavior is similar to a particular mental illness or is instead caused by a different reason like substance abuse, an injury or an adverse reaction to medication. This information is crucial in determining the best treatment and follow-up. Assessment of Mood and Anxiety It's normal to have difficult times. But when these difficulties start to affect relationships, daily tasks or even sleep, it might be time to make an appointment for a psychiatric examination. Also called a psych eval and a mental health check, this examination is typically conducted by a psychiatrist or doctor. The process isn't easy and usually there's lots of information you'll need to provide. But, it's essential to understand that your therapist will be trying to gather all the information they need so that they can provide a correct diagnosis and recommend the best treatment for you. A psychiatric assessment will include an examination of your previous medical history as well as a physical examination. This is to ensure that your symptoms are not caused by a physical problem such as a thyroid disorder or an illness of the nervous system. In addition, your psychiatrist will inquire about any other medical or psychiatric issues you've faced in the past and whether you're taking any medications at present. When patients are incapable of providing a full account due to their mental condition it is crucial that their family members and caregivers are able to respond to the questions of the doctor. This isn't a breach of confidentiality and it permits the doctor to obtain more information than he could during a face-toface conversation. During the psychiatric consult, the doctor will examine the emotional state of the patient by observing their body language and tone of voice. They will also assess their thoughts to determine whether they are focused and related. The doctor will assess, for example, how well the patient is able to focus and switch between ideas during the interview. This is an important aspect to the assessment as psychotic or manic patients might not be able to think clearly and quickly shift their focus of thought. A psychiatric assessment is often the first step towards getting the care you require. Despite the stigma that surrounds mental illness, it's imperative that anyone who suspects they're suffering from symptoms of mental illness seek an evaluation. Don't let your anxiety or fear prevent you from seeking help. It could have a serious impact on you and those around.