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General Psychiatric Assessment There are numerous challenges in performing psychiatric examinations in general medical settings. These include problems with privacy assessment, ward rounds, and visits by other specialties, protected meal times and planned visits from family members. In this way it can be a challenge to determine the impact of outcomes, especially when it comes to disease-specific outcomes. Medical History The first step in a general psychiatric evaluation is to learn about the patient's medical background. This includes information about the patient's current condition and any medications they're taking, as well as any significant previous medical issues that may have affected their current health and well-being. This information will aid the doctor in determining what psychological tests would be appropriate and the number of appointments they will need to make before making a diagnosis. This step is often difficult to complete on medical wards because of the limited space available and interruptions from visits to the ward, assessments by other specialties and health specialists, protected mealtimes and planned visitors. comprehensive psychiatric assessment is essential to locate an area with enough privacy to conduct the assessment and to schedule an appointment that doesn't conflict with any of these activities. It is also useful to ask the referrer what their particular concerns are so that you can determine exactly what kind of psychiatric examination is required. When performing psychiatric assessments on medical wards of general hospitals it is important to be aware that the physical health issues the patient is suffering from can influence or even mask their psychiatric symptoms and behavior. This is a common problem that is referred to as diagnostic shadowing and is extremely difficult to avoid. If patients are admitted with delirium but has an indication of dementia in their medical records, it can be tempting to 'overshadow the delirium' by assuming that it is due to their existing mental illness. This is not as effective as conducting a thorough screening for delirium to rule out treatmentable reasons such as stroke. It is essential that the psychiatrist assessing the patient attempts to establish a link between the psychiatric and physical concerns of the patient and to solicit complaints or concerns from the patient about their treatment, care or how their health condition is being managed. Reference Osborn and Warner (1998) recommends the most basic approach to accomplishing this. However, it can be difficult to implement in practice. Family History The psychiatrist will ask about your family history to determine if there are any mental health issues within your family. They'll also inquire about any traumas you've experienced or abuse, and your current social status (including your relationships, work, and if you have support from home). You might be asked about your religion as well as your goals and dreams. The psychiatrist will then formulate a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan to meet your requirements. Physical symptoms are also crucial and it is vital that the psychiatrist examine these too. They will examine their blood pressure, listen and feel the lungs and heart and examine for any other medical conditions that may be causing the psychiatric symptom. It is often beneficial for a psychiatrist to get an all-encompassing physical from the general practitioner of the patient, but this isn't always possible especially for patients who are very ill and those who are inpatients on psychiatric wards. These patients may have only very little or no contact with psychiatrists. In such cases it is crucial that psychiatric nurses or care coordinators take an active part in ensuring these patients' physical health needs are met. Psychiatrists also need to understand why the person has been referred, and what they expect to accomplish from their psychiatric examination. They should be able to interpret medical letters, investigate reports of tests and communicate effectively with the person's medical team to coordinate any medication or treatment. The medical history is a key aspect of any psychiatric examination and should include the patient's mental health diagnosis and previous treatment and also information regarding their alcohol and drug use. It is also crucial to gather a thorough family history, if you can to determine the risk of certain disorders, such as bipolar disorder, which is known to occur in families. Screens to collect life-long information about psychiatric conditions on informants as well as first-degree relatives are helpful, but there is the benefit of obtaining a complete family history of psychiatric issues as well. Symptoms During the psychiatric examination Your doctor may ask you about symptoms and how they affect your life. Your psychiatrist will inquire about any pertinent issues, such as your family history. It can feel intrusive at times, but you must answer honestly and completely to ensure a precise diagnosis. It is essential to undergo a psychiatric assessment in case you suffer from mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety. This will tell you if you need treatment. It is normal to have periods of stress and low mood but when they last longer than one or two days or interfere with your daily life, then you might require treatment. Your psychiatrist will inquire about your symptoms as well as any other issues that are impacting you, like work or family problems, or substance abuse. They will also inquire about your physical health, your sleeping habits, and whether or not you have tried any other ways to alleviate your symptoms. Your psychiatrist could also inquire about your experiences with mental illness. They may also use assessments that are standardised such as psychological tests to help you understand your current situation. These tests could include questionnaires, personality tests or cognitive tests to gauge the level of stress you are experiencing. If the psychiatric evaluation shows that you are experiencing psychotic symptoms that are manifested by hallucinations or delusions that are substantial departures from consensual reality The psychiatrist will have to perform a more in-depth examination and may be required to admit you to a hospital to be observed. In these instances you'll need to be re-evaluated by another psychiatrist before you are able to return home. Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates will provide you with the assistance and care you require. The team of helpful and experienced professionals is committed to giving you the information you require about the diagnosis you have received and possible treatment options. You can book your psychiatric examination online or by phone today. Psychological Tests An essential part of a psychological assessment involves the use of various tests. Psychological tests are written assessments or verbal evaluations which measure unobserved aspects of a person's personality. They are used to evaluate a person's emotional functioning and personality traits. They can also be used to determine the severity of a particular mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. Psychological testing is usually conducted by a trained psychologist and requires the patient to follow specific instructions in order to get precise results. Psychiatric assessment can vary in regards to the number and types of psychological tests that are employed, based on the symptoms of an individual. A general psychiatric examination could be short, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MSE) or more detailed and time-consuming tests, such as a Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Neuropsychological testing can be used to determine if there is a brain injury or concussion. All kinds of psychiatric assessments can provide a picture of the patient's overall emotional and psychological functioning. They are carried out by psychologists, doctors, and sometimes psychiatrists in the hospital setting to evaluate a person's present mood, emotional reactivity and cognitive abilities. They are also conducted by private therapists at their offices to gather data for a treatment plan as well as to determine if a patient may benefit from medication or other forms of therapy. A few examples of psychological assessments include tests of intelligence and achievement, which measure certain kinds of cognitive functioning (often referred to as IQ) and performance in comparison to a standard group. Other tests are designed to test the ability to complete a task, such as an assessment of memory or an assessment of word association. Psychologists are the only professionals with extensive training and expertise to conduct and interpret psychological tests. A psychiatric examination is designed to match the patient with a medical professional that can provide treatment and management. After the exam is completed the doctor will inform the patient of the diagnosis and the relationship to their presenting symptoms. The doctor will also speak about the prognosis. This is how a diagnosis will expected to progress in time.