What is a Psychiatric Assessment A psychiatric assessment is conducted by licensed mental health professionals It's important that these professionals have all the information they need in order to help you They might ask about your family and personal history, order tests on your lab, assess your condition through observation and interview, and conduct psychotherapy sessions They can also prescribe medication Evaluation We all go through difficult times However, when these issues begin to take the fun out of life and start negative impacting your daily activities, it may be time to seek professional help A psychiatric examination is the first step to receiving the treatment you need In this phase, a psychiatrist will ask a lot of questions and perform a physical examination This is crucial since there are times when a person has medical issues such as a thyroid or neurological disorder that could cause symptoms that mimic the symptoms of a mental illness A physical can reveal these underlying issues so the psychiatrist can pinpoint the root of the problem The patient is asked to describe in detail their symptoms, including how they affect them and their daily activities The doctor will ask you about your family background and other aspects of your personal life such as your relationships, occupation, and sources of stress In addition the psychiatrist will need to know if you've been a victim of or witnessed any major trauma-related events in your life Psychological tests can also be used to gather objective data about specific mental conditions These tests may include questionnaires that ask you to evaluate your mood and behavior or other tests that assess your ability to concentrate or recall names and objects or solve math problems Another aspect of the assessment that should be carefully noted is how often a patient speaks during the interview The volume of speech and the quality of the speech fluency and tone, as well as rhythm can give clues as to a patient's mood A patient who doesn't speak much could be anxious or depressed, and someone who talks frequently could be manic The psychiatric examiner will spend time with young children to foster trust and comfort This time of joining could be as simple as chatting with the child about the reason they are there and allaying any anxieties that may be present A girl of school age may initially be apprehensive about getting shots in her arm, but once the psychologist engaged her with her Barbie coloring book, she started to open Diagnosis After carefully interviewing the patient the psychiatrist can determine what type of disorder a person has and provide recommendations for treatment This usually includes medications for psychiatric disorders, however other modalities such as neuroimaging and EEG can also be utilized The doctor will review the medical history of the patient, and may also order tests for the lab to determine if there is any physical reasons for their symptoms During the interview the psychiatrist will inquire of the person about their relationships and job and family history of mental health issues, any trauma they have endured and any addiction issues they may have The psychiatrist will also inquire about the patient's symptoms and how these affect their daily activities and life The psychiatrist will also talk about the patient's sleeping patterns as well as appetite and energy levels The psychiatrist also listens to the patient's voice in order to evaluate its contents The level of verbalization and fluency, as well as the tone and quality of the voice are important to take note of The therapist will look for suicidal, homocidal and delusional thoughts, as well as hallucinations and delusions Certain psychiatric disorders may have a physical cause which is why the doctor will check for thyroid and kidney issues that could cause symptoms The doctor will also conduct a complete physical exam, and run tests for cholesterol, blood pressure, and sugar levels All of these can influence moods and behavior It is essential that the patient be honest in their answers during a psychiatric examination If they don't, it can result in an incorrect diagnosis and ineffective treatment If someone does not seek help, they could suffer for a long time suffering from mental illness, and even ruin their life Do not be able to let stigmas stop you from seeking help Besides the obvious physical damage, mental illness can wreck your relationship with the people you love and steal the joy you have from your daily activities Mental illness is more common than people think One out of five Americans has a mental illness that is severe enough to alter their daily lives Treatment The psychiatric examinations can be unnerving and uncomfortable, but they're necessary to receive the treatment you need It is crucial to answer all the questions and provide accurate answers so that your psychiatrist can give you a clear diagnosis The information that you provide is very confidential and will only be used to aid in your treatment Bring a family member or friend along if you have trouble talking about the symptoms They can assist you in remembering what you feel and listen to you During the psychiatric assessment, your doctor may inquire about your personal history that includes any childhood trauma or any significant medical conditions you have had They'll also want to know if you have any addictions or habits that might be impacting your ability to cope with your mental health issues Your psychiatrist will also want to know how your symptoms are affecting your relationships and daily routine They will be able identify any changes in your mood, behavior or sleep patterns and determine whether they are getting better or worse They can make an educated guess about your possible diagnosis and then recommend the best treatment for you If you are having an emergency and need help, your psychiatric physician will likely employ the screening tool called the psychiatric mental state examination MSE https//blogfreelynet/catsuprugby50/10-tips-for-getting-the-most-value-from-private-psychiatric-assessment-glasgow is a systematic method for describing the state of mind of a client It covers the appearance, attitude and behavior, speech and affect as well as thought and content perception and sensorium as well as insight and judgment Your psychiatric nursing will discuss the options for treatment with you once all information has been collected She will then develop an initial treatment plan This may include a combination of psychotherapy, medications and other behavioural therapies based on what they believe is most effective for your particular situation The psychiatric nurses you see should spend the time necessary to explain what they are doing, and why They will allow you to ask questions and will consider your viewpoints when deciding the most appropriate treatment Follow-up A patient with mental illness requires an extensive evaluation that includes a thorough history, mental status examination and physical exam It is important to determine the cause For example, distinguishing between dementia and delirium can have a significant impact on the diagnosis, treatment, and treatment of the patient An assessment of the patient's level insight is also required While the literature on insight is considerable however, the majority of studies have focused on severely ill inpatients A standardized measure like the Insight and Treatment Attitude Questionnaire ITAQ can aid healthcare professionals determine the patient's perception of their illness and the motivations for treatment Insight is considered to be an important predictor of readiness for discharge or the ability to adhere to a treatment plan for psychiatric disorders The symptoms of psychiatric disorders can be difficult to talk about and can create feelings of shame, embarrassment and despair among patients To facilitate the discussion of sensitive issues, a variety of techniques for interviewing can be employed The test should not just evaluate the client's ability adhere to treatment for psychiatric disorders and identify any obstacles to adhering After the psychiatric assessment is completed, a psychiatric treatment plan has to be formulated The plan should be documented in the client's record The plan may comprise outpatient psychiatric services psychotherapy or a combination of both The patient should be able to access all the psychotherapeutic services which are listed in the treatment plan This could be on-site or via linkages In some instances, a psychiatric assessment will uncover the root cause of a patient's mental disorder For example the mood disorder could be caused by an acute medical condition such as hypothyroidism or a drug use disorder that is aggravated by stressors in the life In these situations the root cause must be addressed before the psychiatric symptoms will abate Clients who need a psychiatric assessment should be able to talk with psychiatrists, who will conduct the assessment and offer treatment recommendations This could be done via consultation with the primary care provider of the patient or a specialist in psychiatric care in the community The psychiatric services must be able document all interactions with the client, including assessments, medication management, and counseling sessions