Mental Health Assessment A mental health evaluation is a thorough examination of the patient's health issues, and their impact on daily life It involves direct questioning and observation A psychiatric assessment may include verbal or written tests https//jsfiddlenet/nodecircle5/a3jdv8r5/ could take the form of a questionnaire or simple tasks like recalling short lists or recognizing objects or shapes Psychological tests Whether you are experiencing difficulty at school or at work or are having issues with your relationships, or suffering from depression or anxiety There is probably some deeper reason behind these symptoms A mental health assessment tests can help your doctor determine the root cause and suggest the best treatment plan During a psycho-evaluation, your doctor will use different psychological tests to assess your ability to think clearly, recall information, and to assess your emotional stability These tests are based on research-based psychological theories and range from paper and pencil work to computer-based games A basic psychological examination includes a mental state examination, a cognition assessment and a personality or behavioral assessment They are typically conducted by a mental health professional however, they can be conducted by a physician or another qualified medical practitioner A mental status examination is a structured evaluation of the patient's overall state of mind It includes descriptions of the patient's appearance as well as general behavior, levels of alertness and consciousness, motor and speech activity, mood and affect, thought and perception as well as insight and attitude and cognitive abilities like alertness, memory, constructional ability, and abstract thinking Psychological tests can be formal, utilizing standardized protocols administered under controlled conditions Or, they can be informal, involving an unstructured conversation with the client or with other people who are who are familiar with the situation of the person Regardless of the type of test, all psychological evaluations must be administered by licensed psychologists who are trained to interpret and evaluate results Projective tests are used in a variety of psychological tests to discover the unconscious The Rorschach or inkblot test is among the most popular tests in this category It gives insight into emotional and personality functioning Other projective tests use the use of drawing or word association to assess emotional and thinking processes During the exam, you will be interviewed by your doctor and asked questions about your family background, past experiences, current functioning, and social activities They will examine your body language and facial expressions while doing so to determine your mood and your responses to specific events or stimuli They will also look for specific characteristics like introversion and extroversion that may be contributing to your symptoms Screening Tests A lot of mental health assessments begin with a basic screening test These tests usually take the form of a written or a verbal questionnaire They ask you about your symptoms and how they affect your life They might also inquire about your family history, as mental illness can be passed down through families These tests are used to determine if your symptoms could be caused by mental illness or a different problem such as thyroid disease If the screen results indicate that the doctor or another mental health practitioner thinks you might have a mental disorder, they will recommend further tests to determine if you are suffering from anxiety or depression They will also conduct a physical exam to rule out any other causes such as a thyroid disorder or any other substance or alcohol abuse There are screening tools that are tailored to the needs of children and adolescents as it can be difficult to accurately assess the needs of these age groups with more general screening tests They can also be more at risk of suicide or being affected by other serious illnesses like bipolar disorder Checklists are utilized in a few of these assessment tools These are lists that focus on specific symptoms These tools can be used in conjunction with other methods However, the physician must be aware that these tools do not consider all the psychological, cultural, or social factors that could affect the patient There are also a few tools that are aimed at a specific type of disorder For instance, tools which test for PTSD or depression These tools are typically more comprehensive than simpler screening tools If the results of your tests indicate that you may have a mental health issue the doctor will refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to receive treatment These providers are trained to treat a range of mental disorders and can assist you in managing your symptoms They can help you develop strategies for coping and learn to deal with difficult situations Diagnosis Tests Mental health screening tests can provide crucial clues to the symptoms of a patient Primary doctors of care PCPs, behavioral health specialists, and others may use them to screen for depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder and other mental disorders These tests are typically more comprehensive than screening questionnaires and can aid in gathering additional information about the nature and severity of symptoms They can also be used to test for physical conditions that may be a part of a mental illness, or increase a person's risk of developing one During a mental assessment the patient is asked to talk to a doctor or other trained professional about their feelings, thoughts and behaviors The patient will be asked when the symptoms began and how they affect their daily life and what causes them to become worse or better A behavioral health specialist may also use a rating system to provide accurate information about the severity of a problem These tests can be useful in identifying symptoms, but they can't make a diagnosis A licensed psychologist or therapist will need to conduct an extensive evaluation of the patient, and look for clues in their behavior and interactions with others They will also have to examine the history of mental illness within the patient's family as well as the patient's medical background Many people suffering from mental health problems can get better with the right treatment and guidance from a mental health professional They can learn how to manage their symptoms and live a more fulfilling lifestyle A psychologist or psychiatrist is the ideal person to talk to for treatment A psychiatrist may prescribe medication to treat specific mental disorders, and psychologists can provide emotional support and discuss lifestyle changes that could improve the quality of life of the patient Contact Mercy Behavioral Health if you or a family member thinks they need an evaluation of their mental health The earlier you start treatment the more effective Treatment Plan A treatment plan is a document that a counselor and client create together to describe the steps they'll implement to address a client's mental health needs It should include a description of the person's current mental health history and current diagnosis The plan should contain specific, quantifiable goals as well as an outline of the timeframe to accomplish those goals Both the counselor and the client must be able to sign the plan to show that they agree with its content Most medical insurance plans, and managed care organizations, require clients to have an approved treatment plan Some plans require that a treatment plan be reviewed every 30 days Others may only require it to be updated every 100 days A treatment plan is a crucial part of the assessment, as it ensures that the client is fully engaged in their therapy and that their therapist is aware of their current requirements A treatment plan will also assist the counselor in obtaining an understanding of the client's symptoms and how they impact their daily life It can aid in determining the type of therapy required to treat the symptoms In order to create a treatment plan, there are many different templates that counselors can utilize It is essential to keep in mind that every client will have their own treatment plan and should reflect their individual requirements It is also crucial that the counselor takes the time to talk to the client and incorporate the evaluation results into the sessions of treatment A counselor needs to determine the client's willingness to change as part of the treatment plan This can be done either by asking questions about the client's emotions and behavior or by observing their behavior and bodylanguage A counselor may also have to ask the client about their family and work life, to see how their psychiatric symptoms influence these aspects of their lives The treatment plan will be discussed with the client during another session The Therapist will ask the client for feedback on the treatment plan's goals and objectives at this point At this point, any issues with the plan will also be discussed