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Why Full Psychiatric Assessment Could Be Greater Dangerous Than You Think
A Full Psychiatric Assessment

A psychiatric evaluation is the first step to receiving the proper treatment for your mental health. The psychiatrist will ask a number of questions about your family and work environment stress triggers, trauma events you've experienced and any alcohol or drug issues.

Background and Histories

A complete psychiatric assessment or psych eval, is typically a multi-disciplinary process in hospitals that involves psychiatric nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers. However, the psychiatrist takes a lead role in obtaining a thorough medical history and performing a mental state examination. The information can be gathered from direct observation or the person being evaluated their caregivers and also through specific psychological tests.

The doctor will inquire with 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 and health. This information will help the doctor determine what is causing the symptoms and if they are the result another illness.

During this phase the psychiatrist will inquire about your medical history to determine if there is a family history of depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric disorders. They will also ask whether there are any physical issues like heart disease or diabetes and what medications the patient is taking or has been prescribed.

In addition the psychiatrist will take a note of the current symptoms and how long they have been present. They will also ask about the person's life such as their job and home environment. They will also discuss the person's prior treatment and the degree of compliance to it. Often family members and caregivers give information that the patient hasn't disclosed but this is a matter of confidentiality and does not violate their rights to privacy.

Based on the severity of symptoms, a variety of additional tests and examinations could be required. These could include laboratory tests, blood pressure readings or electroencephalography (EEG), which measures brain activity. They could also take IQ tests, which assess cognitive ability. These tests can test spatial skills, concentration, memory and communication abilities.

It is important that all psychiatric assessments are conducted by trained and skilled experts. This will ensure that the diagnosis and treatment plan are accurate.

Mental Status Test

The mental status exam (MSE) can be a terrifying experience for both the physician as well as the patient. It is an "snapshot", an image of the patient's behavior at a certain moment. It is used to record the patient's thoughts and behavior at that particular time. The MSE can also be useful in showing how a patient's mental state changes over time, such as from depression to mania.

The MSE starts with the doctor's initial observations of the patient, typically during the history-taking. How a patient interacts with the examiner and their environment can reveal crucial information about the underlying disorder in the psyche. This includes the dishevelled appearance of a depressed person or the provocative style of manic patients. It could also be a sign of lack of motivation or effort from a person who is depressed or taking antipsychotic medication.

If a psychiatric test is conducted it is best to do it when the patient is at ease and cooperative. Both the patient and the examiner might be uncomfortable during the interview. It is essential to present a positive impression. The MSE should be only an element of the overall intake assessment. Its results should also be carefully compared to those from other sources like imaging studies or laboratory tests.

The MSE is less structured than the physical exam and most of the information is collected by the physician during the history-taking process. Nevertheless, a detailed MSE should include descriptions of general appearance and behavior, alertness and attentiveness as well as speech and motor activity as well as mood and affect, thought and perception and attitude as well as understanding. It should also include a thorough evaluation of higher cognitive functions such as parietal-lobe functions (pictorial construction and discrimination between right-left and left, the 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 entire intake assessment and that physicians interpret the results with sensitivity and care. A thorough MSE may reveal a variety of abnormalities, some of which are specific to mental disorders. However, it should be viewed as a single point of data within the patient's history and has limited clinical significance.

Assessing the Content of Thoughts

The largest section of the MSE is the thought content. It should include information about delusional ideas (thoughts that aren't true) that include grandiose or persecutory idea; hallucinations, (hearing things or seeing things that other people cannot); preoccupations, (such as worries or obsessions) and suicidal thoughts. These questions should be addressed directly. The severity and the extent of the psychotic thinking should be described. Also, whether or not they are in sync with the mood (e.g. a depressed patient hearing voices that are angry or urging them to kill themselves, versus hallucinations that are peaceful and calm).

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. Doctors also look for signs that the thought process is oriented towards a goal or disorganized and whether it moves rapidly between topics without a apparent connection between them. Mental health conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and mania may be characterized by tangential, unorganized, and circumstantial thought processes.

In addition, psychologists and neuropsychologists evaluate the ability of the client to pay attention and briefly hold information in memory, which can be assessed through examiner observations, client self-report or brief tests such as counting backwards from 100 by 7s. They also evaluate the client's coping mechanisms and cognitive functioning, which is assessed through direct questions and observations.

During the MSE, psychologists observe the client's facial expressions as well as body language to determine whether they appear withdrawn or aggressive. They also look at the client's agitation and fidgeting in order to determine whether they are anxious or scared. Psychologists often employ the MSE together with other assessments and tests to determine an assessment and develop the treatment plan. Psychologists are also trained to recognize whether the client's behavior is similar to a particular mental illness or due to another cause like alcohol abuse, injury or medication side effect. This is essential in finding the most effective treatment and follow-up.

Evaluation of Mood, Anxiety and Stress

There are times when we all experience hardships however, when these issues begin to affect relationships, daily tasks and even one's ability to sleep, it could be time to schedule a psychiatric evaluation. Also called a psych evaluation and a mental health check, this examination is typically conducted by a psychiatrist or physician. It can be daunting, and you'll need to provide a wealth of personal information. However, it's important to realize that your doctor is trying to get all the facts so they can make a precise diagnosis and suggest the best treatment for you.


A psychiatric examination will consist of an examination of your previous medical history and physical examination. This is to make sure that your symptoms are not caused by a physical problem like thyroid disorders or a neurological disorder.

In addition your psychiatrist will also inquire about any other psychiatric or medical issues you've faced in the past, and whether you're taking any medications at present. When patients are not able to provide a medical history due to their mental state, it's crucial that the caregivers and family members of the patient can answer the doctor's questions. This isn't a breach of confidentiality and it allows the doctor to get more information than he could in a face-to-face interview.

During the psychiatric consultation, the doctor will examine the emotional state of the patient by watching their body language and tone of voice. They will also assess their thoughts to determine if they're focused and related. For example the doctor will assess how the patient is able to focus during the interview and how easily they switch between thoughts. This is a vital piece to the evaluation as a manic or psychotic patient might not be able think clearly and quickly shift their focus.

For many people, a psychiatric evaluation is their first step towards getting the proper care they need. It is important that anyone who suspects that they are suffering from symptoms of mental illness seeks an evaluation. Don't let your fear or anxiety prevent you from seeking help because it could have grave and life-threatening implications for you and others surrounding you.

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