Psychiatric Assessment
A psychiatric assessment is an evaluation by a psychiatrist to determine the presence, nature, and severity of a mental health condition. The assessment involves gathering information about the patient’s symptoms, medical and psychiatric history, and current life situation to make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.
The assessment may include a range of techniques and procedures, such as:
- Interview: The mental health professional will ask the patient about their symptoms, medical history, and other relevant information.
- Mental status examination: The mental health professional will evaluate the patient’s current state of mind, including their mood, thoughts, and behavior.
- Physical examination: The mental health professional may order medical tests to rule out any underlying medical conditions that may be causing or contributing to the patient’s symptoms and work together with a general medical doctor at Cure of Mind or with your own family doctor.
- Psychological testing: The mental health professional may use standardized psychological tests to gather additional information about the patient’s mental health status.
- Collateral information: The mental health professional may also gather information from family members, friends, or other healthcare providers, such as your own family doctor, to get a more complete picture of the patient’s symptoms and history.
After the assessment, the psychiatrist will use the information gathered to make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.
The treatment plan may involve medications, psychotherapy delivered by the doctor or another trained psychotherapist at Cure of Mind, or other interventions depending on the nature and severity of the patient’s symptoms.
A psychiatric assessment can be an important first step in getting help for a mental health condition. It can provide a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s symptoms and help guide treatment decisions.