Mental Health Assessments at Mercy Health
A mental health assessment is a series of tests and questions administered by a medical professional or psychologist. It's used to determine your symptoms and determine the level of care you require regardless of whether you're an inpatient or outpatient.
You can also bring a friend with you or have a representative through your local council or a service like Rethink.
Screening
A screening mental health assessment is an examination used to ascertain whether the patient is functioning in a healthy mental and social level. This kind of assessment can also aid in the diagnosis of neurological disorders and diseases. It is a method of screening for depression or substance abuse, as well as many other conditions. These tests are usually shorter and cheaper than full professional evaluations offered by mental health professionals.
A screening test usually involves a short interview with the person being evaluated. Questions are asked about the present and past symptoms and when they began and the length of time they've been present. The patient might be asked about her family history of mental illness or when she's been diagnosed with any other condition. It is also essential to discuss the patient's thoughts, feelings, and opinions with the healthcare professional.
During the screening the healthcare professional will ask the patient if she has any particular concerns or fears. The provider will also ask about any medication the patient is taking and how well it's working. It is a good idea to bring an individual from the family or a close friend to the appointment.
After a brief interview, the healthcare professional will likely conduct tests. These tests will vary based on the type of test that is being conducted. Rating scales can be utilized to help patients simplify complicated emotions and feelings. These tests are helpful in determining the severity and treatment of a disorder.
Other assessment tools include lists of symptoms that list possible symptoms and can be used to diagnose a specific disorder. These tools should be used with caution because they don't take into account all the biological, psychosocial, and cultural factors in a patient’s life.
Another method by the way that the patient's thoughts and feelings are analyzed is through an analysis of her thoughts. This will examine her ability to form coherent thoughts and make connections between seemingly incompatible things. Thought analysis of content is a method to detect disorders like hallucinations, no matter if they are auditory, visual or olfactory; delusions, like the belief that one has special powers, status, or is targeted by others or phobias.
Diagnosis
Mental health assessments can identify the root of a patient's symptoms, like depression or anxiety. They also aid doctors determine the best treatment option for their patient. Mercy behavioral health specialists can perform a thorough, complete assessment. They will ask about the patient's current medication along with herbal supplements and over-the-counter medicines. They will also inquire if there is a family history of mental illness.
During the diagnosis stage of the mental assessment the doctor will conduct a physical examination of the patient in order to rule out any neurological conditions or diseases that could be causing their symptoms. This includes assessing motor function, reflexes posture, sensation, and gait. In addition, the physician will conduct a neurological examination of eye movements as well as visual field to determine if they are normal.
The doctor will also look at the patient's cognitive capacity that includes their ability to reason, think and remember. The doctor will also look at the patient's appearance and decide whether he or she is dressed appropriately for their age, and maintains a high standard of hygiene. The doctor will listen to the patient to understand what they are feeling and thinking.
Psychologists use various instruments and tests to assess the mood of a patient, their thinking, and behavior. For example, they can test for depression and anxiety by asking the patient questions or giving them a short questionnaire. They can also do an extensive test to determine the levels of certain brain chemicals.
A psychiatric evaluation may include a discussion of the patient's relationships and their social situations. It could also include a discussion of the patient's experiences from the past, like childhood traumatic events. It is important to understand the patient's mental social, developmental, and social situation to ensure the most effective treatment.
Treatment
Everyone experiences tough times. If you, or someone you love is experiencing symptoms that aren't normal, it could be time to seek out help. A mental health assessment can help identify the problem and determines what type of treatment can assist. It is usually performed by a medical professional psychologist, psychiatrist or psychologist.
During the exam the healthcare specialist will ask questions directly and observe objectively. They will also look at the patient's past which includes family history, prior psychiatric illnesses and any medications the patient is taking. The healthcare provider might also want to know about any non-prescription drugs, nutritional supplements and herbal remedies the patient is taking, too. This is because some physical conditions have similar symptoms to mental disorders, and the healthcare professional needs to rule them out.
The healthcare professional can also inquire about the patient's work as well as social and family life. They will be looking for problems such as a lack motivation, difficulties in maintaining relationships and avoiding situations that cause negative emotions. They will also assess whether there are any suicidal feelings or thoughts. They will inquire about his or her lifestyle and routine. The healthcare professional could recommend other physical tests, such as a blood test or computed tomography (CT scan) in order to determine if there is a physical cause for the symptoms you are experiencing.
The nature of the thoughts will be assessed through direct questions and an examination of the issues raised during the interview. A thought disorder is a deviant way of thinking, which could include hallucinations - visions of people, objects or events that are not in reality; delusions and conviction of false beliefs regardless of evidence to the contrary compulsive and obsessive behaviors; and looseness of connection - the tendency to make irrelevant connections between non-related topics.
The healthcare professional will discuss the results with the patient following the psychiatric examination. The healthcare professional will prescribe a program of treatment. The treatment will include the combination of medication and psychotherapy, depending on the patient's diagnosis and personal needs. Once the patient feels better, they will be discharged from the clinic. It is crucial to conduct regular assessments in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. These assessments can be carried out in many ways, including asking patients to complete questionnaires at regular intervals or using software such as Quenza to measure factors such as mood and cognition.
Follow-up
Clinicians should evaluate the impact therapeutic interventions have had on the lives of their clients at the end of every encounter. The indicators could include whether the client has achieved their initial aims for seeking therapy, such as higher levels of satisfaction in their life, or whether they are more resilient when faced with challenges. The therapist might also need to monitor a client's progress through a treatment plan, such as regular mindfulness meditation sessions.
For instance, therapists using Quenza's preloaded "Life Domain Satisfaction" activity could invite clients to rate their satisfaction with 16 aspects of their lives based on 10-point rating scales. This is a useful method of measuring the progress of a client, since it allows clients to track changes in their health over time and provides useful indicators to evaluate improvements in mental health.
The Cultural Formulation Interview is another instrument that can be utilized to collect qualitative information in the mental health assessment. CFI is designed to provide the clinicians a complete picture of a patient's cultural background. It also has additional modules to collect information from family members and other caregivers.
A formal dissecting of specific cognitive abilities follows an approach that is more limiting to the patient. It involves testing various tasks like attention, memory, and higher-ordered thinking capabilities. This should be conducted at the end of the doctor-patient meeting to encourage cooperation and avoid resistance.
After assessing mental health have been released from psychiatric facilities, a patient evaluation questionnaire can be used to assess their progress. These questionnaires permit a comparison of the patient's response to those of other patients treated in the same center and also serve as an indicator of improvement that can be tracked over time.