Mental Health Assessments at Mercy Health
A mental health assessment is a series of questions and tests conducted by a medical professional or psychologist. It's used to evaluate your symptoms and determine the amount of care you require whether inpatient or outpatient.
It's recommended to bring a friend or advocate to the event and this can be done through your local council or an advocacy service like Rethink.
Screening
A screening mental health assessment is a test that determines if the patient is functioning at a level that is healthy on a psychological and social level. This kind of assessment can also be used to identify neurological disorders and certain diseases. It can also be employed as an assessment tool for depression, substance use and other conditions. These assessments are usually much shorter and cheaper than full professional assessments offered by mental health professionals.
In the majority of cases, a screening test involves a short interview with the person who is being evaluated as well as questions about current and past symptoms beginning, the date they started and how long they've been suffering for. The patient might be asked to provide details about her family history, or if she's been diagnosed with a condition of another kind. It is also important to discuss the patient's feelings, thoughts and feelings with a healthcare professional.
During the exam the healthcare professional will ask the patient if she has specific fears or concerns. The doctor will also inquire about any medications the patient is taking and how well it's working. It is a good idea to bring a family member or friend to the appointment.
Following a brief interview, it is likely that the healthcare professional will conduct certain tests. The tests administered will differ according to the type and extent of the assessment. Rating scales can be used to aid patients in reducing complex emotions and feelings. These tests are helpful in determining the severity and planning treatment for a disorder.
Other assessment tools include lists of symptoms which provide possible symptoms and are used to determine the presence of a particular disorder. However these tools should be used with caution as they do not take into account all the biological, psychological, sociological and cultural variables in the life of a patient.
Another method by the way that the patient's thoughts and emotions are analyzed is by analyzing the content of her thoughts. This will look at the capacity of her brain to form coherent ideas and to make connections between things that seem unrelated to one another. Thought content analysis is useful in identifying problems such as hallucinations that are visual auditory, olfactory or tactile and delusions like the belief of special powers, status, or being targeted by others; obsessive-compulsive behaviors; and anxiety disorders.
Diagnosis
Mental health assessments can help identify the root cause of patient symptoms, including anxiety or depression. They also aid doctors determine the best treatment for their patient. Mercy's behavioral health professionals are able to perform an exhaustive and thorough evaluation. They will ask the patient about their current medications, and also any herbal supplements or over-the counter remedies they are taking. They will also inquire if there is any family history of mental illness.
During assessment mental health of the mental health assessment, the doctor will conduct a physical exam of the patient to rule out any possible neurological conditions or diseases that could be causing the patient's symptoms. This involves evaluating motor functions, reflexes, sensations, gait and posture. The physician will also perform an examination of the neurological aspects of eye movements to determine whether they are normal.
The physician will also assess the patient's cognitive performance, which includes his or capacity to think and reason as well as remember. He or she will look at the patient's appearance and determine whether or not he is dressed appropriate for their age and maintains a high standard of hygiene. He or she will also pay attention to the patient's thoughts and feelings in order to get a better understanding of what is happening to them.
Psychologists use a variety of instruments and tests to assess the patient's mood, thoughts, and behavior. They can, for example test a patient's anxiety or depression by asking them questions or giving an informal questionnaire. They can also perform a more thorough test to determine the levels in the brain of certain chemicals.
A psychiatric evaluation may include a discussion about the patient's social and relationship situation. It can also involve discussions of the patient's past experiences like childhood traumas. It is crucial to know the patient's psychological, social, and developmental situation in order to provide the best possible treatment.
Treatment
Everyone has tough times. But if you, or someone you love is experiencing symptoms that aren't normal, it could be time to get assistance. A mental health assessment can help determine the cause and the best treatment options to assist. This is usually done by a psychiatrist, psychologist or a medical doctor.
During the examination, the healthcare expert will ask questions directly and observe the patient's behavior objectively. They will also consider the patient's past which includes family history, previous psychiatric illnesses and any medication the patient is taking. The healthcare provider may also want to know about any non-prescription drugs, nutritional supplements and herbal remedies that the patient is taking, too. This is because some physical ailments have similar symptoms as mental disorders and the healthcare professional needs to determine if they are a result of mental illness.
The health professional will also ask about the patient’s work, social life and family. They will look for problems such as a lack of motivation, difficulty maintaining relationships, and avoidance of situations that trigger negative emotions. They will also determine the possibility of suicidal thoughts or thoughts or feelings. They will inquire about their life and routine. The healthcare professional could also suggest other physical examinations like blood tests or computed tomography scans (CT scans) to determine the cause of the symptoms.
The nature of the thoughts will be evaluated through direct questions and an analysis of the topics raised during the interview. A thought disorder is a mode of thinking that is not normal. It can include hallucinations, delusions, obsessions, and compulsions, as well as repetitive behaviors.
The healthcare professional will discuss the results with the patient following the psychiatric assessment. They will then prescribe the treatment program. It will consist of a mix of psychotherapy and medication, depending on the diagnosis and the patient's personal requirements. When the patient is better and is able to return home, they will be discharged from the clinic. It is essential to conduct regular tests to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. These assessments can be carried out in many ways, including asking clients to complete questionnaires at regular intervals or using software like Quenza to gauge aspects like mood and cognition.
Follow-up
At the end of each session, the clinician must examine the effect of therapeutic interventions on clients' lives. These indicators may include whether they have achieved their initial aims for seeking therapy, like higher levels of satisfaction in their life or if they are more resilient when faced with difficulties. The therapist may also have to track a client’s progress through a treatment process such as regular mindfulness meditation sessions.
Therapists could, for instance employ Quenza's "Life Domain Satisfaction" which is a pre-loaded exercise to invite clients evaluate their satisfaction on a 10-point rating scale with 16 aspects of life. This is a useful method to gauge progress since it allows clients to monitor their wellbeing over time. It also provides helpful indicators for assessing mental health improvement.
The Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) is another useful tool to collect qualitative information during the mental health assessment. The goal of CFI is to provide clinicians with an accurate picture of the patient's cultural background CFI comes with additional modules that can be used to obtain additional information from caregivers and family members.
A formal examination of specific cognitive abilities follows an approach that is more limiting to the patient and involves assessing various tasks like attention, memory and higher-ordered thinking abilities. Ideally, this is done near the close of the encounter between doctor and patient in order to enlist the patient's cooperation rather than causing resistance.
A questionnaire for evaluation of patients is an important tool that can be administered to patients following their discharge from psychiatric clinics. These questionnaires permit a comparison of the responses of the patient to those of other patients treated in the same center and provide an indicator of improvement that can be tracked over time.