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Mental Health Assessment A mental health assessment is a combination questions and tests. Your doctor will inquire about your medical history and family history and symptoms. They will also conduct an initial physical exam and may also order lab tests such as blood work, thyroid function tests, or toxicology screenings. You may also have written or oral tests. These tests could include cognitive and intelligence tests as well as tests of judgment, insight and looseness of associations. Symptoms A health professional will ask questions about your feelings and what's going on. He may be interested in knowing if you have an ancestral history of mental illness or general health. The test is designed to provide a doctor with an understanding of how you feel, think and behave and also to identify any safety concerns. The questions are typically in a questionnaire-type format and may be either verbal or written. Your health professional needs to be aware of your general life situations. This includes your job and relationships, as well as whether you have family members living with you. They'll also want to know if you've experienced any traumatic events in your life or whether you are struggling with alcohol or drugs. They'll need to know if you are at risk of harming yourself or others. They may request a blood sample to determine if there are any substances in your system. Some tests are used routinely for mental assessments for example, the Hamilton Rating Scale and Beck Anxiety Inventory. These tests are able to assess a wide spectrum of symptoms and enable health professionals to quickly and easily evaluate the patient's mood, thinking abilities, behavior, and memory. Other tests are used to help identify specific issues, for example the Mini Mental State Examination is used to determine a person's level of consciousness. In a mental health assessment there are a variety of tests that may be used. This includes a physical examination (to check for any medical conditions that could be underlying) as well as toxicology screenings and laboratory testing (blood tests or urine tests to determine whether there are any substances in the body). Some people keep a diary to record their thoughts. This can be useful when they need to share information with their therapy. Some people bring a friend or advocate with them to their evaluation. This can be beneficial if they feel uncomfortable discussing their feelings or if the information is sensitive. If you are unhappy with the treatment you receive, or you believe the doctor hasn't considered all your concerns seriously, say that. You can complain about most NHS services. Your healthcare coordinator or GP can help you. You can also contact Rethink the charity that offers advice. Diagnosis A mental health assessment is the initial step to diagnose an illness of the mind. After you've been diagnosed, your doctor can decide the most effective treatment plan for you. You may need a combination of treatments, including therapy and medication. Certain disorders are temporary and go away by themselves, while others have a longer-lasting nature. A diagnosis is crucial in many ways, such as informing health insurance companies that you have a condition that needs medical attention and allowing you to qualify for disability support or protection from discrimination in the workplace under the Americans with Disabilities Act. hyperlink is a complicated procedure that requires a thorough examination of the patient's symptoms, and how they impact their lives. Your doctor will inquire about your mood and how you feel throughout the day, taking into account any issues that are occurring in your workplace or family. A physical exam will be performed to determine whether your symptoms are the result of a medical condition. Some symptoms require further examination and tests such as urine or blood samples, MRI or EEG scans. There are a variety of different tools that can be utilized to help doctors assess the symptoms of a patient, including questionnaires and rating scales. These tools are geared towards specific illnesses and help identify potential diseases. However, they do not consider all the psychological, biological and sociological factors that may influence the patient's psychiatric situation. In addition to these questionnaires an interview with the patient will also be conducted, which may include an in-depth account of the person's thoughts and feelings. The doctor will inquire about the medical history of the patient's family members, any medications they are currently taking, and if they have any dietary supplements or herbal supplements which may be affecting mental health. If the symptoms are serious, the patient may require admission to receive further care in hospital. The doctor could also suggest outpatient treatment or medication. If your psychiatrist believes they are not competent to diagnose your condition, they should discuss this with you and decide if a specialist opinion is necessary. If they agree, you can ask for a referral to a psychiatrist at another mental health trust. Treatment Many times family members and friends notice symptoms that indicate mental illness. They can also help a patient to take the first step towards seeking treatment. While informational resources such as books and the Internet, can provide valuable insight, nothing takes the place of a mental health evaluation by an experienced professional. During the assessment, your doctor will ask you questions about your thoughts, feelings, and behavior. The doctor will be looking for indicators of depression and neurological disorders. Your doctor will also inquire about any previous psychiatric treatments you have had and whether or not you have an ancestral history of mental illness. Your doctor will also conduct a physical examination and will ask you questions about your medication. Your doctor will want to rule out physical conditions that could be causing your symptoms. You must answer all of the doctor's questions truthfully and fully. You may be asked to write notes of your thoughts and feelings, or to bring a family or friend member with you to the interview. Your doctor could also conduct laboratory tests such as bloodwork or a urine sample. Psychological tests, also known as questionnaires, are commonly used in the mental health assessment. They are a useful instrument for evaluating your mood, thinking capabilities and memory as well as how you interact with others. These tests are usually in the form a written or oral questionnaire. It is a good idea to attempt to complete these tests before your appointment to allow you to discuss them with your doctor. Other tests employ rating scales to provide doctors with a more comprehensive overview of your emotional state. These instruments can help to identify signs of depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. These tools are useful in assessing underlying conditions such as dementia or other neurodegenerative diseases. A psychiatric evaluation includes an interview with your doctor and could also include psychotherapy like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) which is a great treatment for trauma. In some instances, a psychiatric condition could be so severe that it requires hospitalization in an institution for mental health. The following is a list of preventatives. A mental health assessment could be a crucial first step in preventing a mental disorder from getting worse. It can be utilized to assist with treatment, as it provides a clear picture of what's going on in the mind and body. People who undergo a mental health assessment are more likely to start seeking help for their issues earlier, which will increase the chances of recovering. Depending on the purpose of the assessment, there are different ways to conduct the assessment. For example children may be asked to keep a journal of how they are feeling for a couple of days or to inquire with family and friends about how they act. For adults, the doctor might use a questionnaire written in writing or even interview the person to determine how they are feeling. They may also administer more detailed tests, such the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The results of an assessment of mental health are used to decide whether a person should be examined by a specialist like a psychiatrist or psychologist. If the test finds signs of mental illness an expert will provide advice on how to handle it. They typically recommend therapy. If the condition is not treated, it can affect the way a person thinks and behaves, resulting in lower quality of life, and even suicide. Anyone suffering from mental illness should visit their GP if they have symptoms of depression or anxiety. If the symptoms last for a long time, they can cause other issues such as physical issues and dementia. Patients with a chronic medical condition such as diabetes or heart disease, must also ensure that they are being examined for mood disorders. It's not common for people to feel uncomfortable or embarrassed about seeking help for an issue with their mental health, and some members of their family may have a stigmatizing view of those who seek therapy. This can make it hard for people to seek out the support they need. To reduce stigma, practitioners can use Quenza's Understanding Mental Health Stigma Worksheet to encourage their clients to talk about the issue.