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Mental Health Assessments at Mercy Health A mental health assessment is a series of tests and questions that are administered by a medical professional or psychologist. It's used to evaluate your symptoms and determine the amount of care you require, whether it's inpatient or outpatient. You can bring a friend with you or even a representative through your local council or through a program like Rethink. Screening A screening mental health assessment is to determine if the patient is functioning on a healthy psychological and social level. This kind of assessment is also used to diagnose neurological disorders and other diseases. It can be used as screening tools for depression, substance use and other disorders. These types of assessments are typically shorter and less costly than the comprehensive, professional evaluations that are offered by mental health professionals. A screening assessment usually includes a short conversation with the person being assessed. Questions are asked about the present and past symptoms and the time they started and how long they've been present. The patient might be asked to provide details about her family history or whether she has been diagnosed with a different condition. It is crucial to discuss with a healthcare professional about the patient's thoughts and feelings. During the screening the healthcare provider may ask the patient about any fears or concerns she might have. The provider will also ask about any medication the patient is taking and how it's functioning. It's a good idea to bring a family member or friend to the interview. After a brief interview, it is expected that the healthcare professional will administer some tests. The tests that are administered will differ according to the nature and scope of the test. Rating scales are used to help patients simplify complicated emotions and feelings. These tests can be helpful in determining the severity of a disorder and in the planning of treatment. Other assessment tools include lists of symptoms which contain possible symptoms and can be used to identify a specific disorder. These tools should be used with caution because they don't consider all of the psychosocial, biological and cultural aspects of a patient’s life. Another method through which the patient's thoughts and emotions are assessed is by analyzing the content of her thoughts. This will assess her capacity to organize her thoughts and make connections between seemingly unrelated items. Thought content analysis can be useful in identifying disorders such as hallucinations that are visual, auditory, olfactory or tactile or delusions, such as the belief of special powers, status, or being targeted by others; obsessive-compulsive behavior and fears. Diagnosis Mental health assessments can identify the cause of a patient's symptoms, such as depression or anxiety. They can also help doctors determine the best treatment for their patient. Mercy behavioral health specialists are able to conduct a thorough and complete assessment. They will inquire about the patient's current medication and herbal supplements and prescription medications. They will also inquire about any family medical history that may indicate mental health issues. In the diagnostic phase of the mental health assessment, a doctor will conduct a physical exam of the patient to rule out any potential neurological conditions or diseases which could be causing the patient's symptoms. This includes evaluating motor function, reflexes, posture, sensation and gait. Additionally, the physician will conduct a neurological exam of the eye movements and visual field to determine if they are normal. The physician will also evaluate the patient's cognitive function which includes their capacity to think, reason, and remember. He or she will take a look at the patient's appearance to see if they are dressing appropriate for their age and if they are maintaining a good standard of hygiene. He or she will listen to the patient to know what they are feeling and thinking. Psychologists employ a variety of tools and tests to evaluate the patient's mood, thoughts and behavior. They can, for example, test a patient's anxiety or depression by asking them questions or completing an easy questionnaire. They can also do a more detailed test to determine the levels of certain brain chemicals. A psychiatric assessment can also include a discussion about the patient's social and relationship situations. It could also include a discussion about the patient's experiences from the past, like traumas that occurred in childhood. It is important to understand the patient's mental, social, and developmental circumstances to provide the most effective care. Treatment Every person experiences tough times If you or someone you know has symptoms that aren't common, it might be time to seek assistance. A mental health evaluation helps to pinpoint the issue and determines which type of treatment will help. This is typically done by a doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist. During the examination, the healthcare specialist will ask questions directly and observe objectively. They will also look at the patient's past, including any family history, any prior mental illness, and any medications that the patient is currently taking. The healthcare professional may be interested in knowing about any non-prescription medications nutritional supplements or herbal remedies that the patient may be taking, too. The healthcare provider should rule out mental disorders that might have symptoms similar to physical conditions. The healthcare professional can also ask about the patient’s work as well as social and family life. They will be looking for signs of problems, such as lack of motivation, issues in maintaining close relationships, and avoiding situations which cause negative emotions. They will also assess whether there are any suicidal ideas or thoughts. They will inquire about their life and habits. The healthcare professional may also suggest other physical exams, such as a blood test or computed tomography (CT scan) in order to rule out physical causes for the symptoms that are being experienced. The content of the thoughts will be analyzed through direct questions and the analysis of the topics raised during the interview. A thought disorder is an abnormal way of thinking, which could include hallucinations – visions of objects, people or events that aren't there; delusions – conviction of false beliefs despite evidence to the contrary compulsive and obsessive behavior; and lack of association and the tendency to make irrelevant connections between unrelated topics. The healthcare professional will discuss the results with the patient after the psychiatric assessment. The healthcare professional will then prescribe a program of treatment. This will be a combination of psychotherapy and medication dependent on the diagnosis and the individual needs. Once the patient is feeling better and is discharged from the clinic. Continuous assessments can be useful in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment. They can be conducted in various ways, such as asking the client to complete questionnaires at regular intervals, or by using software like Quenza to evaluate factors such as mood and cognition. Follow-up Clinicians should evaluate the impact that therapeutic interventions have had on the lives of their clients at the end of every encounter. The indicators could include whether the client has fulfilled the goals they set for themselves when seeking therapy, like greater life domain happiness, or if they are more resilient when confronted with challenges. The therapist may also have to monitor a client's progress through a treatment pathway such as recurring mindfulness meditation sessions. Therapists could, for example utilize Quenza's “Life Domain Satisfaction” as a pre-loaded activity that asks clients to assess their satisfaction using an arbitrary scale of 10 points, which covers 16 different aspects of their lives. This is a useful way to measure progress, as it enables clients to track the changes in their wellbeing over time. It also provides helpful indicators for assessing the improvement of mental health. The Cultural Formulation Interview is another tool that can be utilized to gather qualitative data as part of an assessment of mental health. CFI is designed to provide clinicians a comprehensive view of the patient's culture. It also has additional modules that collect data from caregivers and family members. A formal examination of a specific cognitive abilities follows an empathetic approach to the patient and involves testing a range of tasks like attention, memory and higher-ordered thinking abilities. This is best conducted at the conclusion of the doctor-patient session to encourage cooperation and reduce resistance. After patients have been released from psychiatric institutions, a patient evaluation questionnaire can be used to assess their progress. These questionnaires allow for a comparison of the patient's response to those of other patients treated in the same clinic, and they also provide an improvement benchmark that can be tracked over time.