How a Psychiatric Evaluation Can Help You

A psychiatric evaluation is used to assess how a person remembers, thinks, reasons, and feels. It is used to paint a picture of their current mental state, and it is typically performed with a series of physical tests and questions. Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals use psychiatric evaluation to diagnose various mental disorders.

Psychiatric evaluation is the first step toward getting help for mental issues

Putting patients through psychiatric evaluations allows psychiatrists to diagnose a range of health issues:

• Eating disorders
• Anxiety
• Mood disorders
• Depression
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Addictive disorders and substance abuse
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Psychotic disorders like schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder

Mental evaluations are also used to determine if a patient has a substance abuse disorder that might affect their mental condition. These tests allow mental health professionals to rule out possible physical causes of certain mental issues, like thyroid disease. Figuring out what is causing the patient’s problems makes it easier for the psychiatrist to develop an effective treatment plan.

Signs that a person could benefit from a psychiatric assessment include:

• A loss of interest in daily activities like school or work
• Changes in a person’s appetite
• Memory issues or difficulty concentrating
• Magical beliefs or an exaggerated view of one’s abilities and powers
• Increased sensitivity to sounds, tastes, feelings, or sights
• Lack of motivation to do things and feelings of apathy
• Paranoia
• Lack of interest in activities that were once enjoyable

Preparing for a mental health examination

Patients who are scheduled for psychiatric assessment should take time to go over why they think they need help in the first place. Writing down thoughts and feelings in a journal is an excellent place to start. Things that patients should review before heading into their psychiatric evaluation include:

• Any symptoms that they have been experiencing
• Unhealthy behaviors and thoughts
• Events or thoughts that trigger mental episodes
• Frequency and duration of any symptoms

Patients should also reflect on what they hope to accomplish by getting mental health treatment. Those who have substance abuse issues should write down a list of the drugs that they use. Treating addiction is often the first step toward good mental health.

The evaluation

During a mental health evaluation, the psychiatrist will interview the patient, asking them questions about their symptoms and expectations. The patient’s risk of suicide will be evaluated to determine if they pose a danger to themselves. The patient is also given a series of questionnaires to fill out. In some cases, a physical examination might be performed to rule out the possibility of a physical issue being the source of the patient’s problems.

Get the help you need

Taking care of your mind is as important as taking care of your body. A psychiatric assessment enables a psychiatrist to evaluate your current mental state so you can get any treatments that you need. Give us a call or stop by our New York clinic to set up an appointment with our psychiatrist.

Request an appointment here: https://nycpsychiatricassociates.com or call NYC Psychiatric Associates at (917) 391-0076 for an appointment in our New York office.

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