Psychiatric evaluations assess a person’s mental health status, often conducted by psychiatrists, but also by other specialists. They can be done for various reasons, including seeking treatment, legal purposes, or proving mental harm. Evaluations may include family history, physical exams, screening tests, and observation. They can occur in mental institutions, private practices, or outpatient settings and may take several sessions to complete. Therapists and psychologists can also assess mental health but cannot order medical tests.
A psychiatric evaluation is an assessment of a person’s current psychiatric status, usually as measured by a psychiatrist. Other specialists such as psychiatric nurses, licensed clinical social workers, or psychologists may perform some of these assessments. The reasons for getting an evaluation can be different, such as when an individual seeks psychiatric treatment or if a person is engaged. Alternatively, people may need to undergo a legal assessment if they need to prove mental harm, are accused of criminal offences, or are believed to have been harmed by others, such as in the case of child abuse.
Not all psychiatric evaluations will be the same, but they usually include inquiries about a person’s family history and background, physical examination, possibly blood or other tests, and observing the person during responses to see if they show any clear signs of changes in mental state. Psychiatric evaluations may also include administering a series of screening tests or scales that could indicate or rule out specific mental disorders.
As stated, there are many places where a psychiatric evaluation could occur. A person who is committed to a mental institution usually has a fairly extensive one, which might involve at least seeing a psychiatrist to get a family history, being observed, and having some screening tests done. Mental institutions usually conduct physical exams to rule out any medical problems and are likely to do at least one blood test.
Other assessments occur when people seek private care from private practice psychiatrists or if they want to prove mental harm because they plan to sue. Any accused person who claims to be insane or suspected of having a psychiatric problem may need to be tested to determine their fitness to stand trial.
While a psychiatric evaluation sounds like a single event, it may not fully occur in one session or meeting. Taking a family history can be a lengthy process, and if many examiners are involved, it may take several days to a few weeks to complete a full assessment. This is especially true in outpatient settings and one reason why psychiatrists usually don’t prescribe medications until a few sessions have occurred. Although someone with an illness may feel frustrated with how long it takes, it’s best to have a thorough evaluation done first as diagnosis and treatment suggestions may be more accurate.
Sometimes the psychiatric evaluation is nowhere near as extensive as described here. It takes on an entirely different tone when performed by someone without a medical license. Instead, the main way people can be assessed is by talking about their problems with specialists such as therapists or psychologists. They might still complete some screening tests or provide a family history, but therapists and psychologists usually can’t order medical tests and can’t do medical exams. If specialists believe that a current mental or physical illness is contributing to a person’s problems, they may recommend patients see a doctor for more accurate diagnoses.
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