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Mental Health Assessments at Mercy Health A mental health assessment is a set of questions and tests administered by a psychologist or a medical professional. It is used to assess your symptoms and determine the amount of care you require whether inpatient or outpatient. It's a good idea to bring a mate or an advocate along, which can be done through your local council or an advocacy service like Rethink. Screening A screening mental assessment is a test used to determine whether a patient is functioning on an adequate level both socially and psychologically. This kind of test can also aid in the diagnosis of neurological disorders as well as certain diseases. It can be used to test for depression or substance abuse, as well as a number of 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 brief interview with the person who is being evaluated as well as questions about symptoms that are present or past as well as the time they began and the length of time they've been experiencing them for. The patient could also be asked about a family history of mental illness or if she's been diagnosed with a different condition. It is also important to discuss the patient's thoughts, feelings and perceptions with the healthcare professional. During the exam, the healthcare provider may ask the patient about any fears or concerns she may have. The healthcare provider will ask the patient about any medications she is taking and how they are performing. It is recommended to bring someone from the family or a friend to the interview. After a brief conversation, the healthcare professional will most likely conduct some tests. These tests will vary depending on the kind of test that is being carried out. Rating scales are commonly used to help patients sort complex emotions and feelings into simpler responses. These tests can be helpful in determining the severity of a condition and in the planning of treatment. Other assessment tools include symptom lists that list possible symptoms and are used to diagnose a specific disorder. However these tools should be used with caution as they don't take into consideration all the biological, psychological social and cultural factors in a patient's life. Another method through how the patient's thoughts and feelings are assessed is by analyzing her thought content. This will examine her ability to form coherent ideas and make connections between things that appear unrelated to one another. The analysis of thought content is helpful in identifying disorders like hallucinations that are visual, auditory, olfactory or tactile and delusions like the belief of special powers, status or persecution by others; obsessive-compulsive behavior; and phobias. Diagnosis Mental health assessments can help identify the root cause of patient symptoms, like anxiety or depression. They can also assist doctors determine the best treatment for their patient. Mercy's behavioral health specialists can provide a thorough and comprehensive assessment. They will inquire about their current medications, and any herbal supplements or over-the-counter remedies they are taking. They will also inquire whether there is a family history of mental illness. In the diagnostic phase of the mental health assessment, a doctor will conduct a physical examination of the patient to rule out any possible neurological diseases or disorders which could be causing the patient's symptoms. This involves evaluating motor functions, reflexes and sensations, gait and posture. Additionally, the physician will conduct a neurological exam of eye movements and visual field to see whether they are normal. The doctor will also evaluate the patient's cognitive function which includes capacity to think, reason, and remember. He or she will examine the patient's appearance and decide whether or not he is dressed in a manner appropriate to their age and is maintaining a high standard of hygiene. He or she will listen to the patient in order to be able to understand what they are feeling and thinking. Psychologists may employ a variety of instruments and tests to evaluate the mood and behavior of a patient. For instance, they can test for depression and anxiety by asking the patient questions or by giving them a brief questionnaire. They can also conduct more thorough test to assess the levels in the brain of certain chemicals. A psychiatric assessment can include a discussion of the patient's social situation and relationships. It may also include a discussion of the patient's experiences in the past, such as traumatizing events in childhood. It is essential to comprehend the patient's mental, social, and developmental situation in order to provide the most effective care. Treatment Everyone experiences tough times. If you, or someone you love, has symptoms that aren't normal, it might be time to seek out assistance. A mental health evaluation helps to determine the cause of the problem and determines which type of treatment will be beneficial. This is usually done by a psychologist, psychiatrist or a medical doctor. During the examination the healthcare professional will ask direct questions and observe objectively. They will also look at the patient's past which includes family history, prior mental illnesses, and any medications that the patient is taking. The healthcare professional may also inquire about any non-prescription drugs, nutritional supplements and herbal remedies that the patient is taking as well. This is because some physical conditions 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 inquire about the patient's work, social life and family. They will be looking for signs of problems, such as lack of motivation, difficulty in maintaining relationships and avoiding situations which can trigger negative emotions. They will also assess whether there are any suicidal ideas or thoughts. They will also inquire about their life and habits. The healthcare professional may also suggest additional physical examinations, like blood tests or computed tomography scans (CT scans) to identify the physical causes behind the symptoms. IamPsychiatry of the thoughts will be evaluated through direct questions and an analysis of the topics raised during the interview. A thought disorder is a deviant mental state, which could include hallucinations – visions of objects, people or events that aren't there; delusions – conviction of false beliefs, despite evidence to the contrary; obsessions and compulsions that result in repetitive actions; and a lack of associations and the tendency to make irrelevant connections between non-related topics. The healthcare professional will discuss the results with the patient after the psychiatric assessment. They will then recommend a treatment program. This could be a combination of medication and psychotherapy, according to the diagnosis and the patient's personal needs. Once the patient feels better and is able to function normally, they will be discharged. Continuous assessments can be useful in measuring the effectiveness of treatment. These assessments can be conducted in many ways, such as asking clients to fill out questionnaires on a regular basis or using software like Quenza to gauge aspects like cognition and mood. Follow-up Clinicians must assess the impact therapeutic interventions have had on the lives of patients at the conclusion of each encounter. Indicators could include whether the client has achieved their initial goals in seeking therapy, for instance, greater life domain happiness, or if they are more resilient in the face of difficulties. The therapist may also have to monitor a client's progress through a treatment plan, like regular mindfulness meditation sessions. Therapists can, for instance employ Quenza's “Life Domain Satisfaction”, a pre-loaded activity to ask clients to rate their satisfaction on the scale of 10 points with 16 elements of life. This is a great method to gauge progress since it allows clients to track their health over time. It also provides helpful indicators for assessing mental health improvements. The Cultural Formulation Interview is another instrument that can be utilized to gather qualitative data in a mental health assessment. The goal of CFI is to provide clinicians with an extensive picture of the patient's cultural background CFI also includes additional modules that can be used to obtain collateral information from family members and other caregivers. Dissection of specific cognitive abilities is a reductionistic approach to the patient. It involves assessing a variety of tasks, including memory, attention, and higher-ordered reasoning capabilities. This is best conducted at the end of the meeting between the doctor and patient to encourage cooperation and avoid resistance. After patients are discharged from psychiatric facilities and are discharged from psychiatric hospitals, a questionnaire for patient evaluation can be used to evaluate their progress. These questionnaires permit a comparison of the patient's responses to the responses of other patients in the same center and provide a benchmark for improvement that can be tracked over time.