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Mental Health Assessment A mental health exam is tests and questions. Your doctor will inquire about your family history, medications and medical history, as well as your symptoms. They will also conduct a basic physical examination and may order lab tests like thyroid function tests, blood work tests or toxicology screenings. You could have written or verbal tests as well. These could include tests of intelligence and tests of cognitive functioning such as insight, judgment, and looseness of association. Symptoms A health professional will ask you questions about your feelings and what's been going on. The doctor may also want know about any family medical history and your general health. The assessment is designed to provide the doctor a clear picture of how you think, feel and behave, as well as identifying any safety issues. The questions are often in a format similar to a questionnaire and may be either verbal or written. Your health professional will require information about your life's general circumstances like your work schedule or your relationships with others, as well as whether you have family members living with you. They'll also need to know if you've experienced any traumatic experiences in your life, and if you have a problem with alcohol or other drugs. They'll want to know if you are in danger of harming yourself or others, and could take a blood sample to look for any substance in your system. Some tests are used routinely during a mental assessment for example, the Hamilton Rating Scale and Beck Anxiety Inventory. These tests assess a wide range of symptoms, and enable health professionals to quickly and efficiently assess the mood of a patient, their thinking capabilities, behavior and memory. Other tests can be used to diagnose specific problems. For instance the Mini Mental State Examination can be used to determine a person's consciousness level. Other tests are sometimes used during an assessment of mental health for example, a physical exam (to look for any underlying medical reasons), toxicology screenings and laboratory tests (blood or urine tests to see whether there are any chemicals in the body). Some people also decide to keep a record of their feelings, which can be helpful in providing information to their therapy. Some people bring a companion or a therapist to their appointment. This can be beneficial in cases where they are hesitant to discuss their feelings or the information is sensitive. It is important to speak up if you have any concerns about the treatment that you are receiving or if you feel the doctor is not taking your concerns seriously. The majority of NHS services have a complaints procedure, and your care co-ordinator or doctor should be able to help you, or you can contact the charity Rethink for advice. Diagnosis The first step to diagnosing mental illness is a mental health assessment. After you've been diagnosed, your doctor can decide the best treatment plan for you. link webpage is possible that you require a combination of treatments, including therapy and medication. Some disorders are short-lived and disappear by themselves, while others are of a long-term nature. A diagnosis is important in many ways. It will help you qualify for disability benefits or protect you from discrimination in the workplace as well as notify health insurance companies that you have an illness that requires medical treatment. The diagnosis is a complicated procedure that requires a careful consideration of the patient's symptoms and how they impact their life. Your doctor will ask you questions about your feelings and your mood throughout the day. They will also take into account any problems in your family or at work. A physical exam will be conducted to determine whether your symptoms are the result of a bodily illness. Certain symptoms may require additional tests and tests, like blood or urinary samples, MRIs, or EEG scans. Rating scales and questionnaires are a few of the tools doctors employ to determine a patient's symptomatology. These instruments are designed to treat specific illnesses and aid in identifying possible diseases. However, they do not consider all the psychological, biological and sociological factors that can affect the psychiatric state of a patient. A general interview may be conducted with the patient which may include a detailed account of their thoughts and feelings. The doctor will also inquire about their family's medical history as well as any medication the patient is currently taking, and whether they are taking any herbal or dietary supplements that might be affecting their mental health. If the symptoms are serious, the patient may require admission for further treatment in a hospital. The doctor might also recommend outpatient treatment or medication. If your doctor believes they aren't competent to diagnose your illness, they should discuss with you whether an expert opinion is appropriate. If they agree, you can ask for an appointment with an additional psychiatrist in a mental health trust. Treatment Sometimes family members and close friends notice symptoms that indicate mental illness. They may also help patients take the first step toward seeking treatment. Although books and the Internet can provide valuable information, nothing replaces a trained professional's assessment of mental health. During the assessment your doctor will inquire about your thoughts and feelings and also about your behavior. The doctor will search for signs of neurological disorders, depression and drug abuse. Your doctor will ask you about any previous psychiatric treatments you've received as well as whether you have an history of mental illness in your family. Your doctor will also inquire with you about your medications and will conduct a physical exam. Your doctor will ask you to rule out physical conditions which could be the cause of your symptoms. Answer all questions truthfully and completely. You might be asked to keep a journal of your feelings and thoughts or if you wish to bring your family member or a friend to the assessment interview. Your doctor may also conduct laboratory tests such as bloodwork or a urine sample. In a mental health assessment questionnaires, psychological tests or psychological tests are frequently employed. These tests are helpful for evaluating your thinking and mood and also how you interact with other people. These tests usually take the form a written or oral questionnaire. It is a great idea to take these tests prior to your appointment, so that you can talk about the results with your doctor. Other tests employ rating systems to give doctors an extensive overview of your emotional condition. These instruments can be used to identify symptoms such as depression, anxiety and Bipolar disorder. They can also be helpful in assessing underlying conditions such as dementia or other neurological diseases. A psychiatric assessment 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 the psychiatric illness could be so severe that it requires hospitalization in an institution for mental health. Prevention A mental health evaluation can be a crucial first step to prevent a mental disorder from getting worse. It can also be used to help with treatment, as it provides a clear picture of what's happening in the body and mind. A mental health assessment can help people find aid earlier in addressing their issues. Depending on the goal of the test the assessment may require different methods to go about it. Children might be required to keep a record of their thoughts for a couple of weeks or to inquire from relatives and friends how they behave. The doctor could ask the patient to answer a series of questions or conduct an interview to find out the way they feel. They can also conduct more in-depth tests, like the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The results of a mental health assessment are used to determine if someone needs to be examined by a specialist, like a psychiatrist or psychologist. If the test shows indications of mental illness, the specialist will offer guidance on how to deal with it. They will usually recommend therapy. If the condition isn't treated, it could alter the way someone thinks and behaves, resulting in a lower quality of life, and even suicide. People suffering from mental illness should consult their GP when they exhibit signs of anxiety or depression. If the symptoms persist for a long time, they can lead to other problems such as physical issues and dementia. Anyone suffering from a chronic medical condition like diabetes or heart disease, must also ensure that they're being monitored for mood disorders. It's not uncommon for people to be embarrassed or ashamed about needing help with a mental health problem and certain family members might be sceptical of them going to therapy. This can make it difficult for patients to receive the help they require. To help reduce stigma, practitioners can utilize Quenza's Understanding Mental Health Stigma Worksheet to encourage their clients to talk about the issue.