Everything You Need to Know About Psychiatric Evaluation

Psychiatric evaluation is an initial test/assessment process in which professionals analyze the patient’s condition and whether a patient is required some medicines or can be treated by only talk therapies. A certified expert psychiatrist conducts this test; no anyone allowed to conduct it. When a child is being assessed or evaluated, its parent or any immediate person is asked to be present.

Types of Psychiatric Evaluations

There are three central types of psychiatric evaluations explained below:

Emergency Evaluations

An emergency psychiatric evaluation is required when a person is experiencing a severe mental health condition and needs immediate help from professionals.

In this evaluation, experts conduct an immediate assessment and provide their determination of whether the patient can be treated with some instant medication or has to be hospitalized right away.

General Psychiatric Evaluations

A general psychiatric evaluation is a comprehensive assessment in which experts determine whether an individual has any mental illness symptoms or not and what type of treatment is needed in case of any symptoms diagnosed. General evaluation can be comprised of the following:

  • A complete physical examination and medical history.
  • Mental status test, including your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviors.
  • A review of family medical history.
  • An evaluation of the patient’s social history as well as the substance usage patterns.
  • A test of coexistent condition’s possibilities.

Clinical Consultations

Clinical consultation, unlike other evaluations, has no longer procedure. It can be conducted over the phone or video call to determine what type of treatment a patient requires.

The Difference Between Psychiatric Evaluation and Psychological Evaluation

Although mental health experts are trained enough to conduct both psychiatric and psychological assessments/evaluations, however, both types of evaluations have different points and are used for different conditions.

Psychological Evaluation

In psychological evaluation, psychologists determine whether a patient has any specific condition disorders. This type of assessment/evaluation helps address different mental health conditions such as anxiety, anger, depression, or any bipolar disorder issue. Psychological evaluation is often used to examine whether an individual is able to make life decisions in regard to his/her financial well-being or parenting.

Psychiatric Evaluation

Psychiatric evaluation is almost similar to psychological evaluation. It is also used to examine a person’s mental health condition or determine whether the patient has any severe mental illness symptoms or not. In this type of evaluation, experts determine if a patient can be treated by only non-medicine therapies or require any medication in the treatment plan. Psychiatrists utilize their knowledge of medicine to assess if a patient is exhibiting symptoms that are typical for a recent event, consistent with age-appropriate child development, or indicative of physical, neurological, or mental health problems.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a psychiatric evaluation plays a crucial role in understanding a patient’s mental health condition and determining the appropriate course of treatment. Whether it’s an emergency evaluation for immediate assistance, a comprehensive general evaluation to identify symptoms, or a clinical consultation to tailor treatment plans, these assessments are conducted by certified expert psychiatrists.

By differentiating between psychiatric and psychological evaluations, professionals can better address patients’ specific mental health conditions and provide required therapies, medication or non-medicine approaches, to support their overall well-being.