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Mental Health Assessment A mental health assessment is a review of the symptoms a patient has and the effects they exert on their daily activities. It involves direct questioning as well as observation. A psychiatric assessment may include written or verbal tests. These may be conducted in a form of questionnaire or may be simple tasks like recalling short lists or recognizing shapes and objects. full mental health assessment There is likely a deeper reason behind your symptoms, whether you're struggling at school or work or are having relationship issues or suffer from depression or anxiousness. Your doctor can determine the root of your issues and recommend a remedy with an assessment of your mental health. During a psycho-evaluation, your doctor will employ a variety of psychological tests to evaluate your ability to think clearly, remember information and your emotional stability. These tests are based on research-based psychology theories and can vary from paper and pencil tasks to computer-based games. A basic psychological evaluation will include a mental status examination, a cognitive assessment and an assessment of personality or behavior. They are typically performed by an expert in mental health, but can be conducted by a physician or another qualified medical practitioner. A mental status exam is a structured assessment of the patient's overall state of mind and includes descriptions of the patient's appearance as well as general behavior, levels of consciousness and attention, motor and speech activity mood and affect thought and perception, attitude and insight, and cognitive abilities such as alertness, memory, constructional ability and abstract thinking. Psychological tests can be formal and standardized, with procedures that are conducted under controlled conditions, or informal, involving informal interviews with the client or other people who are familiar with the condition of the client. All psychological evaluations regardless of the type of testing, must be conducted by licensed psychologists who are trained to assess and comprehend the results. Some psychological testing uses methods known as projective tests, that aim to get into the unconscious. They include the Rorschach test, also known as the inkblot exam, and reveal the personality and emotional functioning. Other tests using projective methods use word association or drawing to evaluate emotional and cognitive processes. In a personality or behavioral assessment the doctor will talk to you and ask questions about your family history, your past experiences, social activities, and your current behavior. They will look at your body language and facial expressions in order to gauge your emotional state and your responses to specific events or stimuli. They will also look for signs that you exhibit certain characteristics like introversion or extrovert, which could be contributing to your symptoms. Screening tests A lot of mental health assessments begin with a simple screen test. These tests are usually in the form of a written or verbal questionnaire. They ask you about your symptoms and how they affect your life. They may also inquire about your family history, since mental illness can be passed down through families. These tests help determine if your symptoms could be caused by a mental illness or another issue, such as thyroid disease. If the results of the test indicate that the doctor or another mental health professional believes that you have a mental disorder they will order additional tests to determine if you have depression or anxiety. They will also perform physical examinations to rule out other causes like thyroid disease or any alcohol or drug abuse. There are screening instruments that are specifically tailored to the needs of adolescents and children as it can be difficult to assess accurately the needs of these age groups with more general screening tests. They may also be at greater risk of committing suicide or affected by other serious illnesses like bipolar disorder. Some of these assessment tools employ checklists, which are specialized lists that focus on specific symptoms. They can be used in conjunction with other methods, but the doctor should be aware that they don't take into consideration all the psychological, social, and cultural factors that could influence a patient. There are also a number of tools that concentrate on a specific kind of disorder, like those aimed at checking for PTSD or depression. They tend to be more thorough than the more basic screening tools. If the tests show up that indicate a mental health issue, your doctor will refer you to treatment with a psychiatrist or psychologist. These professionals are trained to treat a variety of mental illnesses and can assist you in managing your symptoms. They can also help you develop the skills you use to cope and come up with ways to cope with challenging situations in your life. Diagnosis tests Screening tests for mental health provide valuable clues to the symptoms of a patient. They may be used by primary health care providers (PCPs) or behavioral health specialists to assess the presence of anxiety, depression bipolar disorder and other mental disorders. These assessments can be more precise than screening questions and help gather additional information on the nature and severity symptoms. They can also be used to test for physical conditions that can accompany a mental illness or increase the risk of developing one. During a mental health assessment the patient will be asked to speak with a physician or other qualified professional about their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. They will be asked when symptoms began and how they impact them in their daily lives and what causes them to get better or worse. A Behavioral Health Specialist may also use a rating system to give accurate information about the severity of a health issue. These tests can help determine a patient's symptom but they cannot provide an accurate diagnosis. A licensed therapy professional will conduct a thorough assessment of the patient, looking for clues in their behavior and interactions with other people. They must also consider any evidence of mental illness in the family of the patient and the person's overall medical history. Many people with mental health problems can get better with the right treatment and guidance from a mental health professional. They can learn to manage their symptoms and lead a more fulfilling life. The most effective way to receive right treatment is to see a psychiatrist or psychologist. A psychiatrist can prescribe medications to treat specific mental disorders, and a psychologist can offer emotional support and talk about lifestyle changes that can improve the patient's life quality. If you believe you or someone you love needs a mental health assessment, contact Mercy Behavioral Health for more details. The earlier you begin treatment, the better. Treatment Plan A treatment plan is the document that a counselor and a client develop together to describe the steps they'll follow to address the mental health needs of a client. It should include a description of the person's present problems, their mental health history and current diagnosis. The plan should include specific, measurable goals and a timetable to achieve those goals. Both the counselor and the client should sign the plan in order to confirm that they are in agreement with its content. The majority of medical insurance plans and managed care organizations require the use of a treatment plan for their clients. Certain plans require that a treatment plan be reviewed every 30 days. Some plans may only require it to be updated every 100 days. Making the treatment plan is an essential component of the assessment process, since it ensures the client is engaged in their therapy and their therapist is attuned to their needs at the moment. A treatment plan will also assist the counselor in obtaining an understanding of the client's issues and how they impact their daily lives. It will also aid in determining the kind of therapy needed to deal with the symptoms. Counselors may use various templates to develop a treatment plan. It is crucial to keep in mind that each client will have a unique treatment plan and it should reflect their unique requirements. It is essential that the counselor listens to the client and incorporates the assessment results in their treatment sessions. As part of the treatment planning process, a counselor will need to assess the client's readiness to change. This can be done by asking the client questions regarding their feelings and behaviors, or by observing the client's behavior and body language. Counselors will also have to inquire about their family and professional life to determine how their psychiatric disorders affect these areas of their lives. Once the treatment plan is completed and outlined, it will be discussed during a meeting with the client. At this point, the therapist will usually seek feedback from the client regarding the goals and objectives in the treatment plan. If there are any problems in the treatment plan, they will be discussed at this point also.