By Madsen Lake
Psychiatric assessments are among the most important services that the medical profession offers to the public. Unlike many other medical procedures, psychiatric assessments are usually risk-free, highly specific and require a high level of care and compassion by both the patient and the medical professional conducting the assessment. Many times people who experience life-threatening crises will be referred by psychiatrists to be evaluated for a psychiatric disorder. The purpose of an evaluation for a psychiatric disorder is to find a medical solution to a patient’s problem, but more than that, it is to provide comfort to the suffering person and allow him or her to enjoy his or her life. It is also to educate the public about psychiatric disorders, their symptoms and the treatments available.
Psychiatric assessments in Tempe Arizona are carried out in a range of settings, such as in-person evaluations in hospitals, police departments, psychiatric units and busy emergency medical departments. However in some parts of the nation, local liaison psychiatry services still remain relatively patchy, with only community mental health services offering in-person assessments for most people. In these cases, local mental health teams may choose to conduct the psychiatric assessment instead of having the matter investigated by a psychiatrist trained in conducting psychiatric assessments.
Sometimes, family members or friends of individuals involved in violent incidents or having suicidal thoughts make simple in-person assessments for themselves, particularly if they are uninformed about psychiatric disorders and what to expect during an assessment. These self-diagnosis mistakes can lead not only to a lack of medical attention, but also to the misdiagnosis and treatment of a psychiatric disorder, particularly when the cause of the ailment is not identified until the condition has progressed to the next stage.
Physicians who specialize in psychiatric assessments are responsible for determining whether a patient requires any type of special care or therapy, and in some cases, they may provide the referral to appropriate professionals. In general, doctors involved in psychiatric assessments evaluate the mental health situation of their patients, determine whether they need medication or psychological help and then recommend that the patient take the recommended treatments.
In some cases, they will refer the patient to another medical specialist for further evaluation and treatment, and in other cases, they will perform an assessment on their own, without involving a specialist. Occasionally, they will have to make a referral to another physician for additional help or diagnostic testing.
In some instances, a psychiatrist may refer their patient to a psychologist or other medical professional to perform the psychiatric assessment. This referral decision is made based on the patient’s medical history, the physical health condition of the patient, their cognitive functioning and any unusual behaviors.
