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Mental Health Assessments A mental health assessment is a vital instrument for helping people evaluate their mental health. Professionals use a variety tools for this purpose that include self-reports and standard tools. A common one is a mental status examination, which aids doctors and counselors purposefully look at a client's appearance, attitude and activities as well as mood and emotions. thought content and insight. Symptoms People with mental health problems often have changes in their moods, thinking and behaviour. These changes can affect their ability work and socialize. Mental illness is a serious health condition, and many of the same issues that can affect our physical health are related to our mental health, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Everyone has mood fluctuations. If these changes are severe and last a long period of time, they could indicate that you are suffering from a mental illness. Some common symptoms include changes in eating, sleep or energy levels, an extreme change in or decrease in emotions such as sadness, anger or happiness, difficulty recalling information or concentrating and feeling tired all the time. If you have concerns about your loved ones it is important not to ignore them. Contacting a helpline or visiting an experienced health professional in the early stages can help stop mental health issues getting worse. Many of these changes are triggered by life events, like loss of a job, family problems or a serious accident. It is essential to seek treatment for mental illness in order to avoid it interfering with your relationships or work. Certain of these disorders can be treated with medication or counselling. Certain conditions require hospitalization. There are more than 200 mental disorders that could be classified, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety disorders. Some of them can be life-threatening. Others are more mild and do not interfere with daily life, for example some phobias. Mental health can be affected in many ways, such as genetics, life experiences, biological differences stress, lifestyle choices, and how society treats its members. It is crucial to realize that mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. Similar to heart disease and diabetes it is treatable and improved. Mental illness is treatable, and many people can recover with appropriate treatment. This can include medication such as antidepressants, sedatives or antidepressants, or psychotherapy (talk-therapy). Combining treatments is often the most efficient. Some people find that self-help groups and support groups can be helpful, too. History A mental health history is an essential component of any evaluation. A psychiatrist will also need know your medical history, and whether you have any relatives suffering from mental illness. They'll also ask you about your current medications as well as any previous drug abuse or alcoholism you might have had. In some instances doctors may ask you to write down your symptoms in an account book or bring a family or friend member to be able to hear the whole story. For some people, a mental health assessment is the first step towards finding treatment for a problem. It is usually initiated by a doctor or another professional referring the person but it could also be initiated directly by the person. The psychiatric assessment will provide the doctor with the information required to make an accurate diagnosis. Western civilization has viewed mental illness as a result of supernatural forces or demonic possession for most of recorded time. This led to primitive methods like drilling a small hole into the skull (trepanning). The 18th and 19th centuries saw the rise of a more humane approach to treating the mentally ill, as doctors began to abandon these superstitions and adopt logical explanations/theories for their patients. The term “mental” is used in two different ways: as a method to describe a state of health and as a concept that includes psychotherapy and psychiatry. Mental health is now being pushed to become a separate discipline. However, there has not been an absolute separation between it and psychotherapy. The definition of mental health is different from culture to culture, but most systems incorporate elements such as self-realization, a sense of accomplishment; happiness; and a sense of control over one's environment. These criteria are influenced, however, by cultural values that can exclude those who have not reached their full potential, those living with low incomes, those who live in impoverished areas and minorities who are subject to discrimination and reject. Other assessment tools can be used to determine the health of a person's mental state. These include the DSM-5 Checklist, which lists of specific disorders, and the Life Events Checklist which can screen for potentially distressing or traumatic events that occur in a patient’s life. Physical Exam The physical examination of the patient who is suspected of having a mental health problem is generally performed by a medical professional or psychiatrist. The examination could be part of a general physical examination or when doctors suspect a specific condition, such as dementia, schizophrenia, or drug abuse. The exam provides an opportunity to examine the person's appearance, their emotional state and their response to questions. The doctor who is examining will ask the person questions about how long they have had their symptoms and any family history of mental health problems. The doctor will also want to know about any medication the person is taking or has used in the past such as over-the-counter medicines and supplements. A psychiatric examination is necessary to identify what is happening inside a person and what kind of treatment is appropriate. A diagnosis is crucial, and depending on the final diagnoses, a person may need inpatient treatment or medication. The diagnosis is usually done in the hospital, however some individuals undergo an assessment of their mental health in their own home by an accredited professional. One of the major components of an assessment of mental health is the assessment of cognitive function. This includes the capacity to concentrate to information, organize and remember it to solve problems, and make decisions. It also includes basic abilities like the capability of interfacing with other people. To assess cognition, the person is asked to answer open-ended or standardized questions, and then write short stories. The assessment of thought content requires searching for a variety things, like hallucinations that can be visual, auditory, tactile or olfactory; delusions of special powers and status or fear of being disregarded by other people; paranoid thinking and irrational fears as well as compulsive and obsessive behavior and compulsions; a lack of connection (making no connections between different subjects) and depressive or suicidal thoughts. Diagnostic tests, like magnetic resonance imaging or blood tests are usually required to complete the mental health assessment. private ptsd assessment uk can help to rule out other disorders and diseases which may trigger similar symptoms to mental illness. Tests The mental state examination focuses on different aspects of a person's condition by direct questioning and observation. It involves a health professional monitoring the patient's behavior mood, level of activity and overall appearance. It could also comprise an array of verbal or written tests including the standard rating systems used to evaluate symptoms. The MMPI-2 test, for instance, is a common test that is used to measure depression. There are many other tests that can be used to assess anxiety, intelligence and autism. The medical history of the patient and physical examination will provide valuable information that can be used to determine if symptoms are caused by an illness of the mind or a medical condition such as hypothyroidism or diabetes, or drug abuse. Additionally, certain physical conditions such as selective brain lesions or specific types of tumors exhibit similar symptoms to those of psychological disorders and may require laboratory or clinical tests such as blood tests, CT scans or MRI as an addition to an assessment of mental health to make an accurate diagnosis. Psychological testing is essential to mental health assessments. It can reveal valuable information about the way a patient thinks and interacts with others, as well as how he remembers things. These tests can provide valuable information to identify signs like hallucinations or the tendency to make unrelated connections between different subjects. A psychiatric examination may include questions about the patient's family history, including psychiatric disorders and other ailments. It will include how long symptoms have been present, and their severity and whether they interfere with everyday activities. It will also inquire about any prior psychiatric issues the patient has had and the type of treatment they've received in the past. It is essential for the patient to be honest in their responses as it will help the health professional gain a better understanding of the person's condition. During the interview the health professional will also pay attention to the way the patient speaks and how they interact with others. They will also ask about any drugs or supplements the patient is taking in the form of prescription or non-prescription, and how they affect their mental health.