Mental Health Check Up
Mental health screenings help distinguish between common concerns and clinical ones. They can also help people to catch early symptoms of anxiety or depression, to ensure that treatment is initiated before the problems become more serious.
You'll need to establish reasonable goals for your appointment, such as explaining your symptoms, learning an assessment, and coming up with the best treatment plan.
Symptoms
A mental health check-up usually includes a questionnaire as well as a physical examination. Doctors may also ask about the person's past experiences and thoughts. It is important to be honest and be able to answer the questions clearly. During the examination, the doctor will probably note down a person's behavior and symptoms. They might even request a family member or friend for information. It can be helpful to keep a journal of their thoughts and feelings throughout the days or weeks leading up to their appointment. The journal can be brought to the evaluation or given to their doctor to be read by their. It is also an excellent idea to create the list of any medicines they are taking, which includes herbal supplements and prescription drugs.
If you're suffering from mental health symptoms it is important to schedule an appointment as soon as you can. Seeking help is especially important in cases where the symptoms cause major disruption to everyday life or make it difficult to maintain relationships. If someone has tried to manage their symptoms on their own, but without success, they should speak to their physician about getting an appointment with a specialist or finding local resources that can assist.
It is important to remember that seeking help for mental health issues shouldn't be a sign weakness. It's actually a positive step towards healing. Many people are unaware that mental illness can present with physical symptoms. Therefore, I Am Psychiatry to get regular physical checks so that a doctor can look for any underlying conditions that need treatment.
Talkspace articles are written and reviewed by a team of clinical experts (therapists psychiatrists, psychologists and other experts) who are all skilled mental health and wellness contributors. We aim to provide the most reliable, valuable, and objective information we can. We provide links to trusted third-party resources in the text of the article or at the end of each article. This assists readers in making informed decisions regarding their health. We also have a team of editors and medical reviewers to ensure the highest quality content.
Diagnosis
If you're suffering from a serious cold or headache, you go to the doctor for an accurate diagnosis. However, when it comes down to mental health issues, a lot of people ignore the symptoms under the rug and hope they will disappear by themselves. A mental health checkup can be just as important as a physical.
During the examination you'll be able to talk with your doctor or a mental health professional about your behavior and feelings. They will also ask questions about your home and work life, especially if you have relatives or friends who form supportive and how you cope with stress.
They will ask you whether you've ever been in a stressful circumstance and whether alcohol or other drugs were employed. They will also ask about your beliefs regarding religion, and what goals you're pursuing in life.
Your doctor will take a thorough medical history and perform a physical exam. They may also conduct tests on your lab to rule out physical ailments like an imbalance in electrolytes or thyroid disease which could be the reason for your symptoms.
During the interview, your doctor will pay attention to how you describe your symptoms and observe your body language to find clues as to what disorder you may have. They will also consult the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to determine the most appropriate diagnosis.
In the course of a psychiatric or psychological evaluation the doctor will take into consideration all of the information provided to decide what kind of treatment is best for you. They can also help you find local resources that can help you. If your doctor suspects you have an illness of the mind that is serious, he or she will develop a treatment plan that could include therapy, medication or counseling. They will suggest that you attend follow-up appointments in order to track your progress and determine how you react to treatment. If necessary, they will refer you to a specialist.
Treatment
Treatment can be beneficial to people suffering from mental illness. A psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist can offer a variety of treatments and medications to help patients manage their symptoms. Treatment is often needed if someone isn't performing well enough in their everyday lives, or if they are suicidal. Many people are diagnosed with having mental illness after seeing their primary doctor or being referred to a specialist by a relative or friend.
A medical check-up could include questions about the patient's mood and sleep patterns and appetite, as well as feelings and other factors that might indicate a mental health problem. The patient may be asked about their previous health history. The doctor could conduct brain scans or other lab tests based on the extent and duration of symptoms.
If a person notices changes in his or her sleep or eating patterns, these can be a sign of anxiety or depression. Other signs of a mental health issue include loss of interest in activities, feeling sad or hopeless or thinking about hurting yourself or others. Anxiety and mood disorders can have serious harm, so it is essential to talk about these issues during a health check-up.
Psychiatrists are trained in the diagnosis of various psychological issues and mental illnesses. They may prescribe medication or other treatments and may recommend a lifestyle or self-care program to help manage symptoms. They can also teach strategies for coping, such as meditation and yoga. Some psychiatrists treat children, and some specialize in specific disorders, like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
It is recommended to schedule mental health screenings with the same frequency as physical checkups. Mental health issues can lead to symptoms that are as severe as physical ailments and may affect the life of an individual. Most health insurance plans cover mental health care, and U.S. laws require that insurance companies should not charge higher copayments or coinsurance rates for psychiatric services than they charge for other services.
Follow-up
Similar to a physical exam patients with mental health issues need to follow up with their doctors. However, they also require the assistance of a group of professionals to help them adhere to their treatment. In the case mental illness, this could include psychologists, counselors and nurses. Ideally, these providers can be found within the same office or facility as the primary care physician. The patient won't have to travel across the hospital or to an additional building to visit these providers.
The need for prompt follow-up is especially important for those with comorbid serious mental illness and chronic general medical ailments. Research suggests that patients who suffer from a combination of mental and medical health issues have higher rates of hospital admissions and death than those who suffer from either by themselves. Additionally the untreated medical conditions can lead to psychiatric symptoms and increase the risk of suicide.
This is why the HEDIS measure of a first outpatient follow-up visit within 7 days of psychiatric discharge is important. The results of the study indicate that people who receive this kind of follow-up are much more likely to seek outpatient services, such as mental health care. This includes medication adherence, psychotherapy sessions and assertive community therapy (ACT for schizophrenia).
Adults who received their first outpatient follow-up within 7 days following psychiatric discharge were less likely to be hospitalized due to any cause in the next six months than adults who didn't receive this type of mental health follow-up. This was true for both schizophrenia and depression cohorts. These differences were not statistically significant and small, suggesting that other factors may be involved.
Similarly those who received a visual self-assessment card reminding them of their appointment were 9 percentage points more likely to attend their follow-up appointment than those who did not. While the results of this study were not statistically significant, they suggest that simple strategies can increase the chances that patients suffering from mental illness will keep their appointments. This is a significant step in preventing unnecessary emergency department visits and readmissions.