Agoura Hills, CA – BNI Clinics recently published a blog post explaining what different types of psychiatric evaluations are and how someone can better prepare for one. Psychiatric evaluations are for mental health conditions what an x-ray is to a foot injury. They allow a physician to examine a person’s psychological symptoms and perform the appropriate tests. When the psychiatric evaluation has been completed, a person will have a better understanding of their condition and have a treatment plan in place that will improve their mental health. These evaluations are the first step in a person’s path to healing.
“A psychiatric evaluation is used to diagnose mental and behavioral health conditions. It typically consists of interviews and questionnaires, as well as an analysis of your family history and symptoms. Once the evaluation is complete, the mental health professional conducting it will present treatment options,” the blog post states.
One might encounter 3 main types of psychiatric evaluations: general psychiatric evaluations, emergency evaluations, and clinical consultations. General psychiatric evaluations are what traditional evaluations look like. They are comprehensive assessments performed by a mental health professional that carefully considers a person’s history and symptoms. Emergency evaluations happen during a mental health crisis when the person is a danger to themselves or others or they are experiencing psychosis. An emergency evaluation determines how to help an individual as soon as possible and whether inpatient or partial hospitalization will best help them in their immediate situation. Clinical consultations are less detailed and are performed by most healthcare professionals. They determine if someone is currently experiencing psychological distress and might need further evaluation, potential diagnosis, or intensive treatment.
How a psychiatric evaluation is conducted varies greatly. They often depend on the practitioner, the individual’s symptoms, and any suspected conditions. Regardless of the evaluation type or how it is performed, they all typically involve the mental health care professional asking several questions about the person’s mental health and well-being. This includes an explanation of symptoms and how they interfere with different areas of the person’s life. They might also ask about family and personal history of mental health disorders. They might perform blood tests to rule out additional health conditions if necessary. Questionnaires or further tests may also be a part of the evaluation process.
A person might be asked about a variety of things when it comes to their psychiatric evaluation. These might include childhood trauma, sleeping concerns, previous mental health disorder diagnoses, if they have seen, heard, or smelled things that others couldn’t, their current emotions, if they have any fears, their relationship with their family, and their work or school performance. It is not necessary to prepare oneself before a psychiatric evaluation, but it might help ease any nerves. This might include coming up with questions or concerns to ask the mental health provider. It might also look like writing down a script or the answers to the commonly asked psychiatric evaluation questions so they are ready with an honest answer.
“While undergoing a psychiatric evaluation can be intimidating, it is a life-changing step toward relief from your symptoms and long-term well-being. Psychiatric services are available near you, and they offer direction and the opportunity to heal,” the blog post continues.
BNI Clinics provides effective and safe mental health treatment for children and adults in the Los Angeles area. Their clinician-led team allows them to provide unique expert care in various treatment options such as ketamine therapy or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). They also offer psychiatric evaluations and treatment for all age groups, ensuring the entire family is involved with every step in the healing process.
To learn more about this facility, call them at (310) 691-5005 or visit their website. BNI Clinics: Science-based, evidence-backed, compassion-led.
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For more information about BNI Clinics, contact the company here:
BNI Clinics
Maria Sarkisian
310-691-5005
maria@bnitreatment.com
28038 Dorothy Dr Ste#200
Agoura Hills, CA, 91301
