Adult Psychiatric Evaluation
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An adult psychiatric evaluation may be necessary in order to properly diagnose and prepare to treat substance abuse disorders, emotional disorders, behavioral disorders or a wide range of developmental disorders. During the psychiatric evaluation, the behaviors of the adult are monitored in response to their physical health, genetic makeup, social wellness, and emotional health. Various components are addressed in a psychiatric evaluation depending on the individual circumstances of the evaluation and the purpose of the evaluation.
Why is an Adult Psychiatric Evaluation Performed?
Typically, the psychiatric evaluation is performed to determine whether there is a mental illness or similar disorder that is affecting or disrupting the everyday routines or life of an individual. A spouse or loved one may be the first to notice that the individual is emotionally upset, does not recover well from periods of sadness, is negatively affected by various environmental factors or otherwise acts rebellious and that these behaviors are disruptive to normal functioning. In this case, the individual may seek help for their loved one in an effort to determine what is going on and whether there is a greater problem at hand.
A psychiatric evaluation may be performed on an individual who is addicted to drugs or alcohol to determine if their substance abuse is the result of an underlying mental illness such as anxiety or depression. In the process of the evaluation, the therapist may come to the conclusion that there is an underlying mental health condition that requires treatment. This is common as nearly 50% of all people who suffer from addiction also suffer from some type of mental illness such as anxiety or depression.
How Does it Work?
The adult psychiatric evaluation will include a behavioral analysis of the individual and his or her response to various elements including emotional upset, environment disruptions and individual circumstances. Cognitive thinking is also evaluated and memory is taken into consideration in determining how emotionally healthy an individual is and how they perceive things, remember things and react.
The entire process of an adult psychiatric evaluation will take about 2 hours but this all depends on the level of involvement of specialists, the individual circumstances of the evaluation and other factors. For an adult that is cognitively incoherent or uncooperative, the evaluation process could take much longer to complete and may require hospitalization in between to ensure the safety of the individual and the safety of others.
The Diagnosis
In the end, a diagnosis may be made as to whether there is a mental illness or behavioral disorder that is causing disruptions in the individual’s life. If there is a disorder diagnosed following a psychiatric evaluation, the treatment professional will work to begin developing a treatment plan. Information provided during the assessment will be used as well as various other details to come up with an effective plan of action to help the individual regain control of his or her life and avoid any further disruption as a result of their condition.
