Psychiatric Evaluations: ADHD, Depression, Anxiety Disorders
What Is a Psychiatric Evaluation?
A psychiatric evaluation assesses adult behaviors based on how they present themselves in relation to physical, genetic, environmental, social, cognitive (thinking), emotional, and educational contexts. Psychiatrists or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners will take your chief complaint (for example, “Anxiety”) and use it as a basis to discover underlying causes affecting your current mental health status.
Questions explore various areas of your life, including:
- Medical, psychiatric, and social histories
- Current and past symptoms
- Recent stressors
- Timelines and symptoms regarding your behavioral health
- How these symptoms collectively impact your quality of life
After building a historical foundation, your provider will focus on more immediate symptoms and psychiatric issues. Answering these questions honestly and clearly helps your psychiatrist or mental health provider understand your headspace. Administering an objective mental status exam tests your cognitive function, including:
- Fund of knowledge
- Memory recall
- Mood
- Affect
- Thought process
- Thought content
After your psychiatric evaluation yields results, your psychiatrist will present you with differential diagnoses and work with you to create a realistic, approachable treatment plan. Safety issues discussed may include identifying risk factors and protective factors for suicide, and your psychiatrist may give you referrals to counselors or other health care providers. In addition, your provider might consider that psychotropic medications may help your condition and will discuss the risks and benefits of their recommendations.
The most prevalent diagnoses include treatable conditions like ADHD, depression, anxiety disorders, and insomnia.
What Are Some Signs Someone Needs a Psychiatric Evaluation?
Many mental health issues manifest with behavioral health changes, including your personality, attitude, and hygiene. Most people go through emotional times that may contribute to similar symptoms but bounce back and never experience the issues again. If you or a loved one experience more than two of the following symptoms simultaneously, you might need psychiatric evaluation:
- Difficulty performing routine daily work, school, or home functions
- An inability to shake specific thoughts or ideas
- Quick changes in moods, with no logical reason
- Trouble eating, sleeping, or focusing
- Engaging in new, unexpected behaviors
- Severe emotional withdrawal or feeling spaced out or disconnected
Are Medications Initiated During the Psychiatric Evaluation?
If your psychiatric provider believes you could benefit from psychotropic medications, they may present you with different treatment options and discuss what best works for your lifestyle. While most psychiatrists may send you home with your first prescription to start your treatment as soon as possible, others may want you to try non-medicinal therapies first, limiting your exposure to potentially harmful side effects.
Some suggested treatments that don’t involve medication include attending courses or counseling involving:
- Stress reduction
- Symptom recognition
- Exercise regimens
- Nutrition evaluations
- Sleep studies
If you attempt these treatments and find they don’t help your symptoms, your psychiatrist may escalate you to medication.
How Long Is the First Psychiatric Evaluation?
Depending on the complexity of your symptoms, your first psychiatric evaluation may take between an hour to an hour and a half to complete. Upon arriving at your appointment, you’ll need to complete paperwork providing your psychiatrist with your contact information, medical background survey, and a checklist indicating your symptoms.
After your appointment, you’ll review what you’ve learned during your visit. Your provider will want to ensure you understand your symptoms, take time to review your test results with you and address your immediate concerns to make the most of your appointment. If necessary, you may schedule a follow up appointment at the end of your consult with you provider.
What Is the Rate of the Psychiatric Evaluation?
The initial psychiatric evaluation with Crescent City Psychiatric costs $280. Crescent City Psychiatric does not have an in-network affiliation with any health insurance companies. Some health insurances may reimburse you if they deem your visit a medical necessity, so let us know if you require additional forms. As a payment method, we accept payment by credit card only.
