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WHAT TO EXPECT At MHI-NB
Psychiatric Evaluation
What Happens During My Evaluation?
During your psychiatric initial evaluation, you can expect to meet with your doctor for 90 minutes. The psychiatric initial evaluation focuses primarily on evaluating your (your child’s) mental health in order to determine any applicable psychiatric condition and develop a customized treatment plan. For treatment with minors, you can expect for the doctor to meet with you and your child both together and separately. In addition to asking a variety of detailed questions through a process called clinical interviewing, your doctor may administer assessment tools (e.g. ratings scales or questionnaires) and take your vitals to establish a baseline (e.g. collect data on your height, weight, and blood pressure). By the end of your initial evaluation your doctor will arrive at a diagnosis and a treatment plan. Your doctor will also often review information (e.g. historical records and reports) and communicate with any other medical or mental health providers you have to assist in evaluating comprehensively.
What Kind of Questions Will Be Asked?
The initial psychiatric evaluation will include many detailed questions covering all of the following areas:
• Current symptoms and concerns
• Psychiatric history
• Chemical substance use history
• Medication history
• Medical history
• Family history
• Personal and social history
• Academic and occupational history
• Developmental history
What Tests Are Used in The Evaluation?
The specific test measures utilized depend on the situation. In most cases, information obtained through the clinical interview, direct observations, and self-report assessment tools at the initial evaluation are sufficient for an effective and accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. In other situations, your doctor may recommend further testing (e.g. speech/language tests, psycho-educational tests, comprehensive physical tests).
What Should I Bring?
In addition to your completed intake paperwork, please bring any other documents that may help evaluate your history (e.g. previous mental health records, previous testing or reports, a complete list of medication trials). For treatment with minors, a parental guardian must be present at the initial appointment.
What Kind of Treatment Does the Doctor Prescribe/Recommend?
Your doctor will prescribe and recommend an individualized treatment course that is indicated as best based on the evaluation findings. This may include medication options or a recommended medication management program, referrals for psychotherapy, recommendations for further testing, or referrals for a higher level of care. Your doctor may also order follow-up tests for you to complete such as blood tests, an EEG, or an EKG.If other mental health services (e.g. testing, psychotherapy) are recommended and included in your treatment plan your doctor will assist in you in connecting with a provider who can best fit your needs.
What Can I Expect Following My Appointment?
You can expect to leave your first appointment with a tentative diagnosis and treatment plan. Your doctor may provide the treatment themselves, or they may recommend you see another professional. If your doctor’s continued care is included in the treatment plan you will leave with a scheduled follow-up appointment. If you do begin a medication management program, you will be expected to attend medication management follow-up appointments with your doctor in order to monitor your symptoms, progress, medications, and adjust your treatment plan as needed.
Psychotherapy Evaluation
What Happens During My Evaluation?
A psychotherapy initial evaluation focuses primarily on information-gathering in order to properly evaluate your (your child’s) concerns and arrive at a treatment plan. Expect for your therapist to ask a variety of questions about your personal history, current situation, and treatment goals. In addition to clinical interviewing, your therapist may administer assessment tools (such as questionnaires or rating scales) based on your reasons for evaluation. At the end of your first appointment, the therapist will often arrive at a tentative diagnosis and treatment plan. The initial evaluation is not only a time for your therapist to evaluate your concerns and determine the best course of treatment but it is also a time for you to determine whether the therapist’s approach and personality is a good fit for you. For treatment with minors, you can expect for the provider to meet with you and your child both together and separately.
What Kind of Questions Will Be Asked?
Many detailed questions about why you are seeking therapy, your personal history, current situation, current symptoms, and goals will be asked in order to evaluate your unique needs and develop an individualized treatment plan. To assess your personal history your provider may ask questions covering the following areas:
• Current symptoms and concerns
• Psychiatric history
• Chemical substance use history
• Medication history
• Medical history
• Family history
• Social history
• Academic and occupational history
• Developmental history
What Should I Bring?
In addition to your completed intake paperwork, please bring any other documents that may help evaluate your history (e.g. previous mental health records, previous testing or reports). For treatment with minors, a parental guardian must be present at the initial evaluation.
What Can I Expect Following My Appointment?
You can expect to leave your first appointment with a tentative diagnosis and treatment plan. This includes a scheduled follow-up appointment in order to begin treatment sessions. Alternatively, if it is determined that you and the provider are not a good fit or that you require more specialized care, your provider will provide you with referrals for other treatment providers and options.
Psychological Testing Evaluation
Psychological Testing EvaluationWhat Happens During My Evaluation?
The initial psycho-educational testing appointment will consist of a clinical interview with the patient and/or parent (when necessary) where we talk about current problems and expectations for treatment. After this initial meeting, we will review of any relevant school, past assessments, IEPs and/or medical records. If needed, we may schedule a classroom observation before the psychologist meets with the patient, which helps the psychologist understand how the patient is functioning academically and socially. In follow-up sessions, we will have the patient take different standardized tests that measure brain and emotional functioning for:
Attention
Memory
Language
Behavioral/emotional functioning
Visuospatial abilities
Fine motor skills
What Tests Are Used in The Evaluation?
The specific test measures utilized depend on the situation. In most cases, a battery of standardized tests measuring brain and emotional functioning will be selected based on your specific reasons for evaluation and presenting concerns. In addition, information collected through direct observations, clinical interviewing, review of historical records, and communication with any other treatment providers you have may be utilized.
What Should I Bring?
In addition to your completed intake paperwork, please bring any other documents that may help evaluate your history (e.g. previous mental health records, previous testing or reports, a complete list of medication trials). For treatment with minors, a parental guardian must be present at the initial appointment.
What Can I Expect Following My Testing Appointments?
After we complete the testing, we draft a comprehensive report to create a complete picture of the patient. We will schedule an appointment to talk about the results and make recommendations for the patient’s treatment plan. In that meeting, the psychologist, psychiatrist and parents and/or patient as applicable are all present.