Psychiatric Evaluation

The first step toward better mental health

If you’re experiencing symptoms affecting your mental health, a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation offers valuable insights into what could be causing your symptoms and how to treat them.  

At Reid Health, psychiatric evaluations play a vital role in our care for people with behavioral health needs. They’re the first step we take in reviewing your mental health, whether you come to us for inpatient treatment or visit one of our outpatient treatment centers in East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio. The visits allow us to determine the most appropriate care in both the short and long term.

You’ll meet with a psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed clinical social worker, who’ll ask you questions about your symptoms, mood, sleep habits, and many other aspects of your daily life to help you develop a plan to move forward.  

What is a psychiatric evaluation?

A psychiatric evaluation is one of the main tools mental health professionals use to diagnose behavioral health conditions. These visits give your provider a chance to get a complete picture of your psychological health and all the factors that might affect it, ranging from your genetics, family history, and environment to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.  

 When you seek treatment for a mental health condition or someone seeks treatment for you, the process begins with a psychiatric evaluation. In many ways, it’s the mental health equivalent of a checkup with your primary care provider. Your behavioral health specialist will talk with you about your lifestyle, how you feel and your symptoms, then use the information to make a diagnosis.

There are multiple types of evaluations used to diagnose mental health disorders — a psychiatric evaluation is one. Your provider might also use a psychological evaluation or a biopsychosocial assessment to gather additional information. These evaluations are broader and include questions about your mental wellness, cognitive abilities, and social interactions.  

What is a psychiatric evaluation used for?

A psychiatric evaluation can help diagnose mental health issues in people of all ages, including children and adults.  

They are used for many different mental health conditions, including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Mood disorders, including bipolar disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Postpartum depression or anxiety
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Substance use disorder

What to expect during a psychiatric evaluation

Psychiatric evaluations can look different for everyone because your provider will want to tailor the visit to your symptoms and needs. In general, though, evaluations include a thorough review of your mental and physical health.  

The visits might also look different if you’re having one as part of inpatient treatment or outpatient treatment. Our providers offer psychiatric evaluations in both settings.

Before a psychological evaluation, our therapists will ask you to complete essential forms. These forms help determine the type of evaluation you need and ensure a smooth process, preventing the need to reschedule or cancel appointments. Completing this step is critical to providing the best care possible.

When preparing for a psychiatric evaluation at an outpatient clinic, it might help to note symptoms or other behavior patterns you’d like to discuss. You’ll want to come to your appointment prepared to give honest answers about your health and symptoms and how your symptoms affect your life and relationships.  

Every piece of information you share helps your mental health professional make an accurate diagnosis and develop a treatment plan personalized for your needs. 

Behavioral health evaluation

During a psychiatric evaluation, you’ll be asked questions about:

• Your behaviors: How your behavior affects other aspects of your life, including your relationships, work or school performance, and daily activities
• Your lifestyle and habits: Substance use or reliance on substances as coping tools
• Your personal and family history of mental illness: Which behavioral health conditions (if any) you or your family members have had
• Your symptoms: Mental, emotional, and physical symptoms you would like help addressing

If your provider suspects you have a specific mental illness, your evaluation might include condition-specific questions to give your provider extra insight into your mental health and well-being.

If your child is being evaluated for a mental health condition, a psychiatric evaluation might also include questions about your child’s friendships, growth and development, school life, and relationships with family and friends. 

Physical health assessment

In addition to performing a clinical interview, your provider (or your child’s provider) will also take a complete medical history and might order blood, urine, or imaging tests. That’s because, in some cases, underlying medical conditions, such as a nutrient deficiency or thyroid problem, can cause symptoms that affect your mental health.

Some symptoms of behavioral health conditions mirror those of cognitive or neurological conditions. If your provider suspects a neurological issue, they might recommend a neurological or neuropsychological exam to measure your thinking skills, physical reactions, and other signs that might help them diagnose your condition. 

Making a diagnosis

To make a diagnosis, your provider will compare details gathered about your behavioral and physical health, your health history, and answers to condition-specific questions against the diagnostic criteria for each mental health condition.  

These criteria, established by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses, are typically emotional or physical signs behavioral health professionals have defined as key to a given mental health issue. To be diagnosed, a person should have a set number of symptoms or behavioral patterns off the list of criteria.  

Your provider will use these criteria as a guide and factor them into the results of your evaluation to determine which condition you have. Your diagnosis helps guide treatment planning and determining whether you would benefit from psychotherapy, medication management or another treatment.  

Why choose Reid for a psychiatric evaluation

Psychiatric evaluations are comprehensive, and you should feel comfortable with a provider asking questions that might feel quite personal.  

Our providers offer the compassion, trust, and expertise necessary to perform these assessments and help you, your child, or your loved one get the care necessary to live a fulfilling life. We offer every service with care and empathy, and we work with other providers to address your physical health and connect you to social resources to support your treatment goals.

Our behavioral health specialists also offer an array of behavioral health services right here in our community. You don’t have to travel far to get the specialized care you need for your mental health.