Question Components of a Psychiatric Interview Components of a Psychiatric Interview 1. Choose 3 components of a psychiatric interview and discuss, why these components are important. They are Psychiatric history, mental status Examination, and Diagnosis/treatment plan 2. Choose one of the following rating scales and discuss, when it might be appropriate to use this scale, and how this rating scale may be helpful to you in your work as PMHNP: PHQ-9, GAD-7, AIMS, or Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Support your approach with evidence-based literature.
Components of a Psychiatric Interview
Psychiatric History
The psychiatric history involves gathering information about the patient’s past and current psychiatric symptoms, previous treatment, family history, psychosocial stressors, and substance use history. This component is crucial as it provides essential context for understanding the patient’s mental health status, helps identify risk factors, and informs the diagnostic process (Smith et al., 2021). This information aids in making a precise diagnosis and creating a suitable treatment strategy. Our assignment help will hone your writing prowess for papers that will awe your professors.
Mental Status Examination (MSE)
The MSE systematically assesses a patient’s behavior, appearance, mood, speech, thought process, perception, thinking, insight, and present mental state. It is a standardized approach to assessing a patient’s psychiatric symptoms and cognitive functioning. The MSE allows clinicians to observe and document observable abnormalities and subtle changes in a patient’s mental state (Devi & Rao, 2019). It helps to identify specific psychiatric disorders, differentiate between conditions, and monitor treatment response.
Diagnosis/Treatment Plan
The diagnosis component involves using the information gathered from the psychiatric history and mental status examination to establish a psychiatric diagnosis. A valid and reliable diagnosis is critical for guiding treatment decisions and interventions (Carlat, 2017). The treatment plan component involves formulating a comprehensive and individualized plan tailored to the patient’s diagnosis and needs. It includes medication management, psychotherapy, psychosocial interventions, and addressing any comorbidities or underlying medical conditions (Carlat, 2017). A systematic and evidence-based treatment plan leads to improved patient outcomes and recovery.
The Use of the GAD-7 Rating Scale
The GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) is a validated self-report survey created to gauge the intensity of symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. It comprises seven elements that evaluate anxiety symptoms over the past two weeks (Plummer et al., 2022). Higher scores indicate very profound anxiety episodes. Every element is evaluated on a Likert score from 0 to 3. The GAD-7 is a valuable scale for PMHNPs to evaluate and monitor anxiety symptoms in various clinical settings (Plummer et al., 2022). The GAD-7 can be appropriate in initial psychiatric assessments, treatment planning, and treatment response monitoring. It is useful in primary care settings, where anxiety is often underdiagnosed and undertreated (Plummer et al., 2022). The GAD-7 can efficiently screen for generalized anxiety disorder, track symptom severity over time, and aid in determining the appropriate level of care required for a patient.
Using the GAD-7 rating scale as a PMHNP can be helpful. Firstly, it provides a standardized and quantitative measure of anxiety symptoms, facilitating more accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. Secondly, it monitors symptom severity and treatment response, enabling clinicians to make informed decisions regarding medication adjustments, therapy interventions, or referral to specialized care (Sadock et al., 2015). Lastly, the GAD-7 is a brief and user-friendly tool that can enhance patient engagement and self-awareness by involving them in the assessment process.
References
Carlat, D. J. (2017). The psychiatric interview (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
Devi, P. R., & Rao, V. M. (2019). Mental status examination: A practical tool for clinical practice. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 41(6), 529-536. doi: 10.4103/ijpsym.ijpsym_109_19