Diagnostic accuracy is key to optimal recovery and long-term well-being. Thus, a clinical diagnosis is always important when emotional and psychological symptoms are there. Here, psychiatrists are mental health experts who treat patients struggling with mental, emotional, and behavioral issues.
Doctors ensure all-inclusive diagnosis, treatment, lifestyle advice, and management for different forms of mental health conditions. Consult Dr. Sudeshna Mukherjee, the most trusted psychiatrist in Siliguri, for a healthy recovery.
It is possible to simplify the process and lessen the stigma associated with getting treatment by knowing how psychiatrists diagnose mental illnesses. A mix of psychological examinations, behavioural observations, and standardized criteria is used to diagnose mental health issues.
Step 1: Consultation
Usually, the procedure starts with scheduling the first appointment during which the psychiatrist provides a general assessment of the patient's physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Common subjects discussed include:
· Outlining symptoms (such as anxiety, depression, or trouble sleeping).
· The duration of your mental health issue or stress and intensity of the symptoms of this condition.
· How do these symptoms affect your day-to-day life?
· Previous medical and mental health status.
· Family history of mental illness.
· Use of drugs.
· Current medications.
· Social and professional aspects.
Based on the data acquired, the psychiatrist now starts creating a differential diagnosis, or a list of potential illnesses.
Step 2: Mental Status Examination (MSE)
During the mental state evaluation, psychiatrists examine the patient's overall awareness and responsiveness. Your mental capacity, including your perceptions, emotions, behavior, and cognitive abilities, is evaluated through observations and questions during the MSE.
Aspects of the patient's mental state, such as appearance, behaviour, mood, cognitive processes, perception, insight, and judgment, will all be observed and evaluated by the psychiatrist.
The patient's appearance, eye contact, and speech or self-expression are a few examples of the things they could see. Any anomalous behaviours, delusions, hallucinations, or cognitive deficits that could point to a specific mental health problem are identified by the psychiatrist with the use of the MSE.
Step 3: Diagnostic Criteria and the DSM-5
Mental health professionals use the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as an effective diagnostic tool.
A person with at least five symptoms, such as fatigue, disinterest, poor concentration, feeling worthless, weight gain/ weight loss, or continuing sadness, for at least two weeks, with at least one of those symptoms being an ongoing sadness, to be diagnosed with depressive disorder.
The DSM-5 lists a number of requirements for each mental illness, including:
· Particular signs and symptoms
· Symptom duration
· Impact on everyday life and severity
· Excluding other reasons
Step 4: Psychological Testing
Standardized psychological tests or screening might be useful in some situations. These techniques help a psychiatrist confirm a diagnosis or detect other possibilities, such as:
· How severe your depression is can be measured using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). It’s a popular psychometric tool that helps assess the degree of depression – Beck, a 21-item multiple-choice self-report questionnaire. Get a precise diagnosis from the best psychiatrist in the region.
· The GAD-7 is a seven-question test used by mental health professionals. It helps assess how severe anxiety is and monitors changes over time. The person is asked to score the severity of their symptoms over the past two weeks for each item.
· The MMPI-2 is a test in psychiatric diagnosis to examine personality and mental health issues. It is the most common tool in clinical psychology for this purpose. The test helps professionals diagnose and identify mental health conditions accurately.
· Neuropsychological testing is a series of tests used by mental health experts to learn about how the brain operates. Neuropsychologists generally examine the findings to get a better understanding of the link between brain health and behaviour, as well as mood and thinking.
Here, neurological testing can diagnose:
· Alzheimer’s disease.
· Epilepsy.
· Brain tumours.
· Dementia.
· Parkinson's disease and related movement problems.
· Learning difficulties.
· Transient ischaemic attack and stroke.
· Traumatic brain injuries.
· Multiple Sclerosis.
· Another test called the projective test is a type of personality test that asks participants to interpret unclear images or situations. It requires them to project their feelings and thoughts onto what they see. Participants here describe or analyze confusing visuals to reveal aspects of their personality. Doctors are available to guide patients thoroughly to project their emotions, attitudes, and impulses onto the stimulus in order to explain an image, tell a narrative, finish a phrase, etc.
Step 5: Diagnosing Medical Health Issues
Many times, psychiatric symptoms can be mistaken for those of many medical illnesses. Before your doctor confirms a mental health diagnosis, it's important to rule out medical reasons, if any, such as:
· Thyroid problems (such as hypothyroidism, which often causes mood-related problems).
· Vitamin deficiencies (such as a lack of vitamin B12 and cognitive problems).
· Neurological disorders, including brain tumours or epilepsy.
· Infections (such as HIV and syphilis).
· Side effects of medication or drug abuse.
To ensure a thorough diagnosis, psychiatrists could prescribe blood testing, brain imaging, or send the patient to other experts.
Medical and laboratory testing may occasionally be required to detect physical illnesses that might cause or worsen psychiatric symptoms in people. Both lab and clinical tests and psychological evaluations hold different importance in diagnosing mental health concerns.
To screen for underlying medical illnesses, including thyroid disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or neurological difficulties that might resemble or increase the risk of mental health problems, blood tests, urine tests, or brain imaging (such as an MRI or CT scan) may be performed.
What to Expect After a Mental Health Diagnosis
So, after a diagnosis, the patient and the psychiatrist will discuss the findings in detail. These may include explaining the nature of the disorder diagnosed, its effects on the patient's mental health, possible treatment options, lifestyle advice, routine check-ups, etc.
Typically, psychiatrists:
· Give an easy, non-technical explanation of the diagnosis or test reports.
· Talk about how the problem is predicted to develop.
· Describe the available treatment options, such as counseling or talk therapy, medicine, and lifestyle modifications.
This phase is essential for reducing tension and giving the patients and their families the confidence to participate in treatment. Consult one of the top psychiatrists in Siligurifor a comprehensive and accurate diagnosis.
After a diagnosis, a psychiatrist develops a customized or patient-centric treatment plan that may include:
Medicines: mood stabilisers, anxiolytics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc.
Psychotherapy/ talk therapy: Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal therapy, humanistic therapy, group therapy, and trauma-focused care are examples of therapy.
Lifestyle Modifications: A strategic lifestyle includes stress reduction, exercise, healthy eating, proper drinking, and good sleep.
The Importance of Ongoing Treatment
Mental well-being is ever-changing. New stress, therapeutic effects, or changes in symptoms can all affect a diagnosis; hence, routine or ongoing checkups are vital.
Follow-ups on a regular basis let psychiatrists:
· Keep track of the impacts and progress.
· Modify the diagnosis if required (for example, depression that is later identified as bipolar disorder or anxiety that is developing).
· Revise the therapeutic care.
· Lower the risk of relapses.
The art of diagnosing a mental illness is exclusive. It necessitates a caring attitude, respect, compassion, and extensive clinical understanding. And, the first step to recovery, hope, and a higher quality of life for anyone dealing with mental health concerns is an appropriate diagnosis. Meet Siliguri's most respected psychiatrist to learn more about your care and to guarantee your well-being.
