Psychiatric Evaluation

What are psychiatric evaluations?

A psychological evaluation assesses your mental health, behavior, and learning ability. It provides key insights into your emotions, outlook, and daily function to help you live a happier, healthier, and more balanced life.

For example, if you often feel depressed or anxious, a psychological evaluation can identify the underlying cause. Your Paramount Health Directions provider then uses that information to treat your symptoms and help you feel better.

What types of mental health conditions can psychiatric evaluations diagnose?

Paramount Health Directions uses psychiatric evaluations to diagnose various mental health conditions, including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Schizophrenia
• Substance use disorder (SUD)
• Personality disorders
• Intellectual disabilities

Sometimes, psychiatric evaluations are used for academic purposes. For instance, your child might benefit from a psychiatric evaluation if they’re struggling in the classroom. The test can identify their academic strengths and weaknesses and improve their performance at school.

Are there different types of psychiatric evaluations?

Paramount Health Directions offers several types of psychiatric evaluations, including:

Assessment of intellectual functioning (IQ)

This evaluation measures your intellectual abilities and potential. Assessing these functions helps identify underlying medical conditions that could interfere with learning and cognition.

Behavioral assessment

This evaluation assesses your behavior and emotions. It’s used to pinpoint underlying mental health conditions that cause irrational or erratic behavior. 

Clinical interview

A clinical interview is a one-on-one meeting with a psychiatrist. During the conversation, your Paramount Health Directions provider gathers information about your personality, behavior, and life history. They use this information to develop a personalized treatment plan that improves your mental health and outlook.

Personality assessment

A personality assessment evaluates the environmental factors, genetics, and social components that make you, you. Gathering this information makes it easier to address your unique needs and improve your mental health.

What happens during psychiatric evaluations?

Psychiatric evaluations at Paramount Health Directions typically take 2-3 separate sessions. At each visit, your provider asks you questions about your mental health, medical history, family history, and lifestyle. They also have you complete several psychological tests to determine how you experience symptoms and how you think, feel, and behave.

After gathering a complete picture of your mental health, your Paramount Health Directions provider develops a personalized treatment plan. Often, that includes counseling, prescription medication, or healthy lifestyle changes. 

Call Paramount Health Directions to schedule a psychiatric evaluation, or book your appointment online today.