Psychiatric Professionals to Assess Mental Illnesses Discussion

Response Post to Dawit

I laud you for the detailed discussion on the recommended approaches to psychiatric interview. A key highlight I picked from your discussion is the need for psychiatric practitioners and students to be thorough in their work considering that mental illness is an issue that is associated with a lot of stigma and negativity in society (Philip et al., 2020). Following this, you made a keen statement that as professionals in healthcare, we, as nurses, are called upon to uphold professional standards in our practices. I agree with you on the three crucial components of the psychiatric interview which you have discussed under separate titles of patient history, the Mental Status Examination (MSE), and clinical judgment. I should add that your analysis of these three elements was articulately, well-structured and informative. Most importantly, you highlighted the value that each of these three components has and how they collectively contribute to effective psychiatric assessments (Gong et al., 2021). Equally important is the fact that you emphasized on clinical judgment stating that it plays a pivotal role in tailoring individualized treatment plans. I should perhaps add to your review on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) Rating Scale by stating that this is a highly recommended tool and is commonly used across the country in psychiatry. The important aspect about this tool is that it is recommended for aiding psychiatric professionals to assess mental illnesses and effectively determine the appropriate classification and treatments for the same. Psychiatric Professionals to Assess Mental Illnesses Discussion

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References

Gong, Y., Zhou, H., Zhang, Y., Zhu, X., Wang, X., Shen, B., … & Ding, Y. (2021). Validation of the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) as a screening tool for anxiety among pregnant Chinese women. Journal of affective disorders, 282, 98-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.129

Philip, P., Dupuy, L., Auriacombe, M., Serre, F., de Sevin, E., Sauteraud, A., & Micoulaud-Franchi, J. A. (2020). Trust and acceptance of a virtual psychiatric interview between embodied conversational agents and outpatients. NPJ digital medicine, 3(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-019-0213-y

Please give a response to those 2-discussion post with their reference separately
#1

Dawit H.

week 2 Discussion Post Psychiatric Professionals to Assess Mental Illnesses Discussion
A nuanced understanding of crucial interview components and assessment tools is indispensable for nurse practitioners in psychiatric assessment. As frontline healthcare providers specializing in mental health, nurse practitioners are pivotal in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating individuals facing various psychological challenges (Koutra et al., 2021). Their ability to conduct comprehensive psychiatric assessments determines the accuracy of diagnoses and sets the stage for effective therapeutic interventions. To navigate the complex mental health landscape, nurse practitioners must skillfully employ a multifaceted approach encompassing thorough patient interviews, standardized assessment instruments, cultural competence, and ongoing monitoring to provide holistic, patient-centered care.
Three Important Components of the Psychiatric Interview
1. Patient History
Patient history forms the cornerstone of psychiatric assessment. It encompasses gathering information about the client’s past and present experiences, including medical history, psychiatric history, family history, and psychosocial factors. This component is paramount because it provides context for understanding the client’s mental health and potential contributing factors. Abd El-Hay (2018) notes that comprehensive patient history assists in identifying patterns, triggers, and underlying issues that may influence the client’s condition. For instance, a family history of depression may indicate a genetic predisposition, guiding the nurse practitioner’s diagnostic considerations and treatment planning. Psychiatric Professionals to Assess Mental Illnesses Discussion
2. Mental Status Examination
The MSE systematically assesses the client’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning during the evaluation. It encompasses various domains: appearance, behavior, mood, affect, thought process, thought content, perception, cognition, insight, and judgment. The MSE is crucial because it offers a snapshot of the client’s current mental state, aiding in identifying psychiatric symptoms and potential disorders (Voss & Das, 2022). It helps in establishing diagnostic impressions and informing treatment decisions. For example, identifying disorganized thought processes or impaired cognition during the MSE can indicate schizophrenia or other cognitive disorders, prompting the need for specialized interventions.
3. Clinical Judgement
Clinical judgment involves synthesizing all available information, including patient history, MSE findings, and diagnostic criteria, to understand the client’s mental health status comprehensively. The nurse practitioner can interpret data, make diagnostic decisions, and develop an individualized treatment plan. Clinical judgment is vital as it guides the nurse practitioner in determining the appropriate interventions, whether they involve psychotherapy, medication, referrals, or supportive care (Smith et al., 2020). A well-informed and evidence-based clinical judgment ensures clients receive tailored, effective care that aligns with their unique needs and circumstances.
Psychometric Properties of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) Rating Scale:
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) health questionnaire is a widely self-reported rating scale for assessing and severity measuring GAD. It comprises seven elements, each corresponding to a symptom of anxiety. The psychometric properties of the GAD-7 have been comprehensively researched: It reveals good internal consistency (De Man et al. 2021) had a sensitivity value of 0.89 and a specificity value of 0.84 for identifying that its items consistently measure GAD symptoms. The assessment is designated by adding the total scores for the scale of all seven elements with responses getting zero to three points which is: zero points for not all, one point for experiencing anxiety for several days, two points for experiencing more than half days, and three points for almost all days. Psychiatric Professionals to Assess Mental Illnesses Discussion
Appropriate Use of the GAD-7 Rating Scale:
The GAD-7 is appropriate for patients during the psychiatric interview, especially when anxiety is suspected. It can be administered at the initial assessment to screen for generalized anxiety disorder and later as follow-up visits to evaluate symptom severity and treatment progress (Dugas et al., 2018). The scale benefits a nurse practitioner’s psychiatric assessment by providing several advantages. For example: it provides a standard criterion, a clear way to assess anxiety symptoms, avoiding bias in the assessment process. Scores on the GAD-7 can guide treatment decision-making. Based on the research of (De Man et al. 2021) higher scores may suggest the need for more aggressive interventions, such as medications, referral to specialists, and or psychotherapy. Regular use of the GAD-7 enables the nurse PMHNP to detect changes in symptom severity over time, helping to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and adjust the treatment plan accordingly. Psychiatric Professionals to Assess Mental Illnesses Discussion

References
Abd El-Hay, M. A. (2018). Essentials of psychiatric assessment. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315148137Links to an external site.
De Man, Jeroen; Absetz, Pilvikki; Sathish, Thirunavukkarasu; Desloge, Allissa; Haregu, Tilahun; Oldenburg, Brian; Johnson, Leslie C. M.; Thankappan, Kavumpurathu Raman; Williams, Emily D. (2021-05-13). “Are the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 Suitable for Use in India? A Psychometric Analysis”Links to an external site.. Frontiers in Psychology
Dugas, Michel J.; Charette, Catherine A.; Gervais, Nicole J. (2018), “Generalized Anxiety Disorder (2nd ed.)”Links to an external site., A Guide to Assessments That Work, Oxford University Press, pp. 293–310, doiLinks to an external site.:10.1093/med-psych/9780190492243.003.0014Links to an external site., retrieved 2022-11-30
Koutra, K., Mavroeides, G., & Triliva, S. (2021). Mental health professionals’ attitudes towards people with severe mental illness: Are they related to professional quality of life? Community Mental Health Journal, 58(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-021-00874-x
Smith, M., Francq, B., McConnachie, A., Wetherall, K., Pelosi, A., & Morrison, J. (2020). Clinical judgment, case complexity, and symptom scores as predictors of outcome in depression: An exploratory analysis. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02532-0
Voss, R. M., & Das, J. M. (2022, September 12). Mental status examination. National Library of Medicine; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546682/ Psychiatric Professionals to Assess Mental Illnesses Discussion

#2
Angela D.

Hello Class,
Developing a rapport, determining the patient’s mental state, and learning about their psychosocial background are three essential aspects of a psychiatric interview. These components are crucial because they serve as the cornerstone for thoroughly understanding the client’s mental health, making a precise diagnosis, and supporting the creation of a personalized treatment plan. The first stage of the psychiatric interview, rapport building, is creating a therapeutic alliance and a sense of trust between the client and the nurse practitioner (NP). This component is essential because it promotes open communication, invites clients to express their feelings and experiences, and lessens the stigma frequently connected to mental health issues (English et al., 2022). A positive relationship with the client makes them more open about their symptoms, which helps the NP make a precise evaluation and diagnosis. Psychiatric Professionals to Assess Mental Illnesses Discussion
The client’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning during the interview are assessed as part of the mental status assessment. This element is crucial since it offers a quick understanding of the client’s mental state. There is an evaluation of speech, mood, thought processes, and cognitive capacities. The NP can identify suspected mental diseases, gauge the intensity of symptoms, and assess the risk of harm to oneself or others by spotting any irregularities or inconsistencies. The psychosocial history exploration process involves investigating the client’s life experiences, upbringing, relationships, and societal settings (Sewell, 2020). It exhibits strong internal consistency and inter-rater reliability, indicating that assessments conducted on the same patient by other doctors will typically produce reliable results. Compared to other depression measures, the scale has also shown contemporaneous and predictive validity.
When evaluating clients for depression during a psychiatric interview, the HAM-D is a suitable tool. It aids the NP in tracking changes over time, determining treatment effectiveness, and assessing the severity of depressed symptoms. The scale lowers subjectivity and improves the precision of diagnosis and treatment planning by offering an organized and consistent assessment. Additionally, it makes it easier for healthcare personnel to communicate with one another, ensuring that everyone is aware of the client’s condition and progress. Psychiatric Professionals to Assess Mental Illnesses Discussion
References
English, W., Gott, M., & Robinson, J. (2022). The meaning of rapport for patients, families, and healthcare professionals: A scoping review. Patient Education and Counseling, 105(1), 2–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2021.06.003Links to an external site.
Sewell, K. M. (2019). Examining the place of emotions, affect, and regulation in social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 56(1), 5-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2019.1627262Links to an external site. Psychiatric Professionals to Assess Mental Illnesses Discussion