Initial Psychiatric Assessment : Addiction, Codeine Withdrawal, and Suboxone Treatment
Psychiatric Assessment For Hydrocodone Withdrawl
If you want more information about addiction, Codeine withdrawal treatment, or suboxone treatment, this is what you need to know for the initial psychiatric assessment . When you go your physician, your initial psychiatric assessment will take an hour or two. The more time you prepare before a visit with your doctor, the better things will go for you.
Be honest about your past and precent problems during the initial interview. I see people lying to their physicians all the time and I actually expect it to happen. The initial psychiatric assessment for addiction covers topics people don’t like discussing. The law has severe fines and strict rules for not observing patient confidentiality and proper medical record release. The mental health staff are aware of the financial consequences for breaking confidentiality. I would rather my patients to tell me if they do not want to discuss a something right now rather than not telling the truth to me. Dishonesty can lead to wasted sessions, an incorrect diagnosis and treatment, and more cost.
We all wish physicians could ask all the questions during the initial psychiatric assessment… Physicians are rushed with the time allowed to see patients. For many patients, this means only the highlights of the initial psychiatric assessment are covered. Many questions are simply put off to another day. Sometimes important questions don’t get asked. A complete initial psychatric assessment could take several hours. Ninety minutes with a patient who thought about what they need to say should be enough time. Anything under 45 minutes, and questions will probably be skipped. There is just too much information to cover in this period of time. You can help with by preparing a little. By becoming familiar with the contents of an initial psychiatric assessment before seeing your doctor, you can help be sure there will be time for the things you find important.
Initial Psychiatric Assessment : The Vital Part
An accurate chronological history of your use of drugs, your addiction, and your problems and symptoms is the most vital item of an initial psychiatric assessment . We call it getting a good history. The diagnosis becomes easy to see with a good chronological history. Many patients have trouble providing a good history without prior thought. Then, if time runs short in the session, the doctor will have to ask more questions which will limit the time to get to other important things. The patient may become upset and may feel the MD doesn’t care. This is not necessarily the case because if the patient continues to talk without being interrupted, the doctor will not get all the information.
You can assist by reviewing your history of problems prior to going to the initial psychiatric assessment. You would be surprised that patients really need to concentrate to answer the many questions. Asking these questions to help prepare you:
1. When was the start of the problem?
2. When were you previously doing well?
3. What symptoms and problems came first?
4. What was the chronological sequence of symptoms: what came next?
5. What improved of made the symptoms worse?
Psychiatric Assessment : How to Set Goals
Patients just “want to get better.” But this is not a very specific statement. One needs to be more clear by what they mean by “getting better.” It could mean feeling happy. It could mean being able to hold keeping a job. How about not going back to jail? It is important to set goals that are important to you before so you can see improvement and keep you involved in your treatment.
Once YOU decide you goals, you will be more likely to benefit from treatment. I’ve heard patients say that what they want is not what their physician wants. This is usually a communication problem. Be very specific about your goals during the initial psychiatric assessment and though out treatment. Tell your doctor your wishes and look at the goals every week. Change the goals that don’t fit what you are looking to accomplish.
After the initial psychiatric assessment make sure you and your doctor are in agreement with the goals you have set. Set goals and then measure them by reviewing them. Here are a examples of specific initial psychiatric assessment goals.
1. I will not drink coffee in the morning at least 5 days per week for the next month.
2. I will call my best friend each time I have suicidal thoughts during the next two days.
3. I will not cut on myself for the next for 10 days
4. I will not use any form of alcohol during the next 30 days.
5. I will keep my current job for 6 months6. When I feel the urge to argue with someone, I will walk away from the argument and count to 100.
These goals are measurable. They can be checked by anyone when they are achieved. Setting goals is takes a little practice. Just think ahead about what exactly you will have to do to check off a goal. However, not setting any goals will lead to aimless treatment. You may end up frustrated and not doing better.
In part 2 of the Initial Psychiatric Assessment : Addiction, Codeine Withdrawal, and Suboxone Treatment I will go over more items your doctor will cover.. You will become more aware of how to be prepared for you doctor visit. Being ready for your visit helps you spend quality time going over what you think is most important.
Suboxone Treatment Directory For Help With Opioid Addiction and Hydrocodone Withdrawal
Dr. Rich is a Board Certified Psychiatrist with licenses in Texas and Hawaii. He specializes in the treatment of opioid addiction with buprenorphine and runs a FREE locator service to find Addiction Treament Clinic including Suboxone treatment, methadone treatment, and codeine withdrawal addiction treatment. Find a Suboxone Physician in your area.
Dr. Rich has written more articles on the cost of oxycontin, buprenorphine (Suboxone) including frequently asked questions and a recent post : How Do I Find An Addiction Doctor?
Here are more resources for psychiatric assessment for addiction and suboxone treatment :
- Practice parameter for the psychiatric assessment and management of – Psychiatry 2009 Feb;48(2):213-33. This is the current release of the guideline.
- Psychiatric assessment – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia – A psychiatric assessment,
- The Psychiatric view of ME/CFS. What is it? – The psychiatric assessment should be systematic..