A psychiatric evaluation is used to determine if a person is in need of psychiatric treatment and what type of treatment might be best. A psychiatric diagnosis may or may not be given based on the evaluation.
Function
A person seeking a psychiatric evaluation does so because he has a behavior or belief that disrupts his everyday life. These beliefs or behaviors may be affecting areas such as school, work or relationships, as well as the person's functioning, such as eating or sleeping.
Types
The purpose of a psychiatric evaluation depends on the specific situation in which it is given. For instance, a psychiatrist meeting with a patient in a psychiatric emergency setting may offer a different type of evaluation than one in an outpatient clinic. In any situation, a psychiatrist will evaluate the patient's safety, to determine if the person is at risk for harming himself or others.
Features
The evaluation itself will include an interview between psychiatrist and patient. The psychiatrist will ask questions and might give some simple cognitive (thinking) tests to help determine what the problem is. The psychiatrist may also review the patient's medical records, talk to family members, order neurological or psychological tests or even consult a medical doctor.
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