What happens during a psychiatric evaluation?

Question

I might have bipolar disorder and am going for a psychiatric evaluation..

I'm just wondering what happens in there, and if the psychiatrist is going to tell my parents about anything I tell him.

Will my parents be in there while I'm being evaluated? What sort of questions would the psychiatrist make me answer? Would he ask me personal questions in front of my parents?

I'm afraid; I don't want to open up to a complete stranger, and even more so if it's in front of my parents. I'm not comfortable with that idea..

Answer 1

Bipolar disorder tends to run in families. A family history of depression appears to exist in 80 percent to 90 percent of cases of bipolar disorder. Researchers are attempting to identify genes that may make people susceptible to bipolar disorder.

Your doctor may ask you or a family member who has accompanied you about your signs and symptoms and to describe apparent episodes of mania and depression. Diagnosis also involves ruling out other mental health conditions that may produce some symptoms similar to bipolar disorder. These may include other mood disorders, sometimes schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or borderline personality disorder.
You may also undergo tests to see if your mood swings are due to physical causes, such as:
* Substance abuse. Abuse of alcohol, marijuana and cocaine may affect your moods.
* Thyroid disorders. A blood test for thyroid function can determine whether you have a thyroid disorder, such as an underactive thyroid.
Your doctor may also ask about your use of medications, alcohol and recreational drugs and about your diet. Certain medications including corticosteroids, such as prednisone, and medications used to treat depression, anxiety and Parkinson's disease can cause mood swings. Abuse of alcohol and recreational drugs also can cause mood swings. Deficiency of vitamin B-12 may alter moods as well.

Psychotherapy
This approach is often used simultaneously with medication. Your therapist will help you detect patterns leading up to episodes of bipolar disorder, trying to identify triggers for these episodes. These patterns might include your use of medications or anything that happens to you physically or emotionally. Psychotherapy helps provide strategies for managing stress and coping with uncertainties. This, along with basic education about the nature of the disorder, helps you understand why you may well need to keep taking medication over many years.
Please see the web pages for more details on Bipolar disorder.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What happens during a psychiatric evaluation?
I might have bipolar disorder and am going for a psychiatric evaluation..

I'm just wondering what happens in there, and if the psychiatrist is going to tell my parents about anything I tell him.

Will my parents be in there while I'm being evaluated? What sort of questions would the...

Answer 3

Evaluation procedures differ depending on the doctor, so we can't really tell you whether your parents will be in there while you're being evaluated. You can ask your psychiatrist if you can do it alone, without your parents. Normally, people are evaluated after they have undergone a series sessions in which they open up to a psychiatrist. But if you're going for an immediate evaluation for bipolar's, then the questions they might ask are pretty predictable. Do you find that you go back and forth from feeling depressed and feeling fine? Do you experience periods of elevated mood? Are you prone to bouts of extreme depression in between periods of feeling fine? The span of questions they can ask you is quite large, really. Do you have a lot of sexual energy? Do you have difficulty focusing on things? Do you have a short attention span? They will also ask you pretty straight-forward questions about your diet, habits and whether you do any drugs, etc. Remember that these people are not out of make you feel uncomfortable. There is no reason for you to feel embarrassed as they deal with this sort of thing every day. It is their job, after all, so don't hold back any information or be afraid of "surprising" them. And good luck :)

Answer 4

You just need to tell the psychiatrist how you feel and answer any questions the doctor might have. It's usually pretty simple and not as "weird" or personal as some people might think. The doctor will probably ask things like this: do you feel sad, do you want to kill yourself, do you get along with other people, and so on. It's not really that different from talking to any other medical doctor.

If you are seeing a psychologist or counselor instead of a psychiatrist, they might ask more "personal" questions than a psychiatrist would, but not always.

I was about 26 the first time I saw a psychiatrist. I expected to get a lot of questions about my childhood and what I thought about my parents and things like that. There were no questions like that at all.

I don't know how the answer the part regarding your parents since I don't know if you are over 18 or not. If you are over 18 and they are not your legal guardians, your parents are not entitled to any information on your treatment unless you give your consent. If you are under 18 your parents are legally responsible for you and your health care treatment, but you may be entitled to a certain amount of privacy if the doctor thinks it is better for your treatment.

Answer 5

Hi. I know this post is 6 years old but just like to thank avery one for their answers. I'm in the exact same predicament as this girl was! I have my evaluation tomorrow and I was worried about what would happen and would my parents know etc... But this has helped! Thanks guys

Answer 6

The choice for your parents to be there is up to you. By law, he can't tell anyone anything unless you threaten yourself or a child/disabled adult.

Psychiatrists/Psychologists can be very helpful to someone who needs them but their patients need to be truthful. He will understand that you might be uncomfortable opening up right away and will not force you to answer anything you don't want to.

Don't worry about your parents, if you don't want them there, just say the word and they'll have to leave.

Answer 7

Well, I went to an evaluation for Anorexia Nervosa. Basically they ask you a lot of questions, first with you and your parents, then your parents individually and well as you individually.

Answer 8

My son was evaluated and I was NOT there. He is 21 years old. They came to the conclusion that he IS bipolar. You need to tell him/her exactly whats going on with u so they can diagnose and prognose properly. While bipolar is not cureable, it is treatable. Be honest. They are not allowed to disclose what u tell them. Good luck to u.

Answer 9

Your are wise to get professional help, parents in the session or out.

Good luck!

Answer 10

well i went loopey in september because i was abused as a child, and threatened to kill anybody that came near me so i went to a & e and this really fit doctor called patrick evaluated me, and your parents cant go in if you say you dont want them too. mine was pretty wierd actually, patrick kept asking me loads of questions and then all of a sudden he shouted "WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO SHUT THE **** UP!" and i bursted out crying and started clinging onto his leg, and when i didnt let go they injected me in my ****! so dont do that