Psychological Sessions
?Are they psychological sessions or a psychological evaluation
? The story begins here: My mood isn’t good, so I need a psychological evaluation. Where do I start
.The best person to conduct a psychological evaluation is a psychiatrist
They will take a medical history, examine your mental, emotional, and psychological state, perform a physical examination, and order the necessary lab tests. From there, they will arrive at a diagnosis
: The doctor then paints the picture as follows
The doctor identifies the psychological diagnosis: depression, anxiety, psychosis, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or other
They can determine whether the personality is normal or abnormal, and if so, what its characteristics are: narcissistic, aggressive, borderline, avoidant, paranoid, or other. They also assess the patient’s intelligence level: normal or below average
They develop a general understanding of the patient’s physical condition
Finally, they form a general assessment of the patient’s social status and function within their community
No one is better suited to this task than a psychiatrist. In fact, this is the core of a psychiatrist’s work: a comprehensive diagnosis, considering the four key areas: the primary diagnosis, personality traits, physical condition, and social status
: Afterward, the doctor can determine
Whether the patient is psychotic, has an anxiety disorder, or a mood disorder.
Therefore, psychotherapy is effective for patients with depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. However, psychotherapy is generally not suitable for severe psychotic cases. It is crucial to distinguish between psychological assessment and therapy sessions. A patient with an acute psychotic episode requires frequent psychological assessments, perhaps weekly or more often. A patient with depression and a normal IQ is generally a suitable candidate for therapy sessions
Patients with anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and even bipolar disorder in the early stages of improvement may all be advised to begin therapy sessions.
Stable psychotic cases, after consistent medication and resolution of psychotic episodes, may be advised to begin psychotherapy or occupational therapy, depending on the individual case and needs
There is nothing better than a gradual approach to treatment, tailored to the individual case and needs, with mental health education at each stage
If you view your mental health as an investment, this is the place for you. However, if you are looking for very quick solutions, this clinic may not be suitable, as adjusting tests, medication, or therapy sessions often requires days and weeks (not months or years) to yield positive results.
Types of Psychological Sessions
We mentioned that psychological assessments are possible for everyone, but certain types of psychological sessions are only conducted under specific conditions, the most important of which are
The patient must be completely or almost completely free of acute psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions.
The patient’s thoughts must be logically organized; it’s impossible to discuss any idea with a patient whose thoughts are jumping from one topic to another in a disjointed manner
The patient must not show significant decline in memory or concentration, allowing them to understand what is said during the session, change some of their perceptions of life, retain the information discussed, and remember what was agreed upon
The patient must have an open mind towards psychotherapy sessions, believing they can benefit from the sessions and the therapist