Can a psychiatrist do physical obs

[Sevendaysaweek]

Ds1 20 has recently disclosed his eating struggles. He’s been booked in for an out patients consultant psychiatrist appointments. The letter he’s received has said he will have physical observations such as blood pressure and weight. Is this usual for a psychiatrist?

Yes.

Psychiatrists are fully qualified medical doctors, who then specialise into mental health. They are competent at physical examination.

And even if that wasn't the case, (and pp is correct, they have to have a medical degree to go on and specialise) they may well also have a nurse or other healthcare professional working in the clinic with them. Those kinds of observations would be really important for someone with issues with food, I would imagine.

BP and weight are routine and easily done by anyone. There are machines in practically every health care building for just this. Considering your son has eating problems, it's normal.

Weight and BP are routine obs in mental health.

It doesn't even take a medical degree to do it!

Having said that, Eeating Disorders often also want bloods done, especially if there's a history of bulimia as self induced vomiting can mess with U&Es in particular eg potassium. The GP often organises these.

I imagine he's panicking at the thought of this. It must be incredibly stressful. They will be used to that at the hospital. They're trying to help him; unfortunately with an eating disorder that involves making you do something or stop you doing something when you feel compelled to do otherwise. I hope he gets the help he needs.

Yes definitely. It's particularly important in eating disorder as this obviously impacts their own physical as well as mental health. I hope the appointment is helpful for him.