Psychiatrist asking GP to bloods

[Roseau18]

When a psychiatrist requests a GP to "do bloods" (without any further details) is this just a general blood count or would they also test for things like blood sugar and electrolyte levels?

They’d run a tranche of standard tests (iron, cholesterol etc) but if you’re worried just ask GP

All v normal but also understand tis unsettling

You probably already know this, but various vitamin, electrolyte and mineral deficiencies can produce symptoms that may look like or mimic mental health conditions or make existing conditions appear worse. It sounds to me like your psychiatrist is on the ball.

As an example, for various reasons I'm prone to dehydration - if you saw me before they get a drip/potassium going I genuinely appear to exhibit symptoms you'd associate with delerium or delusions!

The GP/Phelbotomist will be able to answer questions about the tests that have been ordered.

It's for my daughter who is just over 18 so I won't be able to ask any questions. The letter to the GP just says "do bloods" and an ECG. When she had blood tests done under her previous CAMHS psychiatrist I saw the prescription and it was just a general blood count and a liver function test (I've forgotten the name) because of the medication she was on. Without going into details I think she needs more than a general blood count and am concerned about how a GP interprets an instruction to "do bloods."

Psychiatrist I worked for always requested routine bloods, liver function, etc, plus ECG, CT etc.

Oh and I should add... GP often wrote back and refused due to cost!

There will be a more detailed request to the GP that you won't see. You may be able to speed things up a bit by asking for the Practice Nurse to take them.

I have to have my bloods and an ECG regularly to make sure the meds I'm on are not making me ill. This is quite normal and it's just them making sure your liver/kidneys etc are still functioning normally. My psych requests them at least once a year - but then again I'm on a lot of meds!

My concern is not that they want to do bloods but whether the tests they will do are sufficiently comprehensive.

When I lived abroad the psychiatrist himself took the blood test and sent it off.

Daughter went for blood test today. Nurse said to daughter "What are we supposed to be testing for? The psychiatrist has just written 'do bloods'"