What happens at a psychiatric assessment

[ready2pop]

I am having one on Tues and am very anxious about it (of course I am - I am anxious about everything!). If anyone has had one could let me know what happens that would really help. Thanks

Hi, at mine it was a set of questions, set ones that are asked, with time to answer. Then a chance at end to say anything you want to.

for me it was with a junior person of team, and nothing to fear. Would have helped me if I could have been honest. If there is something you want to say, why not write it down and then you can hand it in, or use it.

This was just my experience and then at next appointemnt met the consultant I had been assigned to, medication reviewed etc.

Hope yours goes well x

a first assessment should last about an hour long. You should be asked about your symptoms,their onset, their impact on your life etc. You should also be asked quite a lot about your life up until this point - your childhood, your relationship with your parents, whether there has been trauma in your past, your education, employment history, relationships etc.

It's quite a lot to get through, but the purpose is to build up a picture of who you are, where you have come from and what has happened to make you seek help at this point in time.

Good luck