Assessing a Person for a Mental Illness - Coursework Example

Assessing a Person for a Mental Illness INTRODUCTION Studies indicate that some humans confront behavioral, as well as, psychological disorders that result in stress, mental disabilities, etc, which is referred as mental illness in the medical science. Over the period, transformation is observed in terms of understanding and recognizing causes, risk factors, and related terms of mental illness. In this regard, variance can be observed in definitions, analyses, and classifications of mental illnesses, which depends on different health faculties that treat mental disorders in a different and diverse manner. In these schemes, mood, eating, developmental, physical, and personality disorders are included in different categories of diagnoses of mental illness. (Egendorf, 2007) In a number of cases, no single factor of mental disorder has been accepted, although majority of the issues and factors are similar; however, different health faculties have associated different risk factors in a unique manner. In most of the countries, it is very common that more than twenty-five percent of population confront different mental disorders at different points in their lives. However, little research has been carried out to understand the factors and diagnosis of mental illnesses, which requires thorough and comprehensive research for its effective treatment. It is observed that different methodologies and strategies are implemented by mental health professionals in the diagnosis of individuals confronting mental disorders. (Ramsey, 2001) In addition, case history is considered the most effective way of commencing the diagnosis of mental illness in an individual. Moreover, some of the mental health professionals prefer interviewing the individual before coming to a decision. In specific, some of the major treatment options available for treating mental illness are psychiatric medication and psychotherapy, which have gained tremendous respect in the medical science. Now, the paper will identify and discuss different types of mental health professionals that play a vital and crucial in the treatment and diagnosis of individuals confronting mental illnesses. MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS Mental illness is treated, and mental health of an individual is maintained and improved by the support and assistance of a mental health professional. Clinical social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc. are some of the major components of the abovementioned broad category of mental health professionals. It is observed that same type of illnesses and issues are treated and diagnoses by the abovementioned mental health professionals; however, diversity is observed in practices and strategies implemented by different professionals. Psychiatrists One of the most imperative roles in terms of mental illness is played by psychiatrists, which are considered the important practicing force in the mental health industry. In specific, biomedical approach is used by psychiatrists to treat the patients confronting mental illness. Moreover, psychiatrists often use medications to treat mental disorders, in order to treat the illness. Significant training is provided to psychiatrists for effective utilization of cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as, for conducting psychotherapy in an efficient manner. (Wong, 2006) One of the major differentiations between psychiatrists and psychologists is research and clinical application of strategies that are used by psychiatrists. Moreover, physical examinations are only conducted by psychiatrists, as compared with psychologists that are not allowed to conduct physical examinations of patients during their evaluation. Moreover, it is the responsibility of a psychiatrist to understand and interpret different scientific tests conducted on the patient. Psychiatrists often prefer MRI, CAT, and CT scanning for studying brain during the diagnosis of patients. (Ramsey, 2001) Psychologists Stress related issues and mental disorders are studied and treated by a clinical psychologist by the application of psychology in medical science. Moreover, it is the responsibility of psychologists to diagnose mental illness by the promotion of personal development and well-being of an individual. In a number of countries, chronic psychological issues are addressed by clinical psychologists. Research, teaching, administration, and psychological assessment are some of the imperative components of clinical psychology that plays a crucial role in dealing mental illnesses around the globe. In addition, psychotherapy is considered a central application of clinical psychology in which, thoughts, behaviors, and feelings are modified for the enhancement of mental health and functioning of life related matters of an individual. (Wong, 2006) In specific, psychological assessment is conducted by psychologists unlike other types of mental health professionals. In other words, clinical psychologists can deal effectively with couples, individuals, and especially, children confronting different mental disorders. (Egendorf, 2007) Psychiatric Nurses A large variety of mental health illnesses is analyzed and diagnosed by psychiatric nurses that are often referred as MHNP, mental health nurse practitioners. Some of the mental health issues that are dealt by abovementioned nurses are distress, anxiety, etc. Hospital settings play an important role in the function of psychiatric nurses, as they usually work within hospital premises. (Boyd, 2007) Psychiatric nurses are often found dealing with patients of mental illness in mental health clinics, outpatient medical services, primary care units, hospitals, and community centers. Moreover, evaluation of mental health and provision of intensive care to mental health patients are some of the responsibilities of psychiatric nurses. Furthermore, psychiatric nurses are the only mental health professionals that are allowed to provide medical services during emergencies. Usually, physical state of patients is assessed by nurses, which is followed by the creation of treatment plans for individuals. Families and staff often prefer psychiatric nurses as their medical consultants. (Ramsey, 2001) ASSESSMENT Causes & Factors A number of studies and analyses have linked different risk factors that cause mental disorders and illnesses; however, no standards are set to diagnose patients confronting mental illnesses on standardized causes. It is observed that genetic susceptibilities are often treated as one of the common risk factors associated with mental illnesses, which are usually combined with environmental factors, such as family, friends, workplace environment, etc. In the past, particular mental illnesses have been explained and analyzed by the application of different models; however, experts have indicated that a number of social, biological, and cultural factors are associated with the development of mental disorders in an individual. (Egendorf, 2007) Moreover, pathology of the brain is also focused by the mental health professionals to assess the mental illness around the globe. Some of the contemporary and popular theories used for the identification and treatment of mental illnesses are explanatory theory, evolutionary theory, etc. It is indicated by experts of genetic studies that mental disorders are often developed by interaction of genes in the human body. However, environmental factors interact with genes, in order to develop a mental illness in the body. In other words, medical experts have given much importance to environmental factors, as stress and anxiety related issues are developed by involvement of family members, peers, colleagues, etc. Furthermore, it is pointed out that certain mental illnesses are developed by traumatic brain injuries. Implications have been received from the experts regarding the functioning of neurotransmitter systems that often functions abnormally, and results in the development of mental illnesses in the individuals. In specific, some of the neurotransmitter systems identified by the experts are serotonin, norepinephrine, glutamate, and dopamine systems. In some cases, mental health professionals have found out differences that occur in certain brain regions during the development of mental illnesses. Moreover, some of the other risk factors are emotional processes, personality traits, and cognitive processes in the human body that play an important role in the development of mental illnesses. (Boyd, 2007) Stressful life experiences and abuse are also included in the category of social risk factors that may influence the development of mental illness. In this regard, a number of social, cultural, personal, and biological risk factors are considered by the mental health professionals during the assessment of mental health illnesses in different individuals around the globe. Suicidal Assessment When a suicidal person is analyzed by clinicians, interview is considered the first and foremost step that is used by them for effective assessment of mental illness in such category of individuals. During the interview, clinical risk factors are usually sought by mental health professionals through efficient amalgamation of questions related to personal, physical, and emotional processes of the suicidal person. In specific, depression, schizophrenia, and substance abuse are some of the risk factors that are observed in suicidal persons. (Egendorf, 2007) It is indicated by a number of researchers and experts that psychiatric disorder is associated with approximately eighty-five percent cases of suicides in the United States. Moreover, statistics have indicated that around 3,700 individuals die every year from suicides, which is more than deaths occurred from road accidents in the country. (Ramsey, 2001) Furthermore, psychiatrists have estimated that thirty individuals attempt suicides after every single suicide occurred in the country. In this regard, suicide has become one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It is quite difficult to understand the factors and causes of suicides and suicide attempts; however, one of the most common and acceptable factors is depression, which causes suicides around the globe. In this regard, a higher risk of suicide is confronted by people living in developing countries, as compared with developed countries due to high rate of unemployment and economical issues. Furthermore, statistics have indicated that a higher risk of suicides is confronted by the category of individuals having mental illnesses. (Wong, 2006) In this regard, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, cognitive disorders, and particularly, depression have been associated with issues of suicidal persons in light of considerable evidences. A number of experts have investigated the risk factors of suicidal persons, and it is observed that communication of professional counselors play a critical and crucial role in the attempts of suicides by individuals. It is indicated by investigations that healthcare counselors often ignore personal and cognitive processes and feelings of individuals prior to suicide attempts, which results in the deterioration of emotional state of such people. (Egendorf, 2007) One of the most important predictors of suicides and suicidal attempts observed during the assessment of suicidal persons is direct statement that indicates intention of committing suicide by the individuals. In this regard, it is very imperative that clinicians should consider such statement in a serious manner. During the comparison of general population with individuals confronting depression, it was observed that individuals confronting depression and stress are more likely to attempt suicide thirty times greater than the former ones. During the gender analysis, it is observed that women are less likely to commit suicide, as compared with men. Surprisingly, women are considered the emotional beings, as compared with men as rational beings. However, cases of suicides and suicidal attempts indicated that men are involved in such acts three times higher than women are. Studies have indicated that increment is observed in risks of suicide attempts over the human life cycle. Usually, lethal suicidal attempts are made by older people, as compared with youth. On the other hand, special challenges are confronted while assessing youth involving in such cases. In other words, misleading conclusions can be the result of treating adult and youth patients on a single standard. (Wong, 2006) In the past thirty-five years, a rapid increment is observed in the rate of suicide attempts by adolescents, and depression has been the most common factor of these attempts. According to statistics, on average, ten individuals aged 14 to 23 years attempt suicides every day in the United States. (Ramsey, 2001) In this regard, it is very imperative that adolescents should be provided with friendly and supportive environment during their assessment. Confidentiality & HIPAA Standards It is very imperative that personal information shared during the assessment of individuals confronting mental illnesses should not be leaked out, and not shared with other individuals or institutions, except for clinical purposes, which is one of the most important principles of medical ethics. (Boyd, 2007) It is observed that patients confronting mental illnesses are more likely to share their personal information, if provided with friendly and confidential environment by the mental health professionals. However, clinicians have to confront challenges, as sometimes, they have to breach the confidentiality, in order to share the information with family members, which is often considered as violation of personal privacy by the patients. In the early 1990s, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was introduced in the country, which has played a vital role in the simplification of medical procedures in different manners. As earlier mentioned in the paper, confidentiality is the basic concern of families, patients, as well as, clinicians during the assessment of individuals suffering from mental illnesses, introduction of automated record keeping with the help of progression in information technology, HIPAA standards are able to provided a confidential and supportive environment during the assessment. Codification of a number of essential privacy protections has been done by the implementation of HIPAA standards. (Wong, 2006) Under the HIPAA, individuals should be notified by the healthcare professionals regarding their rights and possibilities of sharing their personal information prior to the period of assessment. In the result, HIPAA has been able to construct a relation of trust between mental health professionals and individuals, as well as, family members of the patients. Furthermore, a specific authorization should be signed by patients prior to their assessment, which may allow the mental health professionals to share the medical and personal information to the concerned authorities, such as life insurance companies, banks, and related healthcare organizations. In brief, HIPAA has played a vital role in the construction of an encouraging environment during the assessment of mental illness. CONCLUSION Conclusively, paper has tried to understand and discuss different aspects of the mental illness, and the factors that play a critical role in the critical assessment of mental illness, as well as, suicidal attempts in different regions of the globe. The paper has also discussed diagnosis and treatments done by different mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, etc. It is hoped that the paper will be beneficial for the students, teachers, experts, and nonprofessionals in better understanding of the topic. References Daniel Wong. (2006). Clinical Case Management for People with Mental Illness. Haworth Press. Laura K. Egendorf. (2007). Mental Illness. University of Michigan Press. Mary Ann Boyd. (2007). Psychiatric Nursing. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Rosalind Ramsey. (2001). Mental Illness. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Read More