A comprehensive psychiatric assessment can help in the diagnosis of a wide variety of behavioral and mood disorders, and may also be part of the diagnostic process for certain physical conditions including chronic pain and even brain tumors. Central elements of a psychiatric evaluation include a complete medical and psychiatric history of the patient as well as a mental status examination that involves observing the patient’s behaviors and asking him or her a variety of questions. Areas in which the patient is assessed include general appearance, speech patterns, expressed emotions, perceptive capabilities and cognitive functioning in terms of their memory, ability to concentrate and overall alertness. Primary care physicians have an especially important role in identifying and treating patients with depression, anxiety, addiction disorders, and more – and in fact, most patients with depression are treated in a primary care setting by their family physician or internist.
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