For years I have heard and seen people administering tests like MMSE or other psychological test batteries to assess the mental health problems of individuals. Physicians could identify just with an observation of certain features on our face, fingers, etc. Can't there be a simple way of identifying problem behaviors in the people we come across so that we can help them and guide them without labeling them as suffering from this disorder or that?
The Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) is a symptomatic quantification instrument designed at Johns Hopkins University that allows the evaluation of a wide range of psychological and psychopathological symptoms, both in the clinical population and in the normal population.
I agree with the answers given. Also add that Suggest to patients that suffering can also be only mental and that it can be consulted spontaneously with better results than if only the doctors detect them.
Physicians cannot identify mental health problems by looking at people. No professional can do that.
There is no simple blood test or physiological screen that can be done to test for mental health problems. Mang times, These are issues with perception, mood, anxiety and other internalized issues that require assessment of the individual.
To understand how the individual symptoms are affecting them in their environment you would have to speak with them.
Dear Deepthi & others,
I am a psychiatrist, hope you would like to know from a psychiatrist directly.
Psychiatrist diagnose a person using clinical examination & psychological scales.
Clinical examination means befitting the symptoms & signs (Clinical observations) according to diagnostic criteria in order to confirm a diagnosis by method of exclusion or inclusion. Diagnostic criteria are mentioned in Diagnostic manuals (which is same all over the globe) which are memorized, practiced, applied during our graduation; as a result of that training Psychiatrists arrive at a diagnosis. Psychological scales are applied if required to assists in confirming that diagnosis. Without clinical examination conducted by psychiatrists psychological scales alone cannot arrive at a valid diagnosis. Psychological scales alone if applied may indicate psychological aberration and not a VALID diagnosis.
Self applied psychological scales are not at all relied upon to have diagnosed a psychiatric disorder. Psychological scales that are applied by a trained clinical psychologist are reliably acceptable to arrive at a provisional diagnosis but confirmation is accepted only after clinical examination of a psychiatrist that affirms it.
Thanks.
Start with an in-depth face-to-face interview and move from there. This is not a one-size-fits -all venture. Once you identify the problem/conflicts the tests will serve to shed more light on the causes, sometimes conscious, sometimes unconscious, oftentimes, a mixture of both.
11 May MMXXI
Let's let people decide when they need help...
Cordially...
ASJ
Hi Deepthi & Everyone, Even though screening tools are not a diagnosis, they can be really helpful. If somebody has depression, they might not realize it, thinking everybody feels like they do. When you're in it, it's just not always so obvious. Screeners can nudge people to get help. Screeners can also be useful for institutions. It would be very expensive and time-consuming to give every new mother a complete psychological intake to diagnose postpartum depression. But a nurse asking a few simple questions isn't so intimidating and can help flag those who might be helped. Michael provided several nice general well-being screeners. Here are some freely available screeners for particular mental health challenges. - Maddie
https://pmhealthnp.com/screening-tools/
https://www.ementalhealth.ca/index.php?m=surveyList
https://www.psychologytools.com/download-scales-and-measures/
Shields et al. (2021). Brief mental health disorder screening questionnaires and use with public safety personnel: A review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 3743, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8038412/pdf/ijerph-18-03743.pdf
@Madeline Wyndzen
Thank you so much for understanding the reason behind my question and for providing useful resources. As you expressed my concern while asking this question is that normalcy is an abstract term. People do not realise their psychological problems. Identifying or recognizing them would make them take first step in the endeavour of taking proper steps of resolution. Screening tests that I got trained in as a Psychologist like MMSE, MMPI etc are useful for clinical settings.
But what I wanted to know is how to recognise that somebody is in pain and needs our assistance.
I want to help atleast not to hurt them by my words or actions. It is that when people perceive that we understand them genuinely will open up and come to us for assistance.
Thanks all for suggesting so many ways to identify.
I am still looking for more ingenuine information
Just now I found this way of replying to those who responded to my question.
I will try to respond to you all soon.
Thanks once and again for all contributors.
Please read this so that the misconception regarding the question I posed might be cleared within this response.
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