Just as aspirin can reduce a fever without curing the infection that causes it, psychotherapeutic medications act by controlling symptoms. These medications do not cure the mental health issue, but in many cases, they can help a person function better. For example, drugs like chlorpromazine can turn off the “voices” heard by some people coping with psychosis and help them to see reality more clearly. And antidepressants can lighten the dark moods of depression. The degree of response to these medications depends on a variety of factors related to the individual and the disorder being treated.

How long someone must take a psychotherapeutic medication depends on the individual and the disorder. Many depressed and anxious people may need medication for a single period—perhaps for several months—and then never need it again. People with conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depressive illness), or those whose depression or anxiety is chronic or recurrent, may have to take medication indefinitely.

Like any medication, psychotherapeutic medications do not produce the same effect in everyone. Some people may respond better to one medication than another. Some may need larger dosages than others do. Some have side effects, and others do not. Age, sex, body size, body chemistry, physical illnesses and their treatments, diet, and habits such as smoking are some of the factors that can influence a medication’s effect. There are many mental health tests that can test a person's possible responsiveness to treatment, and your doctor is always the best place to start with these kinds of issues.

In this final part of "Understanding Metal Health Tests", I will be covering the fear of stigma of the diagnosed mental patient and mental assessments for children.

Stigma

Although mental illness responds well to treatment such as psychotherapy, prescription drugs and complementary alternative practices, there is still an avoidance to seek help. This avoidance stems from the fear of the stigma that comes with a mental illness diagnosis. The fear of being discriminated against and stereotyped surpasses sometimes the need of healing.

Throughout history people suffering mental conditions are stamped as being violent and unreliable. The mental health patient often faces problems when trying to rent or even seek employment. It is not a surprise that most people exhibiting some form or symptom of mental dysfunction shy away from professional help opting for a life of alienation. Alcohol and drug addictions are sometimes a product of not receiving needed help as they are used as a way to self medicate. It is important to rise awareness as a society and try to overcome the image and negative stigma of mental illnesses. Mental Health America offers a great support group lisiting.

Mental Health Tests for Children

Everyone is at risk of suffering from a mental illness. According to a pediatric update children are especially susceptible. Physical factors (inherited and/or inflicted to the developing fetus) and psychosocial harmful experiences after birth can affect the mental health of children. The mother's alcohol or substance abuse, family history of mental disease or traumatic events such as exposure to violence and neglect, are of great impact in a child's development. Mental illnesses in youth can lead to failure in school or substance abuse and if left untreated can result in life threatening conduct problems such as violence or even suicide.

Mental health tests are available to diagnose and treat autism, ADHD, mental retardation and behavioral/ emotional conditions. Visit the National Institute of Mental Health and learn more about the treatment of children with mental disorders.

Mental Health Tests are an in depth tool for the practitioner to better diagnose and treat a patient. They are composed of various assessments both physical (such as blood tests, MRI, etc.) and psychological. Mental tests help discover diseases of behavior, criminal, antisocial and personality dysfunctions. But what are those psychological tests and how do they aid in diagnosing or ruling out a mental illness?

Written and Verbal Tests

A mental health assessment may include one or more verbal or written tests. You will be asked some questions and will either answer out loud or write your answer on a piece of paper. Your answers are then rated and scored by your doctor.

Written questionnaires generally contain 20 to 30 questions that can be answered quickly, often in a "yes" or "no" format. They usually don't take long to finish and you can do them by yourself at a regular office visit. Many mental health questionnaires are available to test for depression and Cognitive Functions.

Depression:

The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression is a depression rating scale of 17-items that evaluates depressed mood, vegetative and cognitive symptoms of depression, and co-morbid anxiety symptoms.

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a 21-item test presented in multiple choice format which  measures the presence and degree of depression in adolescents and adults. Each of the 21-items of the BDI attempts to assess a specific symptom or attitude "which appear(s) to be specific to depressed patients".

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a 30-item self-report assessment designed specifically to identify depression in the elderly. The items may be answered yes or no, which is thought to be simpler than scales that use a five-category response set.

Cognitive Functions (How well you are able to think, reason, and remember)

The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) is the most commonly used test for complaints of memory problems or when a diagnosis of dementia is being considered. The MMSE is the test that the NHS recommends for deciding whether a drug treatment for Alzheimer's disease should be prescribed.It is widely used to check your cognitive functions and how well you are able to carry out routine activities, such as eating, dressing, shopping, or banking.

Sometimes a more extensive mental health test, such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale is needed. The WAIS is a general test of cognitive ability, which Wechsler defined as, "... the global capacity of the individual to act purposefully, to think rationally, and to deal effectively with his environment". Therefore following his definition of  intelligence as "an aggregate of mental aptitudes or abilities", the WAIS consists of 11 sub-tests divided into two parts, verbal and performance. The test was revised  to include a separate scale for children under 16 years of age.

Credits:

Bay Area Medical Information
Compact Clinical Assesment

Introduction

Mental health tests are an overall evaluation which includes your emotional, reasoning and cognitive functions abilities. They include interviews and tests with mental health professionals and regular physicians.

Mental Health Assessments distinguish between physical disorders and mental disorders such as anxiety, schizophrenia, depression and other dementia. Mental health tests are very important in the detection of learning disabilities such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD), or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

It is also used to evaluate the mental status of a person who has been institutionalized, arrested or otherwise suspected of dysfunctional behavior, such
as drunken driving, physical abuse and other
criminal antisocial behavior and clinical Dementia.

Questions to assess your cognitive functioning (your thinking, reasoning, and memory) are also included. Perception, thought processes, logical thinking, and suicidal tendencies may also be included in the interview.

Physical examination

Depending on the setting and circumstances, a mental health assessment may or may not include a physical examination. In a case where it is determined one is needed, the health professional will review your past medical history (as well as that of your family members) including medications you currently take, if any.

Your senses (hearing, taste, sight, smell, and touch) your reflexes and balance are examined as a way to test the nervous system.

Lab tests

If a nervous system problem is suspected or discovered by the physical examination screening, tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan or electroencephalography (EEG) may be done. Laboratory tests for thyroid function, electrolyte levels and toxicology to detect drug or alcohol problems are often part of the screening.

Mental Health Tests are an in depth tool for practitioners to better diagnose and treat a patient. In the following days we will discuss the process to include written and verbal tests, the risks and fears of stigma, mental health tests for children and much more.