Procedure

What is Psychiatric procedures?

Psychiatric procedures refer to various medical or therapeutic interventions used to diagnose, treat, or manage mental health conditions. These procedures can range from clinical evaluations to more complex medical treatments. Some of the key psychiatric procedures include:

1. Psychiatric Evaluation/Assessment:

This is a comprehensive evaluation conducted by a psychiatrist or psychologist to diagnose mental health conditions. It often includes interviews, questionnaires, and psychological tests.
At Samatva, we offer a variety of neuropsychological testing. These tests can measure a wide range of cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, problem-solving, language, and motor skills. They are often grouped into different categories:

a. Memory: Verbal and Visual Memory Tests

b. Attention and Concentration: These tests evaluate how well an individual can focus on a task, switch attention, or maintain attention over time. An example is the Continuous Performance Test (CPT), which measures sustained attention.

c. Executive Functioning: Executive functions are mental skills needed for planning, problem-solving, decision-making, and multitasking. Tests like the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Trail Making Test assess these cognitive abilities.

d. Language: Language tests evaluate word retrieval, comprehension, and the ability to form sentences. The Boston Naming Test is one such test that measures language abilities, particularly in individuals with potential language impairments (e.g., aphasia).

e. Motor Skills: Motor function tests assess the coordination and fine motor skills of individuals. The Grooved Pegboard Test is often used to measure manual dexterity and coordination.

f. Visuospatial Abilities: These tests assess the ability to perceive and manipulate visual information, such as identifying shapes or understanding spatial relationships. An example is the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test, which involves copying and recalling a complex figure.

g. Intelligence and Cognitive Ability: At Samatva, we use MISIC, a widely used test suited for the Indian population, to assess overall cognitive ability, including verbal and performance IQ.

h. Mood and Emotional Functioning: These tests assess emotional and psychological aspects, which can provide insight into how cognitive impairments may affect mental health. The Beck Depression Inventory and YMRS are examples of tests used to assess mood and emotional states.

i. Social Cognition: This evaluates the ability to understand and interpret social cues, which is important in conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or brain injury. Tests like the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test assess how well someone can interpret others’ emotions from their eyes and facial expressions.

Our experts perform various tests to evaluate and diagnose individuals with schizophrenia, depression, ADHD, autistic spectrum disorder, etc.

Psychotherapy

Also called talk therapy, psychotherapy involves various techniques used to treat mental health disorders. Some of the common types include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A structured form of psychotherapy that helps individuals change patterns of thinking or behavior that are causing distress.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): A form of CBT that emphasizes the development of coping skills, especially for people with emotion regulation issues.
Psychodynamic Therapy: Focuses on the unconscious mind and how past experiences shape present behavior.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Addresses issues related to personal relationships and social functioning.

Pharmacotherapy (Medication)

Psychiatrists may prescribe medication to manage mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and others. Common classes of psychiatric medications include:

Antidepressants (e.g. SSRIs, SNRIs)
Antipsychotics (e.g. Atypical antipsychotics, Typical antipsychotics)
Mood Stabilizers (e.g. Lithium, Anticonvulsants)
Anxiolytics (e.g. Benzodiazepines, Buspirone)

EEG (electroencephalogram)

An EEG (electroencephalogram) is a medical procedure used to record electrical activity in the brain. It involves placing small electrodes on the scalp that detect the electrical impulses produced by brain cells. The EEG provides a real-time, continuous recording of brainwave patterns, which can be useful in diagnosing various neurological and psychiatric conditions. At Samatva, we have facilities available and trained staff for EEG to diagnose various neurological and psychiatric problems, which can assist in better management and outcomes.

Procedures

The various psychological assessment tools we use at Samatva are:

Memory Testing
Intelligence (IQ) Testing
Learning Disabilities
Autism Spectrum Assessment
Vocational Assessment, Career and Aptitude Testing, and Interests Test
Personality Assessments
Couple and Family Assessments
Neuropsychological Assessments in cases of Dementia, Epilepsy, and Traumatic Brain Injury