Psychiatric assessment

We know from research that eating disorders can mimic a variety of mental disorders until the body and brain are adequately nourished. Therefore, establishing consistent dietary intake is the first line of treatment after the diagnosis of an eating disorder.

However, if your named clinician feels that your mood, anxiety, and worries are interfering with your recovery from the eating disorder, it may be appropriate to have a psychiatric assessment.

What is a psychiatrist?

A child and adolescent psychiatrist is a medical doctor with additional skills and knowledge to assess, diagnose and treat mental health disorders.

What is a psychiatric assessment?

A psychiatric assessment is the process of meeting a psychiatrist within our team to gather information about your thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

It also includes discussions regarding your family background, experiences whilst growing up, friendships, other medical illnesses, treatments you might have previously tried, and a physical assessment.

We might also ask you to fill in questionnaires that aid the assessment and the process of your treatment.

What are the benefits?

A psychiatric assessment allows an understanding of the factors which are influencing your recovery from the eating disorder, such as any underlying mental health disorders that may need further treatment such as:

• depression
• generalised anxiety
• obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• developmental disorders, and so on

We would like to work collaboratively with you so we can understand more about your difficulties and offer treatment recommendations.

What kinds of things should I expect?

Some things you should expect when going through a psychiatric assessment and working with a psychiatrist include addressing your risks and issues, to develop a safety plan.

Medication may be prescribed alongside psychological therapy (family or individual) to assist recovery such as antidepressants. You may need a blood test to monitor your response to certain medications.

You will have regular follow up reviews with your psychiatrist may be arranged to assess your response to treatment.

Your psychiatrist will continue to be involved if you need a hospital admission for eating related physical or psychological problems.

What happens now?

You will be given an appointment to see a psychiatrist.

At this appointment you will have an initial assessment, and you will be offered follow up appointments as appropriate.