Transcript 4I_Standifer_Screening Adults for MH

Screening Adults for
Mental Health Disorders
Wendy Standifer, MA LPC, NCC
The Purpose of This Training
• Introductory knowledge of mental illness
disorders
• Identify Screening tools to identify mental
health symptoms. Including self-assessments;
symptoms checklists; questionnaires
• Building screening questions into a full
assessment and effective treatment strategies.
Mental Illness is…
A substantial disorder of thought or mood which
significantly impairs:
• Judgment
• Behavior
• Capacity to recognize reality
• Ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life
Mental Illness is…
A relative term – a particular
illness can affect different
people differently, or same
person may have very
different symptoms at
different times.
Appearance & Behavior
Individuals may have:

Limited vocabulary

questions
Difficulty understanding or answering

A short attention span

counting
Difficulty performing daily tasks such as
or handling money
Appearance & Behavior
Individuals may also:

Exhibit behaviors which are inappropriate

Be easily influenced by and/or eager to please others

Become easily frustrated

Not be able to tell time or understand basic information

Not be able to handle transitions or new situations

Avoid eye contact

Speak in unintelligible sentences

Walk unsteadily or dresses inappropriately
Assessing Behavior

Severe changes in behavioral patterns and attitudes

Unusual or bizarre mannerisms

Withdrawn behavior/refusal to speak

Confused or nonsensical verbal communication

Manic Behavior

Delusions/hallucinations

Expressions of emotion

Strong emotional displays with no apparent reason
Recognizing the Signs
and Symptoms of Common
Mental Illnesses
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is….
A severely disabling thought disorder. It is a
result of a brain disorder and may have genetic
links from one generation to another.
 The
average onset for men is the mid
20’s, and for women the late 20’s.
 There
are several types of schizophrenia.
•
 Schizophrenia
medications.
is treated with anti-psychotic
Individuals with Schizophrenia Exhibit:

Impaired Behavior

Impaired Thinking

Impaired Perception

Impaired Mood
Major Depression
Depression is …
A serious condition that can interfere with a person’s
life and can lead to suicide. Depression can be
experienced as an episode (i.e., in response to a
personal loss, the death of a spouse, the loss of job,
etc.) or as a long-term condition. It is treated with
prescribed antidepressant medications.
Common Symptoms of Depression
Impaired Behavior:

Fatigue/loss of energy

Significant changes in weight

Sleep issues

Irritability

Lost of interests

Feelings of extreme guilt/worthlessness
Common Depression Symptoms
•
Impaired Thinking:

Diminished ability to think

Inability to concentrate

Indecisiveness

Recurrent thoughts of death
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder is…
A long-term mood disorder that includes at least one
episode of mania and one episode of depression. This
disorder often cycles repeatedly through these
episodes.
Bipolar disorder is also called Manic-Depression.
Mood stabilizers are prescribed to help control
symptoms.
Bipolar Disorder Symptoms
 Impaired behavior, thinking and mood
 People in the depressed phase of
Bipolar disorder exhibit symptoms
similar to those who have depression
 Symptoms of the manic phase include
accelerated speech and movement,
general excitability, and impulsivity
Anxiety
Anxiety is…
A normal part of life. It can even be useful when it
alerts us to danger. For some people, anxiety is a
persistent problem that interferes with daily activities
such as work, school or sleep.
This type of anxiety can disrupt relationships and
enjoyment of life, and over time it can lead to health
concerns and other problems.
Common Anxiety Disorders
• Panic attacks
• Agoraphobia
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Generalized anxiety disorder
Common Anxiety Symptoms

Feeling apprehensive

Feeling powerless

Sense of impending panic or doom

Increased heart rate

Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
Common Anxiety Symptoms

Sweating

Trembling/Shaking

Dizziness/Nausea

Anger/Easily Frustrated

Feeling weak or fatigued

Problems with daily decisions and memory
Why Screen?
• Early intervention and prevention programs can be
integral in managing symptoms of mental illness and
improving treatment outcomes
• The notion of a regular mental health checkup is less
established, perhaps because of the historical stigma
about mental illness.
• But taking periodic stock of your emotional well-being
can help identify warning signs of common ailments like
depression or anxiety. Such illnesses are highly
treatable, especially when they are identified in their
early stages, before they get so severe that they
precipitate some sort of personal — and perhaps
financial — crisis.
SCREENING TOOLS
• PTSD Checklist-PCL – Handout A
• Trauma Checklist-40- Handout B
• Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)- Handout C
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD 7)- Handout D
• Mood Disorder Questionnaire-Handout E
• Sample Screening- Handout F
Screenings into Assessments
• It is recommended that you review the screening and ask
the individual about experiences they may have
identified particularly in conducting a thorough
assessment and in setting goals.
• Develop into a full Psychosocial assessment to include
basic information, presenting needs, risk factors, medical
information, Mental Status Exam, Substance Abuse,
Diagnostic and Clinical Summary
Treatment Modalities
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Solution Focus Therapy
• Person Centered
• Motivational Interviewing
• Stages of Change
QUESTIONS
THANK YOU