When things don’t quite make sense, understanding can make a difference.
Mental health difficulties can affect how you think, feel, behave and function in everyday life. Sometimes the difficulties are clear; at other times, you may simply feel that something has changed or that you are struggling to manage things that once felt easier.
You may be experiencing persistent worry or anxiety, low mood, loss of motivation, intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviours, the effects of trauma, significant changes in mood or difficulties that have been present for much longer than you realised.
It is also common for different difficulties to overlap. Anxiety and depression can occur together, ADHD can affect emotional wellbeing, and symptoms can sometimes be attributed to stress when there may be another underlying condition.
A specialist psychiatric assessment can help bring these experiences together, clarify what may be contributing to your difficulties and identify appropriate next steps.
Conditions we assess
Our adult mental-health assessments cover a range of common and more complex presentations, including:
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety can involve persistent worry, fear, physical tension, panic, avoidance or a feeling of being constantly on edge. We can assess different forms of anxiety and consider how symptoms are affecting your daily life, relationships and functioning.
Depression
Depression is more than occasionally feeling low. It can involve persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, reduced motivation, changes in sleep or appetite, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness.
Assessment considers the severity, duration and pattern of symptoms, as well as their impact on everyday functioning.
Mood disorders
Mood difficulties can involve persistent or recurring changes in emotional state, motivation, energy and functioning. A detailed assessment helps distinguish different patterns of mood disturbance and consider whether symptoms may be related to another mental-health condition or other factors.
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder involves episodes of depression and periods of elevated or unusually activated mood. These changes can affect energy, sleep, activity, thinking, judgement and behaviour.
Assessment involves understanding the pattern and duration of mood changes over time, previous episodes, functioning, treatment history and relevant family history. Where appropriate, information from someone who knows you well can also be helpful.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
OCD can involve unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or urges, together with compulsions or repetitive behaviours or mental acts performed to reduce distress or prevent something feared from happening.
OCD can be highly distressing and time-consuming. A careful assessment explores the nature of the thoughts and compulsions, their impact on daily life and whether other conditions may be present alongside them.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Following a traumatic experience, some people develop persistent psychological difficulties including intrusive memories or nightmares, avoidance, heightened alertness, emotional distress or changes in how they think and feel about themselves or the world.
Assessment explores the relationship between the traumatic experience and current symptoms, their impact on functioning and whether other mental-health difficulties may also be contributing.
A comprehensive psychiatric assessment
A diagnosis should not be based on a questionnaire or individual symptom in isolation.
Your assessment will consider your current difficulties alongside your developmental and personal history, previous mental-health experiences, physical health, medication, sleep, relationships, work and everyday functioning.
We will also consider whether symptoms could be explained by another condition, occur alongside another diagnosis, or be influenced by medication, physical health, substance use or significant life circumstances.
Where appropriate and with your consent, information from a partner, family member or another person who knows you well may provide useful additional context.
The aim is not simply to attach a diagnostic label. It is to develop a clear clinical understanding of your difficulties and how they affect you as an individual.
Your assessment journey
1 – Prepare
Before your appointment, you may be asked to complete questionnaires and provide information about your current difficulties, previous mental-health history, medication and relevant circumstances.
2 – Psychiatric assessment
Your consultant psychiatrist will discuss your symptoms, history, functioning and concerns in detail. You will have the opportunity to explain what has been happening in your own words.
3 – Clinical formulation
Your information is considered as a whole. This includes looking at possible diagnoses, co-existing conditions, relevant physical-health factors and other possible explanations for your symptoms.
4 – Diagnostic discussion
Where sufficient information is available, your psychiatrist will explain their clinical opinion clearly and discuss what the findings mean for you.
5 – Feedback and report
You will receive clear feedback about the assessment and, where appropriate, a written report with recommendations for further treatment, support or assessment.
Is this assessment right for you?
Our service is designed for adults who are sufficiently stable to engage safely in a planned outpatient psychiatric consultation.
We do not provide emergency or crisis psychiatric care, inpatient treatment or intensive multidisciplinary care.
If you are experiencing an acute deterioration in your mental health, significant current risk to yourself or others, severe behavioural disturbance, or symptoms requiring urgent assessment, please seek appropriate urgent NHS or emergency support rather than booking a routine private appointment.
If you have a complex psychiatric history or are unsure whether our service is suitable for your circumstances, please contact us before booking. We can discuss your situation and help determine the most appropriate pathway.
Online or face-to-face?
We offer both online consultations and face-to-face appointments in Cardiff.
For many adult mental-health assessments, online consultation can provide a convenient and clinically appropriate way to meet with your psychiatrist. Some presentations may, however, be better assessed face-to-face depending on their nature, complexity and your individual circumstances.
If you are unsure which type of appointment is appropriate, please contact us before booking.
A clearer understanding and a way forward
Mental-health assessment is not simply about identifying what is wrong. It is about understanding your experiences, recognising the factors that may be contributing to them and helping you make sense of what happens next.
Our approach is person-centred, evidence-informed and focused on providing a clear clinical understanding of your difficulties, together with practical recommendations for appropriate next steps.
Or BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL if you would like to discuss your circumstances first.