Screening Adults for Mental Health Disorders Wendy Standifer, MA LPC, NCC.

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

□Difficulty understanding or answering questions

□A short attention span

□Difficulty performing daily tasks such as counting 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❍Withdrawn behavior/refusal to speak 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 Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of and Symptoms of Common Mental Common Mental IllnessesIllnesses

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 is treated with anti-psychotic medications.

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

AnxietyAnxiety

Anxiety is…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 DisordersCommon Anxiety Disorders

• Panic attacks

• Agoraphobia

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Generalized anxiety disorder

Common Anxiety Common Anxiety SymptomsSymptoms

Feeling apprehensive

Feeling powerless

Sense of impending panic or doom

Increased heart rate

Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)

Common Anxiety SymptomsCommon 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

THANK YOU

QUESTIONS