What is a Psychiatric Evaluation?
A psychiatric evaluation is a structured clinical assessment designed to identify what is going on with your mental health and determine the right course of treatment. It is not a test you can fail. It is a conversation with a trained provider who knows how to ask the right questions and interpret what your symptoms actually mean.
Accurate diagnosis matters. Anxiety and ADHD share symptoms. Depression and bipolar disorder look alike in early stages. PTSD is frequently misdiagnosed as generalized anxiety. The wrong diagnosis leads to the wrong medication, which leads to months of frustration. A proper evaluation prevents that.
What Happens During the Evaluation
Your first appointment is about 60 minutes. We will discuss your current symptoms, when they started, what triggers them, and what you have tried before. We review your medical history, family history, and any medications or supplements you take. Standardized screening tools may be used to support the clinical picture.
For children and adolescents, we include parents in the evaluation process to get a full understanding of symptoms across settings -- home, school, and social environments.
After the Evaluation
You leave your first visit with a diagnosis or working diagnosis, a clear explanation of what it means, and a treatment plan. If medication is appropriate, prescriptions can often be started the same day. If further testing is needed -- such as GeneSight pharmacogenomic testing -- we will arrange it.
Insurance and Payment
Initial psychiatric evaluations are covered by most insurance plans. We accept Blue Cross NC, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and NC Medicaid plans. Cash pay is available.
When to Schedule
If symptoms are interfering with your ability to work, maintain relationships, sleep, or function day to day -- and you have not had a psychiatric evaluation, or it has been years since your last one -- scheduling is the right move. No referral required.
Related Conditions We Treat
PTSD Evaluation
Post-traumatic stress disorder presents with a cluster of symptoms including re-experiencing (flashbacks, nightmares), avoidance of trauma-associated stimuli, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and hyperarousal. Accurate diagnosis requires a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation that differentiates PTSD from other trauma-related and anxiety conditions. Our providers across the Charlotte metro and surrounding area are experienced in conducting these assessments.
Pharmacological management of PTSD centers on SSRIs, with sertraline and paroxetine holding FDA approval for this indication. Prazosin may be added to address trauma-related nightmares and sleep disturbance. Treatment selection considers symptom profile, comorbid conditions, and prior medication trials to optimize outcomes.
Post-diagnostic management involves structured follow-up to assess treatment response, monitor for adverse effects, and adjust the pharmacological regimen as clinically indicated. PTSD treatment often requires sustained engagement, and our practice supports patients through the full course of recovery.
Bipolar Disorder Assessment
Bipolar disorder frequently presents diagnostic challenges, with studies suggesting an average delay of 5-10 years between symptom onset and accurate diagnosis. Many patients initially present with depressive episodes, and without systematic screening for manic or hypomanic features, the bipolar component may go undetected. Our diagnostic evaluations across the Charlotte metro and surrounding area employ structured mood assessment to ensure accurate identification.
The evaluation process includes a comprehensive review of longitudinal mood patterns, energy fluctuations, sleep changes, behavioral observations, family psychiatric history, and prior treatment response. Particular attention is given to identifying hypomanic episodes, which patients may not recognize as pathological.
Pharmacological management of bipolar disorder centers on mood stabilizers such as lithium, valproate, or lamotrigine, with selection guided by predominant polarity, comorbid conditions, and tolerability profile. Early initiation of appropriate pharmacotherapy following accurate diagnosis significantly improves long-term outcomes and reduces episode frequency.
