Symptom Assessment and Mental Disorders
Keep in mind that much that passes for insanity in the general population is simply a brief crisis due to extreme circumstances.
Do not jump to conclusions or place labels on people.
Some people with mental disorders struggle for just a short time.
Others are able to live near normal lives with regular medication and supportive counseling.
Some will suffer from constant emotional and behavioral chaos, inability to maintain relationships or jobs, difficulties with the law and with substance abuse.
Peoples responses to medications vary widely and some disorders (such as bipolar disorder) cause symptoms that make afflicted individuals unlikely to stay on medication.
With some forms of mental disorder there is the risk of violence due to severe depression, feelings of hopelessness, or aggression.
Ask the Rule Out questions below to assess for the potential for violence.
All the questions are directed toward the family member or concerned friend of a mentally ill person, but they could also be asked directly.
*Rule Outs* Q1 Has your family member ever been violent? Q2 Does he or she have access to weapons? Q3 Has he or she ever expressed feeling threatened? (If so, turn to Action Steps 1 and 2.
) Q4 Does your family member seem despondent or hopeless? Q5 Has she or he ever attempted suicide? (See section on Suicide for more information on how to handle this situation.
) Q6 (If a woman) Has she recently had a baby? Q7 Who could be endangered if this person becomes violent? *General Questions* Q8 Has anyone in this persons family ever been under the care of a psychiatrist or admitted to a psychiatric hospital? Q9 If so, what reason was given? Q10 Are you aware of a diagnosis? Q11 What makes you think that this person has a mental disorder? Q12 Describe the history of this persons most significant relationships.
(Unstable relationships or a lack of personal relationships may be an indicator of underlying mental problems.
) Q13 Has this individual ever been convicted of a crime? If so, what crime and when? Q14 Does this person ever speak in bizarre ways? Q15 Does this person express fear that people are after him or her? Q16 Does this person describe hearing or seeing things that are not there? (Questions 14-16 ask about symptoms of psychosis.
) Q17 Does this person show cycles of emotions or behaviors? Q18 Does he or she ever go for long periods with little sleep? Q19 Does he or she ever spend a lot of money recklessly or act grandiose and above the law? (Question 17-19 ask about symptoms of bipolar disorder.
) Take help from Internet counseling.
Do not jump to conclusions or place labels on people.
Some people with mental disorders struggle for just a short time.
Others are able to live near normal lives with regular medication and supportive counseling.
Some will suffer from constant emotional and behavioral chaos, inability to maintain relationships or jobs, difficulties with the law and with substance abuse.
Peoples responses to medications vary widely and some disorders (such as bipolar disorder) cause symptoms that make afflicted individuals unlikely to stay on medication.
With some forms of mental disorder there is the risk of violence due to severe depression, feelings of hopelessness, or aggression.
Ask the Rule Out questions below to assess for the potential for violence.
All the questions are directed toward the family member or concerned friend of a mentally ill person, but they could also be asked directly.
*Rule Outs* Q1 Has your family member ever been violent? Q2 Does he or she have access to weapons? Q3 Has he or she ever expressed feeling threatened? (If so, turn to Action Steps 1 and 2.
) Q4 Does your family member seem despondent or hopeless? Q5 Has she or he ever attempted suicide? (See section on Suicide for more information on how to handle this situation.
) Q6 (If a woman) Has she recently had a baby? Q7 Who could be endangered if this person becomes violent? *General Questions* Q8 Has anyone in this persons family ever been under the care of a psychiatrist or admitted to a psychiatric hospital? Q9 If so, what reason was given? Q10 Are you aware of a diagnosis? Q11 What makes you think that this person has a mental disorder? Q12 Describe the history of this persons most significant relationships.
(Unstable relationships or a lack of personal relationships may be an indicator of underlying mental problems.
) Q13 Has this individual ever been convicted of a crime? If so, what crime and when? Q14 Does this person ever speak in bizarre ways? Q15 Does this person express fear that people are after him or her? Q16 Does this person describe hearing or seeing things that are not there? (Questions 14-16 ask about symptoms of psychosis.
) Q17 Does this person show cycles of emotions or behaviors? Q18 Does he or she ever go for long periods with little sleep? Q19 Does he or she ever spend a lot of money recklessly or act grandiose and above the law? (Question 17-19 ask about symptoms of bipolar disorder.
) Take help from Internet counseling.
