I previously wrote that I would discuss the new patient medical workup in more detail, as it can sometimes be an intimidating thought for patients. So I'll spend 3-4 posts just on the traditionally medical things that psychiatrists look into when meeting a new patient.
The goal of the medical exam for new psychiatric patients is to make sure that we know about other processes and medications that are affecting your body, even if we are not managing those conditions. Knowing your overall health helps a psychiatrist make safe and effective choices for your mental health care.
I typically tell new patients to put all the medications you take regularly into a bag and bring them to your appointment with you. Even if you just buy the medication from the grocery store, put those into the bag as well.
Any physician knows how to interpret the labels on your prescriptions to find out information about your prescriber, your diagnoses, what you should be taking and when. This is all critical information.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are medications that you just buy from the grocery store. OTC medications also include any herbal supplements or vitamins you take regularly. While it is more rare, sometimes OTC medications can interact with psychiatric medications, so we like to know about those too.
Another way to prepare for your medical workup is to write down the names of all the physicians you see and the names of the clinics where they work. This list allows me to have the contact information for any of your other physicians in case I have any follow-up questions regarding your care. These days, many of my patients will just screenshot their doctor's website and show me those screenshots during their appointment.
Next Post: Physical Exams with Psychiatrists
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