Discussion 1

he purpose of this assignment is to provide a brief explanation of three important components of the psychiatric interview and why I would consider these elements important. Additionally, I will provide an explanation of the psychometric properties of the rating scale NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Scale. Moreover, I will explain when it is appropriate to use the NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Scale with clients during the psychiatric interview and how the scale is helpful to a nurse practitioner’s psychiatric assessment. 

The Psychiatric Evaluation 

There are several components of the psychiatric interview that are vital to ensure optimal patient outcomes. For example, it is imperative to establish the reason for the visit (i.e., chief complaint), history and present illness, and the mental status examination in my opinion are key elements of the psychiatric interview. Because without this information it would be difficult to diagnosis and treat the patient adequately (Opler, D. J. (2017). The identifying data gives you the basic information about a patient such as race, sex, marital status, and other social information. The chief complaint (CC) is important to recognize as it conveys to the provider the reason the patient is present, seeking treatment. Of course, knowing this is imperative as it can help guide the interview.