A mental health assessment, also called a psychiatric evaluation, is a structured evaluation of your symptoms, thoughts, emotions, behaviors, health history and daily functioning. It helps a psychiatric provider understand what you are experiencing, how long symptoms have been present and how they affect work, school, relationships and everyday responsibilities. Screening questionnaires may be used, but a screening score alone does not provide a diagnosis.
At Paramount Healthcare Services in Las Vegas, NV, evaluations are completed by Dr. Chidiogo Nwokike, DNP, PMHNP-BC, a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, for children, teens and adults, in our office or by telehealth.
Consider a mental health assessment if you or a family member is experiencing:
You do not need to wait until symptoms become severe. An evaluation may be appropriate when symptoms are new, recurring, worsening, or interfering with daily life.
Your provider will ask about your current concerns, when they began, and how they affect daily functioning.
The evaluation may review your mental and physical health history, current medications, medical conditions, previous diagnoses or treatment, family mental health history, sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, alcohol or substance use, stress, trauma, relationships, support systems, and personal safety.
A brief mental health screening questionnaire may also be used. Your provider considers the complete clinical picture rather than relying on one test or score.
Depending on your symptoms, an assessment may explore concerns related to depression, anxiety or panic, trauma and PTSD, mood changes, ADHD, anger or irritability, obsessive or repetitive thoughts, sleep problems, substance use, behavioral difficulties, or unusual thoughts and perceptions.
When needed, your provider may recommend additional evaluation or testing to clarify symptoms or identify other contributing factors.
Depending on your concerns, your provider may use standardized screening questionnaires as one part of the evaluation, such as the PHQ-9 for depression, the GAD-7 for anxiety, ADHD rating scales for adults or children, the PCL-5 for trauma symptoms, or mood questionnaires for bipolar disorder. These tools help measure symptoms and track progress over time.
A psychiatric evaluation is different from full psychological testing. Psychiatric evaluations focus on diagnosis, treatment planning and medication decisions. Formal psychological or neuropsychological testing, such as IQ testing, learning disability testing or detailed autism assessments, is done by psychologists and can take several sessions. If you need that kind of testing, we can discuss referral options in Las Vegas, such as university and private testing clinics.
A mental health screening, self-check, or online test does not diagnose a mental health condition on its own.
During a psychiatric evaluation, your provider considers your symptoms along with medical history, medications, family history, sleep, substance use, current circumstances, and ability to function. Medical conditions, medication effects, sleep problems, or substance use can sometimes contribute to mental health symptoms and may require further evaluation.
After the assessment, recommendations may include therapy, medication management, follow-up monitoring, additional testing, lifestyle or coping support, or referral to another healthcare professional. Recommendations depend on your symptoms, history, preferences, and individual needs.
A first psychiatric evaluation usually takes longer than a follow up visit, because it covers your full history. At the end, your provider will share initial impressions, discuss a possible diagnosis and talk through next steps, which may include medication management, therapy or further evaluation.
We complete psychiatric evaluations for children, adolescents and adults. For children and teens, parents or caregivers are part of the visit, and input from teachers can help when concerns include ADHD, behavior or school performance. Adults are often evaluated for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD or adult ADHD that was never diagnosed in childhood.
Consider whether you have frequently felt sad, anxious, hopeless, or overwhelmed; experienced difficult-to-control worry or panic; noticed changes in sleep, appetite, energy, or motivation; struggled with concentration or daily responsibilities; withdrawn from activities; experienced relationship problems; increased alcohol or substance use; or noticed unusual thoughts or perceptions.
If you have thoughts of harming yourself or feel unable to stay safe, seek immediate help.
This self-check is for informational purposes only. It does not provide a diagnosis or replace a professional mental health assessment.
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, severe emotional distress, or feel unable to remain safe, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
If you or someone else is in immediate or life-threatening danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Paramount Healthcare Services is not an emergency or crisis-response service.
The cost of a psychiatric evaluation depends on your insurance plan, deductible and copay. Paramount Healthcare Services accepts Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare and Medicaid, and we offer affordable cash pay options for patients without insurance. Call us before your visit and we can help you understand what to expect.
Our office is located at 1705 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89104, and we see patients from across the Las Vegas Valley, including Henderson, Summerlin and North Las Vegas. Secure telehealth evaluations are available for patients in Nevada, with same day telehealth and evening appointments available.
If mental health symptoms are affecting daily life, schedule a confidential psychiatric evaluation with Paramount Healthcare Services. Call +1 (702) 514-4057, email support@paramounthcslv.com or book online. Evaluations are available in our Las Vegas office or by telehealth.
Providing compassionate, professional, and reliable psychiatric care in Las Vegas. We are dedicated to quality mental health services and supporting healthier lives.
