What is the difference between a Psychological and a Psychiatric Assessment?

Psychological and psychiatric assessments are commonly ordered by the Court in Care Proceedings and are frequently requested by the Local Authority during pre-proceedings. However, these assessments are not the same and there are key differences that distinguish the two. It is imperative that whichever assessment is taking place, it is the correct assessment for the specific facts and complexities of the case.

Often used interchangeably, psychological and psychiatric assessments are different. Therefore, it is vital that should you be asked to engage in a one of these assessments, you must be certain it is the correct assessment for you and your specific case.

Psychological Assessments

A psychological assessment will focus on a person’s presentation and the background history of their problematic presentations. The psychologist will try to understand a person’s life story, their family, relationships, previous difficulties or traumatic events experienced to build a detailed picture of that person. They will try to understand why that person is suffering from their difficulties. They will be able to provide information about the impact social and family factors have had on the severity of a person’s symptoms. A psychological assessment will focus more on formulating any difficulties and understanding the person themselves rather than providing a particular diagnosis. In fact, psychologists cannot formally diagnose a person with any mental health difficulty or condition. A psychologist cannot prescribe any medication, but they can engage a person in a range of talking therapies or refer a person to a psychiatrist. They can also advise on the repercussions of any trauma suffered. A psychological assessment will be able to provide insight into the motivation behind a person’s actions and whether the person acted in a particular way due to their mental health or behavioural difficulties. In Care Proceedings, a psychological assessment may be required to assess whether a parent can provide the necessary care required for their children. They can also be used to shed light on a person’s ability to understand and participate in Care Proceedings, and if required comment on a person’s capacity to instruct a solicitor.

Psychiatric Assessments

Unlike a psychologist, psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialised training in treating mental health disorders. Therefore, the abilities and assessments of a psychiatrist are much wider. A psychiatric assessment will assess the mental and physical aspects of a person’s health to rule out other physical conditions that might be causing the symptoms. A psychiatrist will generally want to have sight of the person’s full medical records to assist with this as they will want to know about the concerned individual’s past medical history, any past substance misuse and past compliance with medication. Unlike a psychologist, a psychiatrist can diagnose an individual with a mental health condition and prescribe medication for such conditions. A psychiatrist can also recommend other treatment methods such as brain stimulation therapies such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). A psychiatric assessment can provide a more detailed analysis of the severity of any psychological conditions and the different ways they can be treated. Psychiatric assessments are beneficial for diagnosing and treating depression, personality disorders, eating and sleeping disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and addictions. A person will tend to work with a psychiatrist over a long period of time which means they will develop a strong doctor/patient relationship.

How can we help?

If you have been asked to engage in a psychological or psychiatric assessment, it is likely that you will have level of involvement with the Local Authority and their Children Social Services Team or the Family Court. We understand that this can be very stressful and that is why we are here to help and provide advice. We have experience in assisting parents at all stages of Local Authority involvement. Please contact Johnson Astills at either our Leicester office on 0116 255 4855 or our Loughborough office on 01509 610 312 and ask or a member of the Care Team. Alternatively you contact us through our free online enquiry form or email us at careteam@johnsonastills.com and a member of our team will be happy to assist you.