Use of Clinical Scales at PFCA
There are highly reliable clinical scales available to psychiatrists in their assessment of patients; specifically, to help with diagnosis, to identify the severity of symptoms, and to follow the patient’s response to treatment. We call this Measurement Based Care (MBC). Evidence-based data[1] shows that MBC facilitates accurate diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, data suggests that MBC helps patients more effectively achieve remission, without the presence of residual symptoms, which can be disabling and worsen the long-term prognosis of the psychiatric disorder.
At our practice, a full set of psychiatric scales are used at the time of evaluation, based on the patient’s initial chief complaint. These scales are then used by Dr. Fernandez and his staff to clarify the diagnosis and document the severity of symptoms. This then greatly facilitates the selection of medications and helps identify how aggressively to treat the individual. Additionally, scales are used regularly during follow-up visits to assure complete treatment of the condition.
[1] Guo, T. et al, American Journal of Psychiatry. 2015; 172 (10): 1004-1013.
At our practice, a full set of psychiatric scales are used at the time of evaluation, based on the patient’s initial chief complaint. These scales are then used by Dr. Fernandez and his staff to clarify the diagnosis and document the severity of symptoms. This then greatly facilitates the selection of medications and helps identify how aggressively to treat the individual. Additionally, scales are used regularly during follow-up visits to assure complete treatment of the condition.
[1] Guo, T. et al, American Journal of Psychiatry. 2015; 172 (10): 1004-1013.
