Psychiatric assessment at PISMO

We offer psychiatric assessments of children and adolescents, who are experiencing difficulties in their everyday life. These may include social, emotional, academic, or cognitive challenges, such as attention difficulties.

Each assessment begins with a comprehensive screening with our child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Jessica Rana-Krujatz. Based on the screening, you will receive a detailed plan for assessment and treatment, diagnostic and treatment plan tailored to your needs. After the initial screening interviews, our neuropsychologists will conduct the necessary tests and diagnostic interviews, followed by a feedback session and assessment report with recommendations and treatment options.

The assessment process typically takes 4-6 weeks.

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Screening and initial consultation

If you are unsure whether your child needs a psychiatric assessment, we understand that initiating an assessment through our psychiatry-team is a big step. Sometimes, what appears to be symptoms of a psychiatric disorder could simply be your child’s natural reactions to difficult circumstances at home or school.

For parents who are uncertain, we offer a screening consultation with one of our neuropsychologists. This session provides an opportunity to discuss your concerns with a professional and determine whether a psychiatric or psychological assessment is needed.

Book an appointment for a screening

Common diagnoses in psychiatric assessment

During a psychiatric assessment, a psychiatrist can diagnose and evaluate a wide range of mental health conditions. Some of the most common diagnoses include:

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder): This condition is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. An ADHD assessment often involves a detailed medical history, behavioral observations, and psychological tests to measure attention and executive functioning.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Individuals with ASD often have difficulties with social interactions, verbal and non-verbal communication, and show restricted, repetitive behaviors. A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation is essential for diagnosing ASD, and involves cognitive testing and interviews about early development and social interactions
Bipolar Disorder: This mood disorder is marked by episodes of mania (elevated mood, hyperactivity) and depression (low mood, fatigue). The assessment focuses on the frequency, duration, and severity of mood swings to provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
Anxiety Disorders: These include conditions like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Psychiatric evaluations of anxiety involve assessing both psychological and physiological symptoms, including excessive worry, panic attacks, and avoidance behaviors.
Depression: Major depressive disorder is one of the most common conditions evaluated during a psychiatric assessment. Symptoms include persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, fatigue, and changes in sleep or appetite.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): This disorder involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions). Obsessions and compulsions will be documented and assessed for severity to develop a treatment plan.
Psychotic Disorders: Conditions like schizophrenia and brief psychotic disorder involve hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. A diagnostic evaluation helps to differentiate between various psychotic disorders and guide appropriate treatment.

A thorough psychiatric evaluation at PISMO ensures that any underlying conditions are accurately identified, and individualized treatment plans, including therapy and/or medication, are developed to address these challenges.

Treatment plans

At PISMO, we offer various treatment programs that are customized to meet the needs of your child and family. Our expertise includes psychotherapeutic treatments, medication management, and psychoeducation, providing knowledge of the diagnosis and how to manage it.

All treatment plans are tailored based on the assessment outcomes and the recommendations of your therapist in close collaboration with your family.

During the psychiatric evaluation, we encourage you to bring any questions or concerns to your next consultation. Our experience shows that in-person consultations are the best way to ensure clarity and thoroughness in the discussion, rather than quick calls or Emails in between sessions

Book an appointment for a preliminary interview

Cognitive testing

We provide cognitive assessments at our clinic in Bagsværd. Cognitive tests measure mental capacities, such as general cognitive functioning (intelligence), attention, working memory, and visual/spatial abilities.

Using gold-standardtests like the WISC-V for children and the WAIS-IV for adults, we assess a range of skills, including attention, memory, language, and problem-solving. These tests help identify cognitive strengths and difficulties, which can be useful in educational planning and support.

For children aged 6 to 16, the WISC-V test provides a detailed analysis of cognitive functioning, comparing performance with age-group norms. Following the assessment, you will receive a report with results, and we offer follow-up consultations or school meetings to discuss these findings and possible interventions.

For adults the WAIS-IV test evaluates general cognitive functioning (intelligence), verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory, and processing speed.

Medication management

For cases requiring medication, treatment begins with a consultation with our psychiatrist. Both the child and parents must attend this meeting, where we discuss the effects and potential side effects of the medication. In certain instances, follow-up blood tests or an ECG may be necessary.

We treat conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, OCD, depression, and psychosis. For severe cases of depression and psychosis, an individual specialist evaluation determines whether outpatient treatment at PISMO is appropriate or if referral to a specialized public outpatient unit is needed.