When you schedule a psychiatric appointment for your child or teenager, you may be asked questions that span years of their life.
When did you first notice a change? Have they received therapy before? What medications have they tried? How are things going at school? Is there a family history of mental health concerns?
It can be difficult to remember all of that information during an appointment, especially when you are also focused on your child.
Preparing a simple mental health history before a child psychiatric appointment can help you feel more organized and give your child’s provider a clearer picture of what has been happening. You do not need to create a perfect medical record. A few notes, important dates, and relevant documents can go a long way.
Start With What Is Happening Right Now
Begin with the reason you made the appointment. Write down the behaviors, emotions, or changes that concern you most, when you first noticed them, and whether they have changed over time.
Consider noting:
- Changes in mood, anxiety, or behavior
- Difficulty concentrating
- Changes in sleep or appetite
- Changes in grades or school participation
- Difficulty with friendships or social situations
- Behaviors you notice at home but not elsewhere
The National Institute of Mental Health recommends paying attention to symptoms that last for weeks or longer, cause distress, or interfere with a child’s functioning at home, at school, or with friends.
You do not need to determine what those symptoms mean. Simply describe what you have observed.
Create a Timeline Before Your Child’s Psychiatric Appointment
You probably will not remember the exact date of every change, and that is okay. A simple timeline can help organize the most important information before your child psychiatric appointment.
Include when you first noticed symptoms, when they became more concerning, previous diagnoses, therapy or counseling, psychiatric appointments, medication changes, major medical events, and significant changes at home or school.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry explains that a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation commonly considers current symptoms, previous physical and psychiatric treatment, development, school, friendships, family relationships, and family psychiatric history.
Seeing these pieces together can help the provider understand how your child’s experiences have developed over time.
Make a Complete Medication List
Before the appointment, make a list of everything your child currently takes, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements, and other remedies.
For psychiatric medications taken in the past, note the name if you remember it, approximately when your child took it, whether it helped, and any side effects or concerns.
The National Institute of Mental Health recommends preparing a medication list before speaking with a health care provider, including prescription medications, nonprescription medications, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies.
If you cannot remember every dose or date, that is okay. Pharmacy records or previous providers may be able to help fill in the gaps.
Gather Records for Your Child’s Psychiatric Appointment
If your child has received mental health care before, those records may provide helpful context.
Consider gathering:
- Previous psychiatric evaluations
- Psychological or educational testing
- Therapy records or treatment summaries
- Previous diagnoses
- Hospital or emergency care records
- Medication history
- Relevant pediatrician records
You may not need to bring every page of every record. Ask the psychiatric provider’s office what information they would like to receive before the appointment.
A thorough psychiatric evaluation may incorporate information from previous clinicians, a child’s pediatrician, psychological testing, schools, and other relevant sources.
Preparing School Information for a Child Psychiatric Appointment
Children spend a significant part of their lives at school, so information from that setting can be valuable when preparing for a child psychiatric appointment.
If appropriate, gather recent report cards, evaluations, accommodation plans, behavioral reports, teacher observations, or other information that shows how your child is functioning academically and socially.
You might also ask whether a teacher has noticed changes in concentration, behavior, friendships, participation, or academic performance.
School information, including reports about behavior, abilities, difficulties, and testing, can be one component of a comprehensive mental health evaluation.
A child may behave differently at school than at home. Both perspectives can help the provider see a fuller picture.
Think About Developmental and Family History
Some questions may go further back than you expect. Depending on your child’s age and concerns, the provider may ask about pregnancy and birth, developmental milestones, speech and language development, childhood behavior, medical conditions, family relationships, or significant life experiences.
You may also be asked whether close family members have experienced anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, substance use disorders, or other mental health concerns.
You do not need to know everyone’s formal diagnosis. Share what you know and be comfortable saying when you do not know. Family and developmental history can provide important context for understanding a child’s current symptoms.
Write Down Major Life Changes
Mental health does not exist separately from what is happening in a child’s life. Consider whether there were significant changes or stressful experiences around the time symptoms began or became worse.
These might include moving, changing schools, bullying, divorce or separation, losing someone important, friendship changes, illness within the family, a new sibling, or another major transition.
You do not need to decide whether an event caused your child’s symptoms. Simply make the provider aware of the timing.
Bring Your Questions Too
Preparing for an appointment is not only about answering the provider’s questions. Write down yours as well.
You may want to ask:
- What could be contributing to these symptoms?
- Is additional testing recommended?
- What treatment options should we consider?
- If medication is recommended, what should we expect?
- How will we know whether treatment is helping?
- What should we watch for at home?
- When should we follow up?
The National Institute of Mental Health recommends preparing questions before an appointment so patients and families can make the most of their time with a health care provider.
You Do Not Need to Have Everything Figured Out
Preparing for a child psychiatric appointment can make the visit more productive, but it should not become another source of stress.
You are not expected to arrive with a diagnosis, remember every date, or have every record in your hands before asking for help.
Bring what you know. Write down what you have observed. Gather the information that is reasonably available to you. The purpose of a psychiatric appointment is to bring those pieces together and begin developing a clearer understanding of what your child needs.
Three Rivers Therapy provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management along with outpatient therapy and additional behavioral health services for youth and families throughout Washington.
If you have questions about what to bring to your child’s psychiatric appointment, contact Three Rivers Therapy before your visit. Our team can help you understand what information may be useful and what to expect when you arrive.
Sources
- National Institute of Mental Health. Children and Mental Health: Is This Just a Stage?
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation.
- National Institute of Mental Health. Tips for Talking With a Health Care Provider About Your Mental Health.
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluations.
