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Preparing for your appointment

By Mayo Clinic staff

Whether you schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor to talk about mental health concerns or you're referred to a mental health provider, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, take steps to prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

  • Write down any symptoms you or people close to you have noticed, and for how long.
  • Write down key personal information, including traumatic events in your past and any current, major stressors.
  • Make a list of your medical information, including other physical or mental health conditions and the names and amounts of medications, herbal remedies or supplements you take.
  • Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Someone who has known you for a long time may be able to share important information with the doctor or mental health professional, with your permission.

Write down a list of questions to ask. These may include:

  • What type of mental illness might I have?
  • Why can't I get over mental illness on my own?
  • How do you treat my type of mental illness?
  • Will counseling or psychotherapy help?
  • Are there medications that might help?
  • How long will treatment take?
  • What can I do to help myself?
  • Do you have any brochures or other printed material that I can have?
  • What websites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared, don't hesitate to ask questions anytime you don't understand something.

What to expect from your doctor
During your appointment, your doctor or mental health provider is likely to ask you a number of questions about your mood, thoughts and behavior. You may be asked such questions as:

  • When did you first notice symptoms?
  • How is your daily life affected by your symptoms?
  • What treatment, if any, have you had for mental illness?
  • What have you tried on your own to feel better or control your symptoms?
  • What things make you feel worse?
  • Have family members or friends commented on your mood or behavior?
  • Do you have biological (blood) relatives with a mental illness?
  • What do you hope to gain from treatment?
  • What medications or over-the-counter herbs and supplements do you take?
  • Do you drink alcohol or use illegal drugs?
Tests and diagnosis Complications
References
  1. Psychotherapies. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies/index.shtml. Accessed July 24, 2012.
  2. Mental illness and the family: Recognizing warning signs and how to cope. Mental Health America. http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/mi-and-the-family/recognizing-warning-signs-and-how-to-cope. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  3. Introduction. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed June 13, 2012.
  4. Brain stimulation therapies. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/brain-stimulation-therapies/brain-stimulation-therapies.shtml. Accessed July 24, 2012.
  5. Mental health medications. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-health-medications/index.shtml. Accessed July 24, 2012.
  6. Mind/body connection: How your emotions affect your health. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/mental/782.printerview.html. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  7. Mental illness surveillance among U.S. adults. Centers for Disease Control. http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealthsurveillance/fact_sheet.html. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  8. Treatment approaches for drug addiction. National Institute on Drug Abuse. http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction. Accessed July 24, 2012.
  9. Understanding hospitalization for mental health. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/Search?query=hospitalization&inc=10&x=0&y=0Accessed July 24, 2012.
  10. Salgado MF, et al. Family history of serious mental illness in bipolar I and bipolar II patients of the Mayo Bipolar Biobank. Biological Psychiatry. 2012;71:153S.
  11. Mental illness: Taking care of yourself. American Family Physician. 2008;78:363.
  12. Gold MS, et al. Psychosocial treatment of alcohol abuse and dependence. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed June 2, 2012.
  13. Rackley S, et al. Depression in medically ill patients. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2012;35:231.
  14. Depression. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/index.shtml. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  15. Sadock BJ, et al. Kaplan & Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry. 9th ed. Philadephia, Pa.: Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009. http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&CSC=Y&NEWS=N&PAGE=booktext&D=books2&AN=01412563/9th_Edition/5&XPATH=/OVIDBOOK%5b1%5d/METADATA%5b1%5d/TBY%5b1%5d/EDITORS%5b1%5d. Accessed July 24, 2012.
  16. Li X, et al. Review of pharmacological treatment in mood disorders and future directions for drug development. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2012;37:77.
  17. McDowell AK, et al. Practical suicide-risk management for the busy primary care physician. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2011;86:792.
  18. Chamberlain AM, et al. Associations of preexisting depression and anxiety with hospitalization in patients with cardiovascular disease. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2011;86:1056.
  19. Index. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed June 13, 2012.
  20. Understanding suicide: Fact sheet 2012. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pub/Suicide_factsheet.html. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  21. What is mental illness: Mental illness facts. National Alliance on Mental Illness. http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=about_mental_illness. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  22. Schreiber J, et al. Suicidal ideation and behavior in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed March 13, 2012.
  23. Kung S (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minn. Aug. 7, 2012.
  24. Adjustment disorders. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Aug. 27, 2012.
DS01104 Sept. 15, 2012

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