Reviewed 2026-09-21 · DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Hollywood psychiatric evaluation: scales plus history
We document sleep architecture, menstrual or androgen history, thyroid clues, and substance use because they change the differential.
Clinical scope of Psychiatric Evaluations in Broward County
Eating-disorder psychiatric evaluation looks at restriction, binge-purge, body image, electrolytes, and when a higher level of care is safer than outpatient Psychiatric Evaluations.
A psychiatric evaluation is a diagnostic procedure: history, mental status, risk, collateral when needed, and a differential. It is not a personality quiz.
Clinical FAQ
How do I prepare?
Medication list, prior psych notes, recent labs, and a timeline of symptoms. Sleep and menstrual data help.
Do hormones cause psychiatric symptoms?
They can contribute. They rarely explain an entire syndrome by themselves. We test when the history points there.
Will you prescribe on visit one?
Only when the diagnosis, safety, and monitoring plan support it. Controlled substances have a higher bar.
Do you diagnose on the first visit?
Usually we can state a working diagnosis and differential after the first complete interview. Some presentations need collateral, labs, or a second visit.
Do you replace my therapist?
No. Psychiatric evaluation and psychotherapy are complementary.
Can I use this evaluation for a legal letter?
Only if the interview actually supports the opinion. We do not write unsupported letters.
Protocol elements we do not skip
If GeneSight is used, results are filed with the limitation statement in the note.
Missed appointments after a high-risk visit trigger outreach, not silent discharge.
Informed consent is documented for off-label use when evidence supports it and alternatives were discussed.
We do not combine MAOIs with contraindicated agents. We do not ignore serotonin syndrome risk.
Stressors we document in Hollywood
Prior genetic testing was ordered with no interpretation, so you carry a PDF and no plan.
Psychosis, OCD, or eating-disorder questions were skipped because the template did not include them.
You were told you 'don't look depressed,' which is not a diagnostic criterion.
Indications and differentials
Pediatric primary care is not the focus of this clinic; adolescents are considered case-by-case.
Adult ADHD concern with childhood onset clues or with strong mimic risk (sleep, trauma, mood).
Eating-pattern change with medical risk (restriction, purging, electrolyte clues).
Substance use that may be inducing or masking a primary psychiatric disorder.
Psychiatric Evaluations versus a generic template visit
We will not outperform a sleep study when apnea is the main syndrome — we will refer.
A primary-care PHQ-9 is a screen. This evaluation is a diagnostic interview with a mental status exam.
Functional labs add data; they do not replace DSM-5-TR criteria or suicide-risk assessment.
From intake to follow-up: Psychiatric Evaluations
Mental status exam is documented: appearance, speech, affect, thought process, insight, cognition, and risk.
Formulation is shared in plain language: what is likely, what is possible, what we are watching.
Labs are ordered when they could change management, not to decorate the chart.
Records from other clinicians are requested with your authorization; we do not pretend collateral is optional when the history is fragmented.
Next step
After Psychiatric Evaluations is scheduled, complete intake forms once. Repeating the same history at every visit is what we are trying to avoid.
Crisis now is 988 or the ER — not the booking form. For non-urgent Psychiatric Evaluations, use (888) 307-2199 during weekday hours.
Related care
Clinician: Dr. Dorothy Chatelier, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Last medical review: 2026-09-21.
Florida telehealth psychiatry is available to established and new patients located in Florida at the time of the visit, subject to licensure and clinical appropriateness. An in-person evaluation at the Hollywood office may be recommended when a physical exam, vital signs, or a more complete diagnostic interview is needed.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It does not establish a provider-patient relationship. Always seek care from a qualified clinician for questions about a medical or psychiatric condition. If you are in crisis, call 988 or go to the nearest emergency department.