New psychiatric symptoms are common in correctional settings, particularly at intake. However, quick diagnostic conclusions often lead clinicians to assume the cause is psychiatric. This session will highlight common medical causes of altered mental status and other conditions that mimic psychiatric illness. Participants will learn how to recognize psychiatric symptoms that may indicate medical issues, gain tips for guiding differential diagnosis, and avoid missing urgent medical needs, as well as strategies for fostering collaboration between medical and mental health staff through objective assessments.  

Learning Objectives: 

·        Discuss the most common psychiatric symptoms that occur in medical diagnoses

·        Apply medical and behavioral assessments to improve patient outcomes  

·        Describe strategies to improve collaboration between medical and mental health staff  

Level: Intermediate