Table Evaluation Medical assessment by history, physical examination, and often brain imaging and laboratory testing (1) is required for patients with New-onset mental symptoms (ie, no prior history of similar symptoms) Qualitatively different or unexpected symptoms (ie, in a patient with a known or stable mental disorder) Mental symptoms that begin at an unexpected age (eg, new-onset psychosis in an older person) The goal of medical assessment is to diagnose underlying and concomitant physical disorders rather than to make a specific psychiatric diagnosis.