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Mental Health Nursing – Assessing Mental Health A physical examination is typically part of mental health tests to rule out physical conditions. This may include blood tests and urine tests as well as brain scans. Psychologists utilize a variety tools for assessing mental health. These tools vary from pencil and paper test forms to more in-depth interviews or self-completed questionnaires via mail. Mood and affect The affect and mood are the most crucial elements of the mental state exam (MSE) and are the first to be viewed by the clinician. They define the patient's general mood that can range from happiness to sadness, or even irritability to anger. The degree of affect can be determined by observing facial expressions and overall manner of speaking as well as the reaction to external or internal stimuli (e.g. You can express your feelings by smirking at a joke, or crying when you lose a loved one. Affect is an emotion that is temporary, whereas mood is a state of sustained emotion. It is usually described as euthymic (normal) or dysphoric, which translates to depressed. However, psychiatric professionals should be cautious not to confuse the terms because they have different definitions and are influenced by a variety of factors. The MSE is a helpful tool for diagnosing clinical problems however it is difficult to interpret from an individual patient's report. It is therefore important to ask patients how they've been feeling over the last few weeks, instead of using only the observation of a physician. Recent research revealed that assessment tools differed in their ability to capture a significant portion of symptoms. This included the symptoms that were classified under the same disorder. This could be due to the different emphasis placed on cognitive or emotional symptoms and also the differences between the time intervals and frequency of reporting symptoms. It is possible that the MSE relies on self-reports, which may be prone to bias. For example, a patient who reports a headache and anxiety will likely have an lower score than someone who has only an occasional headache. Additionally, there is a tendency for patients to minimize negative emotions and underestimate the severity of positive emotions. Mood and affect can have an impact on the thought content. This can impact the way we make decisions, our interpersonal behavior, and physical functioning. They are affected by fatigue, stress and social interactions. In reality positive moods have been proven to boost the ability to think and be creative. A negative mood can affect concentration and cause confusion. Therefore, a thorough and thorough mental health evaluation needs to take into account the patient's mood and affect as well as the underlying causes. Thought content Examining the way a patient thinks is one the most important aspects of a mental health exam. Assessment of thoughts and their content. The thought process is the logic, coherence and organization of the patient's thoughts. Normal thought processes are focused and rational. Thought processing can be altered when a person suffers from mental health issues. Examples include hallucinations, delusions and loose associations. Insight and judgement are also evaluated during a mental status test. Insight is the ability to identify the presence of an issue, and judgement is the ability to make a considered decision when presented with information. Both can be impaired by a variety of mental health issues such as schizophrenia and depression. Patients with impaired insight or judgment is more prone to harm themselves or others. For instance, if they are in danger of burning their house down and they have a good sense of judgement, it would be wise for that they should leave the premises immediately. However, a person with impaired judgment may recommend staying in the house and attempting to put out the fire. The content of a patient's thoughts encompasses the subject matter, themes and beliefs. Examiners will comment on the clarity, relevance and the content of the patient's thoughts. They will be able to identify tangential ideas or those that are merely circumstantial, and when a patient is digressing (digressions off from the main topic of the conversation). They will also discuss the pace of a person's thoughts, including whether they appear fast or slow. It is also important to determine whether the patient's mood is similar to the environment in which they live. For instance, a patient who is depressed might hear voices that sound angry and threatening, while a person with schizophrenia might be able to imagine a calm and soothing voice. Ask the patient if they've had any thoughts of suicide or homicide. Although these are rare however, they can be life-threatening and must be taken into account in every mental health assessment. Watching A nurse's observation skills are crucial in an assessment of mental health. comprehensive psychiatric assessment include a careful examination of behavior, appearance, any unusual beliefs or perceptions (such delusions or hallucinations) mood, cognition (including attention, memory, orientation). The mental status exam for nurses also includes observing the movement. This is any physical activity, like eating, drinking or brushing your teeth. The Observation portion of the mental state exam is essential in determining whether a patient poses a risk to them or others. This is done by assessing whether the patient appears to be acting in a manner that suggests that they are in danger of harming themself or someone else. A thorough assessment of the content of thoughts is also done by monitoring the patient during the interview and determining concerns. It is essential to determine whether the patient is suffering from suicidal, homicidal, or delusional thoughts. A global assessment of functioning (GAF) is a numerical rating on a scale of zero to 100 that evaluates the ability of a person to function in daily life with their capacity to handle the stresses that come with life. The GAF is a crucial component of the mental health examination and helps guide the treatment decisions. It is essential to be aware that observing the behavior of a patient can cause anxiety and it is essential to conduct the procedure in a way that does not cause anxiety for the patient and doesn't feel intrusive. It is important that the patient is aware of the goal of the observations and the length of the procedure. Nursing observation is a crucial skill that should be a central part of any nursing process. However, it should be kept in mind that patients could be dissatisfied with the quality of observation and if they are unable to come to an agreement with the staff, they should be able to access an advocate service that can represent their interests and support patients in any discussions about their care. This should be part of the local policy and practice, with the involvement and support of groups of users. Questioning Many people have a hard time talking about their mental health issues, but loved ones can often notice when something is wrong. They can also assist the person get an assessment. These assessments can be a variety of subjects, including mood, appearance and the thought process. A mental health professional could also inquire about the person's personal life. They will ask them what they've been feeling and what has happened recently. The test also includes a cognitive assessment, which focuses on the person's ability to think clearly and retain information. The person could be asked to complete basic tasks, such as focussing on a list or objects, memorizing lists, or solving math questions. The test can also be used to assess the person's judgment and ability to make informed choices. The test also assesses the patient's insight and knowledge of their illness and its impact on them. Another vital aspect of the mental health assessment is the patient's attitude towards the world, himself and his illness. The patient's tone of voice, facial expressions and body language can convey hostility, anger or depression, or a feeling of powerlessness. It is crucial to determine whether the patient appears to be seeking help or accepting their condition. In more serious instances an assessment of mental health might include an examination of the patient's thoughts that could include hallucinations (false sensory perceptions without real stimuli) or illusions (misperceptions of real stimuli). These conditions can be extremely dangerous and even deadly. In general, a mental health assessment should take a holistic approach and examine the person's relationship to their social world. A health professional may use art, music or photos or any other assessment tool to better understand the person. They should also talk to the person about the issues that caused them to seek help and reassure them that there is nothing wrong with seeing an expert in mental health.