Chapter 5 Flashcards
Consciousness
Awareness of one’s existence, feelings, and thoughts. Awareness of environment
Affect
Temporary expression of feelings or state of mind
Mental disorder
Greater than expected response to traumatic life event
Mental status
A person’s emotional and cognitive function
Mood
Prolonged display of feelings
Orientation
Awareness of objective world in relation to self (person, place, tme)
Psychiatric mental illness
Organic etiology has not yet been established (anxiety, schizophrenia)
How is mental status assessed
Mental status is inferred through assessment of an individuals behaviors.
What are the 10 things of mental status
Consciousness, language, mood, affect, orientation, affect, orientation, attention, memory, abstract reasoning, thought process/content, perceptions
When is it necessary to do a complete mental exam
If brief screening suggests anxiety/depression. Behavior changes are noticed by the family. Brain lesions. Aphasia. Symptoms of psychiatric mental illness.
Four components of the mental exam and key elements of each
Appearance, behavior, cognition, thought process
Appearance is
Posture, body movements, dress, groom/hygiene
Behavior
Level of consciousness, facial expression, speech, mood and affect
Cognition
Orientation, attention span, recent/remote memory, new learning
Thought process
Making sense. Compulsions/obsessions. Perceptions. Judgement
