Chapter 6 Assessing mental status

Question 1

What does mental health refer to?

Answer 1

cognitive and emotional functioning

Question 2

What is cognitive functioning?

Answer 2

thinking, knowledge, and problem solving

Question 3

What is emotional functioning?

Answer 3

feelings, mood, behaviors, and stability

Question 4

What is the World Health Organization definition of mental health?

Answer 4

Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Question 5

What factors affect mental health?

Answer 5

economic and social factors
unhealthy lifestyle choices
exposure to violence
personality factors
spiritual factors
cultural factors
changes or impairments in structure and function of the neurologic system
psychosocial development level and issues

Question 6

Features of a mental disorder

Answer 6

behavioral psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual
reflects an underlying psychobiologic dysfunction
consequences of which are clinically significant distress or disability
must not be merely an expectable response to stressors and losses or a culturally sanctioned response to a particular event
that is not primarily a result of social deviance or conflicts with society

Question 7

How to asses mental status

Answer 7

observe the client’s level of consciousness/orientation
use Glasgow Coma Scale
observe posture, gait, and body movements
observe behavior and affect
observe dress and grooming
observe hygiene
observe speech
observe mood, feelings, and expressions
observe thought processes and perceptions
assess concentration, recent memory, and remote memory

Question 8

Define lethargy

Answer 8

client opens eyes answers questions and falls back asleep

Question 9

Define obtunded

Answer 9

client opens eyes to loud voice, responds slowly with confusion and seems aware of environment

Question 10

Define stupor

Answer 10

client awakens to vigorous shake or painful stimuli but returns to unresponsive sleep

Question 11

Define coma

Answer 11

Client remains unresponsive to all stimuli eyes stay closed

Question 12

Define dysphonia

Answer 12

voice volume disorder caused by laryngeal disorders or impairment of cranial nerve X (vagus nerve)

Question 13

Define cerebellar dysarthria

Answer 13

irregular, uncoordinated speech caused by multiple sclerosis (MD)

Question 14

Define aphasia

Answer 14

difficulty producing or understanding language, caused by motor lesions in the dominant cerebral hemisphere

Question 15

Define Wernicke’s aphasia

Answer 15

rapid speech that lacks meaning, caused by a lesion in the posterior superior temporal lobe

Question 16

Define Broca’s aphasia

Answer 16

slowed speech with difficulty articulation, but fairly clear meaning, caused by a lesion in the posterior inferior frontal lobe