mental state assessment

Question 1

Identify the different parts of a Mental State Assessment

Answer 1

1. observation- important to describe accurately what you see.
2. speaking with the person- remember to introduce yourself and your role
3. speaking with family/ significant others
4. reviewing the person’s clinical use

Question 2

Understand how the Mental State Assessment is used in practice

Answer 2

Mental state assessments are done to provide a basis of information in order to diagnose and develop treatment plan for the person. It is completed at first entry into a service and with ongoing review. It may involve the use of specific tools/ standardised assessments
1. primary questions; what are their presenting complaints, how long has this been going on? who referred them to this service?
2. what might cause a change in a persons mental state? stress, drugs, alcohol, trauma, environment. organic changes
3. assess their
- behaviour and appearance
- rapport
- affect and mood
- speech and though
- orientation and cognition
- insight and judgement
- use of alcohol, tobacco and other substances
4. assess their behaviour and appearance
- physical
- maturity
- motor activity
- agitation
- clothing
- arousal level
5. assess their rapport
- ability to maintain eye contact
- how did they relate to you?
- empathy
6. assess their speech
- rate, volume, content
- mute
- poverty of speech
- pressure of speech
7. thought processes
8. thought content
9. sensory perception
10. orientation and cognition

Question 3

Describe different Thought processes

Answer 3

1. acceleration or slowed, flight of ideas
2. dissociation
3. disorganised or disturbed
4. circumstantial- not able to identify what os relevant information
5. thought blocking
6. tangential- wondering off topic, not providing relevant information

Question 4

Recognise the difference between Mood and Affect

Answer 4

mood: what the person feels like themselves, in their own words. it is the persons internal feelings and it is subjective

affect: what you the interviewer observes and hears and it objective

Question 5

Explain what the term Delusion means

Answer 5

delusion is to have fixed false beliefs

Question 6

List the 5 different types of Hallucinations

Answer 6

hallucination is a false sensory impression or experience. They can affect any of the senses
1. auditory (most common)
2. visual
3. tactile
4. olfactory
5. gustatory- taste

Question 7

parts of a mental state assessment

Answer 7

1. appearance
2. behaviour
3. interactions with interviewer/ rapport
4. speech (volume, rate, quantity, quality)
5. thought processes/ language
6. thought content (obsessions, suicidal, delusions)
7. perceptions (hallucinations- are they visual, auditory, smell, taste)
8. mood
9. affect
10. judgement
11. insight
12. use of chemical agents
13. risk to themselves, to others and from others

Question 8

WRAP mental health assessment

Answer 8

has 5 key concepts;
- hope
- personal responsibility
- education
- self advocacy
- support

Question 9

stigma vs discrimination

Answer 9

stigma- negative stereotyping attitudes towards people living with mental illness or addiction challenges
discrimination- denying people access to resources and opportunities based on their perceived differences