Mental State Examination

Question 1

Appearance

2 important points

Answer 1

Are clothes appropriate for the season?

Do they look clean or unkempt?

Question 2

Behaviour

Answer 2

Eye Contact

Question 3

Speech

Answer 3

Volume, Rate, Flow and Tone

Question 4

Mood

Answer 4

How are you feeling currently

Does the patients mood match with their body Lnguage

Question 5

Thoughts 
1 Question to assess recurrent thoughts
1 Question for delusions 
1 Question for thought withdrawal
1 Question for thought broadcasting

Answer 5

Do you have any recurrent thoughts?

Have you had the feeling something odd is going on that you cant explain?

Does it ever feel like thoughts are taken out of your head?

Does it ever feel like your thoughts arent your own?

Do you believe that other people can hear your thoughts

Question 6

Perception

3 Question for auditory hallucination

Answer 6

– familiar or unfamiliar voices?
– 2nd or 3rd person?
– do the voices give commands?
– if so, how does the patient react?

Question 7

Cognition

Assessing Orientation
Attention and concentration
Memory

Answer 7

Time place and person
months in reverse
recent: address

Question 8

Insight
Attitude towards illness
Attitude towards treatment

Answer 8

How do you see your
difficulties?

What sort of treatment do you
feel is needed?”