Mental Status Flashcards

1
Q

definition of MENTAL STATUS

A
  • ability of COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING;
  • ability of EMOTIONAL FUNCTIONING
  • ability of CEREBRAL FUNCTION
  • ability to cope with STRESS
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2
Q

describe MENTAL STATUS EXAMINATION

A
  • observing PHYSICAL APPERANCE & BEHAVIOR
  • how do they RESPOND?
  • are they PAYING ATTENTION?
  • are they EMOTIONALLY STABLE?
  • how is their SPEECH/LANGUAGE?
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3
Q

cerebrum

A
  • primarily responsible for a person’s mental status
  • composed of TWO CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES that have lobes
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4
Q

limbic system

A
  • important for mediation of survival patterns of behavior (aggression, mating, fear, & affection)
  • regulates emotions; anger, love, hostility, envy
  • memory consolidation
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5
Q

reticular system

A
  • regulates VITAL REFLEXES - heart & respiratory functioning
  • maintains wakefulness & awareness & arousal functions
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6
Q

frontal lobe

A
  • contains motor cortex / speech formation (BROCA AREA)
  • important for decision making, problem solving, concentration, & short-term memory
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7
Q

parietal lobe

A

responsible for receiving & processing sensory data

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8
Q

temporal lobe

A
  • responsible for perception & interpretation of SOUNDS - localizing their source
  • contains WERNICKE AREA - allows one to understand spoken & written language
  • long-term memory
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9
Q

describe MENTAL STATUS OF OLDER ADULTS

A
  • declining of executive functions
  • declining of psychomotor speed
  • still have stable verbal skills/knowledge
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10
Q

disorientation & confusion

A
  • can be either INTERMITTENT, FLUCTUATING, OR PERSISTENT
  • can have more associated health problems
    • impairments in hearing or vision
    • neurologic disorders
  • can be caused by MEDICATIONS, have mood swings, delusions etc…
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11
Q

depression

A
  • Feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration that
    interfere with everyday life for an extended period

can have TROUBLING THOUGHTS OR FEELINGS
- LOWER ENERGY LEVELS + FATIGUE
- can be associated with recent CHANGES IN LIFE
- THOUGHTS OR PLANS OF HURTING SELF OR OTHERS
- medications;
- antidepressants, antihypertensive agents, corticosteroids etc…

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12
Q

anxiety

A
  • have SUDDEN AND UNEXPLAINED EPISODES of INTENSE FEAR OT WORRY
  • feeling UNCOMFORTABLE OR AVOIDING SITUATIONS
  • having PANIC ATTACKS, or OBSESSIVE/COMPULSIVE BEHAVIORS
  • medications;
    • antidepressants, steroids, benzodiazepines
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13
Q

what are some important PATIENT HISTORIES to consider for mental status?

A

FAMILY HISTORY;
history of mental illness, disorders, autism etc…

PERSONAL & SOCIAL HISTORY;
status of emotion, life goals, economic factors, alcohol/drugs etc…

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14
Q

can mental status also be assessed through PHYSICAL EXAMINATION?

A

yes!

  • important to look at;
    GROOMING
    are they appropriate?
    is their hygiene concerning?
    EMOTIONAL STATUS
    how is their mood?
    BODY LANGUAGE
    how is their posture, expression, or energy?
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15
Q

how is state of consciousness assessed?

A

looking for ALERTNESS & ORIENTED
- must be ORIENTED to PERSON, PLACE and TIME

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16
Q

meaning of A&O x3 / A&O x4

A

A&O x3
- aware of person, place, & time

A&O x4
- aware of person, place, time, & reasonpe

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17
Q

person disorientation

A

can be caused by;
- CEREBRAL TRAUMA
- SEIZURES
- AMNESIA

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18
Q

time disorientation

A

can be caused by;
- ANXIETY
- DELIRIUM
- DEPRESSION
- COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

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19
Q

place disorientation

A

can be caused by;
- PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS
- DELIRIUM
- COGNITIVE IMPAIR MENT

20
Q

what are some signs of COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT?

A
  • high memory loss
  • confused
  • impaired comms.
  • inappropriate affect
  • agitation/sus
21
Q

what are the SCREENING TESTS to assess COGNITION?

A
  • MINI-MENTAL STATE EXAMINATION (MMSE)
  • MINI-COG
22
Q

describe the MMSE

A
  • often used for OLDER ADULTS
  • tests for time orientation, remembering 3 words, and naming common objects
  • following directions
23
Q

describe the MINI-COG

A
  • helps to assess impairment in OLDER ADULTS
  • type of three-item RECALL TEST for memory/clock drawing test
24
Q

what are our COGNITIVE ABILITIES (7)?

A
  • ABSTRACT REASONING
    proverb/metaphor
  • ARITHMETIC CALC
  • WRITING ABILITY
    name/address
  • MOTOR SKILLS
  • MEMORY
  • ATTENTION SPAN
  • JUDGEMENT
    hypothetical situations/future plans
25
Q

recent memory

A

asking patient to view 4-5 test objects & to recall them in a few minutes

26
Q

remote memory

A

asking patient to verify past events in their life

27
Q

aphasia

A

the inabilty to speak

28
Q

what are the expectations in terms of normal SPEECH & LANGUAGE SKILLS?

A
  • proper inflections
  • clear & strong
  • able to increase in volume
  • proper COHERENCE/COMPREHENSION
29
Q

circumlocution

A

substitution of a word to avoid revealing word was forgotten

30
Q

clang association

A

word choice based on sound - nonsensical way

31
Q

perservation vs. echolalia

A

repetitive phrases / repeats another person’s words

32
Q

describe the GLASGOW COMA SCALE

A
  • type of OBJECTIVE TOOL
  • assesses the CEREBRAL FXN and BRAINSTEM
    has three divided sections;
  1. EYE OPENING RESPONSE
  2. BEST VERBAL RESPONSE
  3. BEST MOTOR RESPONSE

NORMAL SCORE IS = 15
ABNORMAL SCORE/COMATOSE = 7 OR LESS
UNRESPONSIVE = 3 OR LESS

33
Q

alert

A

awake or easily aroused

34
Q

lethargic/somnolent

A
  • not FULLY ALERT
  • drifts off to sleep
  • inattentive
35
Q

obtunded

A
  • difficult to arouse
  • must be SHAKED or SHOUTED AT
  • sleeps most of the time
36
Q

stupor / semi-coma

A

roused only with PAIN or PERSISTENT SHAKING
- grumbles or moans

37
Q

coma

A

completely unconscious

38
Q

traumatic brain injury - Concussion

A

direct blow to HEAD OR FACE - causes BRUISES to the brain
- causes INFLAMMATION

39
Q

symptoms of concussion

A
  • dazed expression
  • slurred speech
  • nausea/vomiting
  • loss of consciousness
  • slow motor/verbal responses
40
Q

mania

A

Persistently elevated, expansive, euphoric, or irritable mood lasting longer than 1 week; one phase of the bipolar disorder

41
Q

schizophrenia

A

A severe, persistent, psychotic syndrome with relapses throughout life
- often has hallucinations of impaired reality/often a type of genetic disorder

42
Q

delirium

A

an IMPAIRED CONDITION–cases of behavioral dysfunction/consciousness
- often caused by MEDICATION/DISEASE, is often REVERSIBILE

43
Q

dementia

A

type of CHRONIC SLOW PROGRESSIVE DISORDER of failing memory, personality changes, etc…
- often IRREVERSIBLE

44
Q

aphasia

A

language problems

45
Q

apraxia

A

organizational problems

46
Q

agnosia

A

unable to recognize objects or purpose