Mental Status Flashcards
What are the components of appearance? (4)
Posture - posture erect position relaxed
Body movements - movements are voluntary, deliberate, coordinated, smooth and even
Dress - appropriate for setting, season, age, gender, social group; fits and put on correctly
Grooming and hygiene - clean, well-groomed, hair near and clean, moderate to no makeup (women), facial hair groomed (men), nails well kept
What are the components of the mental health assessment? (4)
Appearance
Behaviour
Cognitive functions
Thought processes
What are the components of behaviour? (4)
Level of consciousness
Facial expression
Speech
Mood and affect
What are looking for in assessment of LOC?
Awake vs sedated
Alert
Aware of stimuli from environment and self
Responds appropriately to stimuli
What are you looking for in assessment of facial expression?
Appropriate to situation
Changes appropriately
Comfortable eye contact (unless cultural issue)
What are you looking for in assessment of speech?
Quality of speech Effortless laryngeal sounds Converse appropriately Voice raised or muffled One-word or elaborate answers to questions Fast or slow speech Tone of voice Fluent or choppy
What are you looking for in assessment of mood and affect?
Body language Facial expression Length of particular moods Mood stable or unstable Affect (expression) appropriate to mood and changes appropriately
What are the components of cognitive functions? (5)
Orientation Attention span Immediate, recent and remote memory New learning Insight and judgement
What is orientation assessing?
Oriented x3 to person, place, and time
How to assess attention span?
Ability to concentrate, distractibility, follows series of direction in correct sequence.
How to assess immediate, recent and remote memory?
Makes sense of what is going on
Able to recall a statement that was just made (can combine with four unrelated words test) (immediate)
Dietary intake or how arrived at clinic (recent)
Verifying past events: child’s birthday, historical event (remote)
How to assess new learning?
The four unrelated words test
Ability to acquire new memory, recall words immediately, then after 5, 10, and 30 minute delays
How to assess insight and judgement?
Recognize one’s own illness and needs for treatment.
Decisions are appropriate and realistic - “what are your plans for the day, etc…?”
What are the components of thought processes?
Thought processes
Thought content
Perceptions
Suicidal ideation
How to assess thought processes?
Patient makes sense, does not deviate from question, the WAY the patients think logical, goal directed, coherent, relevant, complete
