Mental Status- Ch 5

Question 1

Components of mental exam

Answer 1

Appearance
Behavior
Cognition
Thought process and perceptions

“ABCT”

Question 2

Mental disorder?

Answer 2

A situation when a person as a response that is much greater than expected and is characterized by a significant behavioral or psychological pattern that is associated by distress.

Question 3

Organic or psychiatric

Etiology:

Answer 3

Organic: brain disease-dementia

Psychiatric: anxiety, schizophrenia

Question 4

LOCs

Answer 4

1) alert and oriented
2) lethargic
3) obtunded-unaware of surroundings, ⬇️ arousal
4) stupor/semi coma
5) coma

Question 5

When to do a mental exam?

Answer 5

Recent trauma, decline in cognition, suicidal thoughts or behavior

Question 6

Appearance

Answer 6

Body movements
Dress
Grooming
Hygiene

Question 7

Behavior

Answer 7

LOC
Facial expression
Speech
Mood and affect

Question 8

Cognitive function

Answer 8

Orientation 
Attention span 
Recent memory-short term
Remote memory-past/long term
New learning-4 unrelated words

Question 9

Thought processes

Answer 9

Thought content(what they say is consistent)
Perceptions (aware of reality)
Suicidal thoughts* make a plan bc they are high risk

Question 10

Dementia

Answer 10

Multiple problems
Chronic disturbance
Long and short term memory loss 
Speech and Lang disturbances 
Irreversible 
Progressive decline in mental fxn

Question 11

Delirium

Answer 11

Acute disturbance 
Short term 
Reversible 
Medical condition predispose 
No history of dementia 
May occur during long hospital stay

Question 12

Cognitive impairments look like?

Answer 12

Clouding of consciousness
Impaired alertness 
Impaired memory 
Disorientated 
Hallucinations agitation

Question 13

Sedation scale

Answer 13

S: asleep, easy to arouse

1: awake alert
2: slightly drowsy
3: frequently drowsy, fall asleep during conversation
4: somnolent, Minimal or no response

Question 14

Glasgow Coma Scale

• measure best motor, verbal and eye response
• determines LOC
• quantitative
• valid and reliable

Answer 14

Score of

Question 15

Global aphasia

Answer 15

Most common 
Most severe 
Large lesion affects ant and post language areas 
No comprehension 
Can't repeat or read or write

Question 16

Broca/expressive aphasia

Answer 16

Able to understand 
Can't express using language
Can't repeat or read outloud 
Lesion in motor correct of ant brain (brocas area) 
Hearing and reading are intact

Question 17

Wernicke/ receptive aphasia

Answer 17

Opposite of broca 
Post language area is affected 
Can hear sounds but can't relate them
Speech is good, urge to speak words are made up 
Impaired reputation, reading and writing