mental status exam Flashcards
1
Q
define the mental state examination
A
a structured way of observing and describing a patient’s current state of mind
2
Q
benefits of MSE
A
- supports us in eliciting symptoms and signs that aid diagnosis
- important in both physical and psychiatric conditions
- ensures consistency
- allows monitoring overtime
3
Q
components of the MSE
A
- appearance and behaviour
- cognition
- speech
- mood/affect
- thought process/form
- thought content
- perception
- suicide/homicide/self-care risk
- insight/judgement
4
Q
mood/affect: details
A
- range of emotions expressed
- depth of emotions expressed
- appropriateness of emotions
- volatility of mood expressed
5
Q
explain insight/judgement
A
- capacity to organise and understand problem, symptoms or illness, medication
- insight (knowledge)
- judgement (actions)
6
Q
explain the component of perception
A
- Hallucinations include auditory, visual, olfactory
- illusions
- depersonalisation
- derealisation
7
Q
explain thought content
A
- thought insertion
- thought withdrawal
- thought broadcasting
- phobia, obsessions, overvalued ideas
- delusions
8
Q
explain thought process/form
A
- goal-directed, organised
- amount or speed, flight of ideas, perservation
- continuity of ideas, thought blocking
- disturbance in language includes incoherence, word salad
9
Q
explain the behaviour component
A
- eye contact
- cooperativeness
- motor activity
- abnormal movements
- expressive gestures
