Mental Status Exam (MSE) Flashcards
What is a mental status exam?
A way to describe a patient’s mental state at the time the assessment is being conducted.
A client comes in for their weekly appointment for depression, she is reportedly “not doing well.” What appearance would you expect?
Disheveled, poor hygiene, slouched posture
A patient is admitted for a manic episode, you are asked to complete an MSE. What thought process might you encounter?
Loquacious
Flight of ideas
What is the difference between thought process and thought content?
Thought process is HOW you are thinking
Thought content is WHAT you are thinking about
A patient comes into the clinic needing a refill on their haloperidol for schizophrenia. When assessing the patient you notice he frequently turns his head to the side and nods. When asked about this behavior he states, “My mom wants me to tell you that I’ve been off my medication.” How would you describe his perception?
Hallucinations - auditory
A nurse is assessing a patient who blames their symptoms on other people. What does this patient lack?
Insight
When assessing the speech of a patient, what characteristics are being considered?
Clarity, rate, quantity, tone, volume, and flow
A patient is exhibiting repeated eye twitching followed by a jerking movement of the head. What would you document and under what category?
Dystonia; Motor
A beautiful mental status always pleases customers, provided of course it’s justified, stands for…
Appearance, behavior, motor, speech, affect/mood, thought process, thought content, perception, orientation, cognition, insight, and judgment.
A patient expresses concern that there are someone else’s thoughts in their head, this is known as…
Thought insertions
A patient who reports ingesting a large amount of alcohol comes into the ER complaining of a stomach ache. How would you describe their judgment at this point in time.
Impaired
