Mental Status Examination

Question 1

Is a clinical assessment of the individual which reflects both the individual’s subjective report and experience.

Answer 1

Mental status examination

Question 2

General outline of a mental status examination

Answer 2

1. Appearance, attitude, and activity (behaviour)
2. Mood and Affect
3. Speech and language
4. Thought and perception
5. Cognition
6. Insight and judgement

Question 3

_____ can provide valuable clues to a person’s mood, cognitive state, self-awareness, presence of thought disorder, motor condition, and general physical health.

Answer 3

Appearance

Question 4

_____is a pervasive sustained emotion, subjectively experienced and reported by an individual and observed by others

Answer 4

Mood

Question 5

It refers to the consistency of the mood, particularly within the course of the day

Answer 5

Stability

Question 6

Refers to whether or not mood changes in response to external events or circumstances

Answer 6

Reactivity

Question 7

Refers to the persistence of the mood, measured in hours, days, weeks, months, or even years

Answer 7

Duration

Question 8

____ is the observed expression of emotion.

Answer 8

Affect

Question 9

refers to the variation in emotional expression observed throughout the interview; it is characterized as full (normal variation in emotional expression) or constricted (limited variation in emotional expression)

Answer 9

Range

Affect

Question 10

Refers to the rate of change of emotional expression; it is characterized as stable (normal rate of change)or labile (rapid change in emotional expression, without external stimuli)

Answer 10

Change pattern

Affect

Question 11

Refers to the strength of emotional expression; it is characterized as average, flat (complete lack of emotional expression) or blunted (reduced intensity of emotional expression)

Answer 11

Intensity

Question 12

refers to congruence of Affect and thought content; characterized as appropriate when congruent, inappropriate when not

Answer 12

Appropriateness

Question 13

In evaluation of thought process and perception

Answer 13

The interviewer assesses how well a person formulates, organizes, expresses their thoughts (I.e. thought process), as well as abnormalities unthought content or perception.

Question 14

a disorder characterized by disturbances in the processor form of thought

Answer 14

Formal thought disorder

Question 15

refers to what the person is thinking

Answer 15

Thought content

Question 16

Assessment of thought content is possible through careful ____ & ___

Answer 16

▫️listening and directive questioning

Question 17

As a clinical interaction, the conduct of the mental status examination requires that the interviewer explore all aspects of ____, regardless of the sensitive nature of the topic.

Answer 17

Thought content

Question 18

Abnormalities of thought content include:

Answer 18

▫️obsession
▫️compulsion
▫️phobias
▫️delusions
▫️ideas of reference
▫️thought insertion/thought broadcasting/ thought withdrawal
▫️suicidal ideation, intent, and plan (document fully)
▫️homicidal ideation, intent, and plan (document fully)

Question 19

Perceptual abnormalities include:

Answer 19

▫️hallucinations
▫️illusions
▫️depersonalizations
▫️derealization

Question 20

it is the ability to know and think, using intellect, logic, reasoning, memory, and all of the higher cortical functions.

Answer 20

Cognition

Question 21

In assessing cognition, the interviewer evaluated the individual across a number of parameters:

Answer 21

▫️construction 
▫️level of consciousness 
▫️attention and concentration 
▫️memory
▫️visuouspatial and constructional ability 
▫️intellctual ability

Question 22

The basic cognitive function:

Answer 22

Orientation to person, place, and time

Question 23

The overall level of consciousness is typically characterized as a continuum from:

Answer 23

▫️alert to drowsy
▫️delirious
▫️stuporous
▫️comatose

Question 24

is the ability to focus and direct cognitive processes.

Answer 24

Attention

Question 25

ask the person to spell “world” backward, and give 1 point for each correctly placed letter

Answer 25

test of attention

Question 26

The ability to focus and sustain attention over a period of time.

Answer 26

Concentration

Question 27

Memory impairment can be symptomatic of a number of conditions, including ___ and ___

Answer 27

▫️depression and cognitive disorders

Question 28

The following aspects of memory should be assessed:

Answer 28

▫️recall
▫️recent
▫️remote

Question 29

It is the ability to be self-aware. It involves the capacity to examine many aspects, viewpoint, and consequences of an issue before forming an opinion or making decision

Answer 29

Insight

Question 30

Is a process of forming an opinion or conclusion based on information about a situation that can lead to a decision or action

Answer 30

Judgement

Question 31

The greater the degree of insight, the greater the potential for :

Answer 31

sound judgment