mental status examination

Question 1

assessing mental fn

Answer 1

when to assess

• geriatric symptoms: delirium, recurrent falls
• non-compliance to medication
• fam history of dementia

Question 2

delirium assessment

Answer 2

confusion assessment method (CAM)

Question 3

dementia assessment

Answer 3

DSM-IV (diagnostic and statistical manual 4)

Question 4

depression assessment

Answer 4

15 item geriatric depression scale (GDS-15)

- cut off score: >_4

Question 5

dementia diagnostic criteria

Answer 5

amnesia
+
- aphasia (cannot comprehend/express language)
- apraxia (motor planning to perform/plan learned tasks)
- agnosia (recognise people/place/object)
- executive dysfunction (planning execution)

causing impact on occupational/social fn

Question 6

delirium diagnosis (confusion assessment method**)

Answer 6

acute change/fluctuation in mental status or
inattention

and
disorganised thinking
altered level of consciousness