MSA

Question 1

What are some examples to look for in a patient’s appearance?

Answer 1

Neatness, cleanliness, pupil size, extra ocular movement

Question 2

What are some examples to look for in a patient’s behaviour?

Answer 2

Bizarre or inappropriate
Violent or threatening
Unusual motor activity (grimacing or tremors)
Psychomotor retardation or agitation

Question 3

What are some examples to look for in a patient’s speech?

Answer 3

Rate, volume, quantity, content

Question 4

What are some examples to look for in a patient’s mood?

Answer 4

Depressed, agitated, irritable

Question 5

What are some examples to look for in a patient’s response?

Answer 5

Flat, appropriate/inappropriate

Question 6

What are some examples to look for in a patient’s perceptions?

Answer 6

Hallucinations

Question 7

What are some examples to look for in a patient’s thought content?

Answer 7

Delusions
Suicidal thoughts
Overly concerned with body fictions

Question 8

What are some examples to look for in a patient’s thought flow?

Answer 8

Jumping irrationally from one thought to another

Question 9

What are some examples to look for in a patient’s concentration?

Answer 9

Poor ability to organise thoughts
Short attention span 
Poor memory 
Lack of insight 
Lack of judgement

Question 10

What are the 9 components of a mental status assessment?

Answer 10

ABS MR PTTC 
Appearance 
Behaviour 
Speech 
Mood 
Response 
Perceptions 
Thought content, thought flow
Concentration