MSE Flashcards
What type of exam is this
observational
not just what the patient tells you but what clinical judgement can arise from it
What important aspect of a mental state exam is missing from the MSE but must be carried out separately
cognition
use a mini mental state or the 4AT - 4AT is more reliable
what do you not need to include in your results for the MSE
why the patient is behaving the way they are
Mnemonic for the MSE
Annie Always Behaves Correctly Inwardly but Strangely To People outwardly
Annie =
Appearance
Always =
Affect and mood
Strangely =
Speech
Behaves =
Behaviour
Correctly =
Cognition
Inwardly =
Insight
To =
Thought
People =
Perception
How to describe affect
blunted
unreactive
reactive
neutral
blunted affect
schizophrenia
unreactive affect
depression
reactive affect
bipolar
neutral affect
normal range `
how to assess someones cognition
orientation - where/why/who
concentration - months of the year backwards
memory - coherent Hx? retrograde and antegrade (remember these four numbers)
How to describe mood
low anxious elated euthymic irritable - its important to consider a persons base line mood when doing this - 'how are you feeling today'
