Week 4.1.3: The Clinical Assessment

Question 1

A mental disorder characterized by a disconnection from reality, which may include delusions (false beliefs) and hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there).

Answer 1

Psychotic Illness

Question 2

How do we assess someone’s mental state?

Answer 2

Approach: Start with mood (e.g., “How are you feeling today?”) and then move to thoughts, perceptions, cognition, and insight.

Simultaneous Assessment: Appearance, behavior, and speech are assessed in parallel, not as the starting point.

Question 3

How do we report someone’s mental state?

Answer 3

Start with appearance and behavior (e.g., “This person was dressed casually and engaged with me in the following way…”).

Question 4

How do we ask about delusions (fixed or false beliefs)?

Answer 4

Ask if they have any ideas or thoughts causing trouble or disagreement with others (e.g., “Do you have any ideas that seem to cause disagreement with others?”).

Question 5

The condition of someone’s mind, including mood, thoughts, perceptions, cognition, and insight.

Answer 5

Mental State

Question 6

Fixed, false beliefs that are strongly held despite evidence to the contrary.

Answer 6

Delusions

Question 7

Sensory experiences that appear real but are created by the mind, often auditory.

Answer 7

Hallucinations