Wk 2: Metal health assessment Flashcards
Describe a comprehensive assessment
- a key skill in mental health nursing
- dynamic and dependent on the person
- dependant on the therapeutic relationship and how well the practitioner can relate
- can be formal (assessment on admission) or informal (in the community watching TV)
what is the purpose of a comprehensive assessment?
- Communicate, identify and clarify the person’s mental health issues
- Assess the person’s physical health status (exclude organic causes)
- Identify personal/family/social supports that can be utilised in collaborative care and treatment planning
- Provides the person/carers/family the opportunity to express concerns throughout the assessment process
What are the 16 components of a comprehensive assessment?
- Reason for referral
- Consumer’s response to the referral
- Presenting problem/s
- History of presenting
- Mental health history
- Family history of mental health problems
- Substance use history
- Physical health/medical history
- Social and developmental history
- Trauma
- Cultural/spiritual needs
- Forensic history
- Mental state examination (MSE)
- Risk assessment
- Clinical formulation and summary
- Plan
What is included in the ‘Reason for referral/presentation’ section of an MSE?
- To understand where the person has come from, or what has brought them here.
- ensure to find this out from the person
- There may or may not be a referral letter
What is included in the ‘consumer’s response to the referral’ section of an MSE?
- The person’s perspective is important
- why they think they are here
What is included in the ‘presenting problem’ section of an MSE?
- To understand what is going on for the person at the time.
- Also helps clarify the person’s expectations
What is included in the ‘History of presenting problem/s’ section of an MSE?
- To establish the duration of the problem
- fluctuations in severity etc.
What is included in the ‘Mental health history’ section of an MSE?
- Any previous mental health problems should be noted, as the current situation may be a pattern, exacerbation, or a break in the person’s coping.
- Also include any past medications/treatment for the past problem, whether it was useful etc.
What is included in the ‘family history of mental health problems’ section of an MSE?
- Some mental health problems are commonly experienced by family members; a history of family mental illness can be a predisposing factor.
*Also include suicide/self-harm. - some presentations/disorders have genetic links
What is included in the ‘substance use history’ section of an MSE?
- Some mental health problems are exacerbated by substance use, or substances are used as a coping mechanism.
- Type of substances
- route of use
- circumstance of use should be noted. E.g. At home by self when stress or recreationally with friends on weekend
- any attempts to cease use.
What is included in the ‘Physical health/medical history ‘ section of an MSE?
Physical health is often overlooked. People with mental health problems have high rates of co-occurring physical health problems.
- Some physical health problems may contribute to mental health problems.
What is included in the ‘social and developmental history’ section of and MSE?
- A persons development influences the shaping of personality, and how the person responds to stress.
- It’s important to understand family dynamics and supports the person has.
- Areas of sexuality, schooling, and employment should be included here.
What is included in the ‘Tramua’ section of and MSE?
- trauma is a contributing factor to mental ill
health - may limit the person’s willingness to engage with mental health services.
- It’s important to consider all areas of potential trauma.
What is included in the ‘Cultural/spiritual needs’ section of and MSE?
- Culture can influence how a person experiences and responds to mental ill health.
- Care also needs to be culturally sensitive and
respectful. - Culture can be a barrier for engagement, or may act as support for the person.
What is included in the ‘Forensic history’ section of and MSE?
- It is not uncommon for people with mental illness to have had contact with the justice system.
- increased engagement in forensic behaviour
- ?jail
- ?arrest
What is the purpose of the ‘Mental state examination’ section of and comprehensive assessment?
- Provides a ‘snap shot’ of the person’s current presentation and mental state at a single point in time
- allows for comparison in the future.
What is included in the ‘risk assessment’ section of and MSE?
- Safety is central to the provision of quality mental health services.
- A risk assessment encompasses everything in the person’s background and current risks
What is included in the ‘clinical formation and summary’ section of and MSE?
This is a summary of the significant information from the assessment and attempts to show a relationship between different areas and how these may influence a person’s mental health.
- can be provided to the person as a form of appreciative listening.
What is included in the ‘plan’ section of an MSE?
- must have one
- no point in an assessment without a plan
- include the nurse’s and the person’s strategies and actions moving forward.
- Collaborative care is paramount in mental
health nursing and supportive of the person’s recovery.
What is the purpose and benefits of an MSE?
- Provides a ‘snap shot’ of the person’s current presentation and mental state at a single point in time, which allows for comparison in the future
- It does not reflect; how the person was in the past or will be in the future. NOTE THIS- MSE IS VERY CONCURRENT
- some areas of MSE are not asked by observed
- conducted conversationally or more formal
- Enables clinicians to identify areas of need/concern and plan appropriate interventions
- MSE should be performed frequently and in any changed life situation e.g. transfer of care, loved one died
- A person’s presentation can fluctuate from day to day, morning to afternoon, and is
dependent on what else is going on for the person (eg. transfer between services or
receiving bad news)- thus multiple can be performed in a day
- Can be conducted in a variety of settings. Consider
- privacy
- distractions
What factors determine the accuracy of an MSE?
Depends on the nurses;
- attitude
- experience
- observational and listening skills
What are key points to note when starting an MSE or comprehensive assessment?
- The person needs to be informed of your identity, designation and purpose of the interview
Always be;
- tactful
- culturally respectful
- show acceptance
- gives simple introductory explanations
The nurse should;
- ask open questions
- allow for pauses
-so the person can respond.
- DO NOT lead or provide answers for the client
- When incongruence exists, the nurse can discreetly observe the person to validate their
subjective vs. objective presentation
What are the components of an MSE?
PAMSGOTJIMI- note this is not how you would document the assessment- needs to be done in the order on the left.
Perception
Affect and mood
Motor activity
Speech
General appearance
Orientation,
Thought (content/process)
Judgement,
Intellectual functioning
Memory
Insight
Correct order: Green bean stalks move promiscuously though the internal juodenum more often intelligently.
- General Appearance
- Behaviour /Motor Activity
- Speech
- Mood and Affect
- Perception
- Thought Content
- Thought Form/Process
- Insight
- Judgement
- Memory
- Orientation
- Intelligence/intellectual functioning/cognition
What should be assessed in the ‘appearance’ section of an MSE?
- Overall general appearance.
- Consider if the person is dressed appropriately for the climate/weather,
- attention to hygiene and grooming
- presentation may show symptoms of their diagnosis e.g. depression=neglect of person hygiene or manic=flabouiant dressing
Includes the person’s physical characteristics
- Height
- Weight
- Hair style/colour
- Whether they look older/stated age/younger
- Body markings (scars, tattoos, birthmarks)
- Jewellery (piercings)
- make-up/lack of/or grooming
- if a person goes AWOL we need to know their appearance to describe to the police.
What should be assessed in the ‘behaviour’ section of an MSE?
Assess the quality and quantity of movement;
- posture
- gait
- hyperactivity
- restlessness
- agitation
- wringing hand
- psychomotor retardation
- Observe non-verbal communication, such a body language and posture (relaxed, ridged, tense)
- Eye contact and facial expressions (avoidant, staring/fixed, intense) – be mindful of culture
- Motor activity (slowed, immobile, restless, pacing, wringing hands)
- Verbal communication: attitude to interview (e.g. easily engage, hostile), familiarity (e.g. overfamiliar, inappropriate, disinhibited)
What should be assessed in the ‘speech’ section of an MSE?
- quality
- quantity
- ?are they trying to get heaps out - volume
- tone
Useful words for documentation
- talkative
- expansive
- poverty
- fast
- slow
- norm
- pressured
-loud
- monotone
- slured
- clear
What should be assessed in the ‘mood and affect’ section of an MSE?
Affect: is the objective observation of the person’s emotional expression
Includes observing;
- fluctuations: labile or even;
- range: broad or restricted;
-intensity: blunted, flat, normal;
- quality: anxious, angry, animated, euphoric, hostile
Mood: is the person’s account of their emotional state (subjective), is sustained and pervasive, and influences the person’s interpretation of the world
Mood may be described as;
- happy
- sad
- depressed
- angry.
- Person can rate their mood on a scale from 1-10: