Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
A physical exam is often part of mental health assessments to rule out any physical ailments. These can include blood tests, urine tests or even brain scans.
Psychologists also employ a array of tools to measure mental health. These range from tests that are written on paper and pen to deep interviews or self-fill postal questionnaires.
Affect and mood
The doctor will first observe the patient's mood as well as their affect. full mental health assessment online describe the patient's general emotional tone, which can range from joy to sadness, or anger to anger. The patient's mood can be measured through facial expressions, overall demeanor and the reaction to internal or external stimuli. smiling at the joke or crying over the loss of a loved one).
Affect is a feeling that lasts only a few minutes but mood is a longer-lasting emotional state. It is usually described as euthymic, or dysphoric, or normal (meaning depressed). Psychiatric professionals should be careful to avoid confusion between the two terms because they are defined differently and are affected by many factors.
While the MSE is a useful diagnostic tool, it isn't always easy to interpret based on a subjective patient reports. It is therefore helpful to ask patients how they have been feeling in the last few weeks, rather than relying solely on the observations of doctors. Recent research revealed that assessment tools were different in their ability to detect a substantial part of symptoms. This included those that were classified under the same disorder. This could be due to the different emphasis on cognitive, emotional or physical symptoms as along with differences in duration and frequency of symptom reporting.
It is also possible that the MSE relies on self-report which could be susceptible to bias. For instance, a patient who reports anxiety and a headache is likely to report an lower score than a patient who reports only an occasional headache. Patients tend to minimize negative emotions while exaggerating positive ones.
The affect and mood of a person directly affect thought content which influences decision-making, interpersonal behaviour and physical performance. They can be affected by stress, fatigue and social interactions. Positive moods can boost creativity and mental energy. A negative mood can lead to confusion and decrease concentration. Therefore, a thorough and thorough mental health assessment is required to take into account the patient's mood and state of mind as in addition to the underlying causes.
Thought content
Assessing how the patient thinks is one the most crucial aspects of a mental state exam. Assessment of thoughts and their content. The thought process is the coherence, logic, and organization of a patient's thoughts. Normal thought processes are logical and goal-oriented. In many mental health disorders however, the thought process is distorted. Examples include hallucinations, delusions and loose associations.
Insight and judgment are assessed in a mental status test. Insight is the ability to identify problems. Judgment is the capability to make a well-considered choice after receiving information. Both are affected by several mental health conditions like depression and schizophrenia. A person who isn't able to see or judgment is more likely to harm themselves or others. For example if they are at risk of burning their home down the sensible judgment would tell them to leave the building immediately. However, someone with impaired judgment might decide to stay in the building and trying to put out the fire.
Thought content is the topics, subjects and beliefs that a patient holds. Examiners generally comment on the clarity, relevance and the content of a patient's thinking. They will also note any thoughts that are tangential or circumstantial and also whether the patient has flights of ideas (digressions from the subject of conversation). They will also comment on the speed of a person's thoughts, for instance, whether they seem to be fast or slow.
It is also essential to determine if the patient's mood is in line with their environment. A person suffering from depression could hear angry voices, whereas those suffering from schizophrenia might experience a hallucination that a soothing voice is speaking. Ask the patient if they are experiencing any thoughts of suicide or homicide. They are not common, but they can be life-threatening and should be considered in every mental health evaluation.
Watching
The observation skills of nurses are essential to the mental health assessment. They include a careful examination of behavior, appearance and any unusual beliefs or perceptions (such hallucinations or delusions) mood, cognition (including attention, memory and orientation). A nursing mental status examination also incorporates observation of mobility, which includes any physical activity like eating drinking, eating, brushing teeth using the toilet and wearing shoes.
The observation component of the mental status examination is a key component of determining if a patient may pose an imminent risk to themselves or others. This is determined by assessing whether the patient is acting in a manner that suggests they are in danger of harming themselves or anyone else.
In addition, a comprehensive assessment of thought content is done by observing the patient throughout the interview and identifying their preoccupations. It is important to check whether the patient has suicidal, homicidal, or delusional thoughts.
Global assessment of functioning (GAF) which is an assessment of functioning in numerical form, ranging from 0 to 100, evaluates the ability of the person to function in daily life with their ability of dealing with stressors. The GAF is an important part of the mental status assessment and aids in making treatment decisions.
It is crucial to be aware that observing an individual's behavior could cause anxiety, and it is essential to conduct the procedure in a way that does not provoke the patient and doesn't feel intrusive. It is important that the patient is fully aware of the goal of the observations and the length of the process.
Nursing observation is a crucial skill that should be an integral part of the nursing process. However, it should be noted that patients might be dissatisfied with the quality of observation. If they cannot reach an agreement with staff, then they should have access to an advocate service that can represent their needs and help them in any discussions regarding their care. This should be a component of local policy and practice, with the involvement and the support of groups of patients.
Questioning
A lot of people are hesitant to discuss their mental health issues, but their family members can usually discern when something isn't right. They can also assist the person get an assessment. These assessments can be a variety of subjects, including mood, appearance and the thought process. In addition to these tests, the mental health professional will also ask the person questions regarding their personal life, such as what's happened recently and what their emotions have been like.
The test consists of an evaluation of the cognitive capacity which focuses on an individual's ability think clearly and retain information. The person could be asked to complete simple tasks such as focusing on a list or objects, memorizing lists, or solving math questions. The test may also test the ability of the individual to make sound decisions and make good judgments. The test measures a patient's insight which is their understanding of their illness and how it affects them.
Another crucial aspect of the mental health assessment is the patient's attitude towards the world, himself and his illness. The tone of voice, facial expression, and the body language of a patient can convey anger, depression, or a feeling of helplessness. It is also important to note whether the patient is seeking help or just living with their illness.
In more serious instances the assessment of mental health may include an examination the patient's thinking, which may involve illusions or hallucinations. It is important to note the presence of these disorders because they can be extremely risky and even life-threatening.
A mental health assessment should be holistic and examine the person's interaction with their environment. A health professional might use photographs, music, art or a variety of electronic assessment tools to help the person understand themselves and their unique perspective on the world around them. They should also talk about the challenges that led the person to seek help, and reassure that there is nothing wrong with seeking out a mental health professional.