NR548 EXAM 3 UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
Question 1.
Mental Status Exam (MSE)
ANSWER
-best tool for establishing a psychiatric diagnosis -combination of observations, impressions,
& interpretation of client responses -Eval of patients:
• appearance
• behavior
• speech
• affect
• thought process
• thought content
• cognition
Question 2.
mental health
ANSWER
"a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope
with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a
contribution to her or his community"
Question 3.
mental status
ANSWER
-refers to emotional (feeling) and cognitive (knowing) function -functioning is inferred
through assessment of an individual's behaviors:
• consciousness
• language
• mood and affect
• orientation
, • attention
• memory
• abstract reasoning
• thought process
• thought content
• perceptions
Question 4.
Factors that affect the interpretation of the MSE
ANSWER
culture native language educational level literacy social factors
Question 5.
MSE: Appearance
ANSWER
-posture -dress -grooming -physical appearance
• distinguishable markings; scars or tattoos -facial expressions level of alertness -attitudes
-Self-esteem -Personal statement
Question 6.
MSE: Behavior
ANSWER
how the client presents themselves during the examination -eye contact -psychomotor
activity
• increased or decreased -movements -mannerisms -stereotypies -posturing -how the client
responds to the exam
• responses appropriate to topics?
• sit still through exam? -gait -movements
• coordinated, slowed, excessive
Question 7.
MSE: Speech
, ANSWER
Assess general speech qualities: -rate
• fast, rapidly, slowly -rhythm
• monotone or slurred -latency -volume
• soft, normal, or loud -content -increased or decreased pauses between questions and
answers? -General quality
Question 8.
individual who presents with an extremely rapid and pressured speech with constant interruptions
may be experiencing __________ or __________
ANSWER
hypomania or mania
Question 9.
An absence of speech is seen with some diagnoses such as ___________
ANSWER
dementia
Question 10.
non-sensical speech is often associated with _______________
ANSWER
psychotic disorders
Question 11.
MSE: Mood and Affect
ANSWER
Mood -client's state of mind or prevalent emotional state -subjective -typically self-reported
-Stable: mood is appropriate to their current situation -other: bright, happy, angry, agitated,
irritable, labile, anxious, depressed, or euphoric
Affect -physical manifestation of the client's emotional state as observed by the provider
-normal, blunted, flat, bizarre, dysphoric, or euphoric -Qualities of affect
CORRECT ANSWERS
Question 1.
Mental Status Exam (MSE)
ANSWER
-best tool for establishing a psychiatric diagnosis -combination of observations, impressions,
& interpretation of client responses -Eval of patients:
• appearance
• behavior
• speech
• affect
• thought process
• thought content
• cognition
Question 2.
mental health
ANSWER
"a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope
with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a
contribution to her or his community"
Question 3.
mental status
ANSWER
-refers to emotional (feeling) and cognitive (knowing) function -functioning is inferred
through assessment of an individual's behaviors:
• consciousness
• language
• mood and affect
• orientation
, • attention
• memory
• abstract reasoning
• thought process
• thought content
• perceptions
Question 4.
Factors that affect the interpretation of the MSE
ANSWER
culture native language educational level literacy social factors
Question 5.
MSE: Appearance
ANSWER
-posture -dress -grooming -physical appearance
• distinguishable markings; scars or tattoos -facial expressions level of alertness -attitudes
-Self-esteem -Personal statement
Question 6.
MSE: Behavior
ANSWER
how the client presents themselves during the examination -eye contact -psychomotor
activity
• increased or decreased -movements -mannerisms -stereotypies -posturing -how the client
responds to the exam
• responses appropriate to topics?
• sit still through exam? -gait -movements
• coordinated, slowed, excessive
Question 7.
MSE: Speech
, ANSWER
Assess general speech qualities: -rate
• fast, rapidly, slowly -rhythm
• monotone or slurred -latency -volume
• soft, normal, or loud -content -increased or decreased pauses between questions and
answers? -General quality
Question 8.
individual who presents with an extremely rapid and pressured speech with constant interruptions
may be experiencing __________ or __________
ANSWER
hypomania or mania
Question 9.
An absence of speech is seen with some diagnoses such as ___________
ANSWER
dementia
Question 10.
non-sensical speech is often associated with _______________
ANSWER
psychotic disorders
Question 11.
MSE: Mood and Affect
ANSWER
Mood -client's state of mind or prevalent emotional state -subjective -typically self-reported
-Stable: mood is appropriate to their current situation -other: bright, happy, angry, agitated,
irritable, labile, anxious, depressed, or euphoric
Affect -physical manifestation of the client's emotional state as observed by the provider
-normal, blunted, flat, bizarre, dysphoric, or euphoric -Qualities of affect
