COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM-190
QUESTIONS UPDATED ANSWERS 2025
COMPONENTS OF MENTAL STATUS EXAM INCLUDE: - ANSWER-A-B-C-
T
APPEARANCE; posture, body movements, dress, grooming and hygiene
BEHAVIOR; LOC, Facial expression, speech, mood and affect
COGNITION; address, phone#, etc. date?, attention span, recent and remote
memory, new learning
THOUGHT PROCESS; perceptions, should be logical and consistent this person
make sense?
how do people treat you?, do you feel you are being watched, followed or
controlled? have you heard your name when alone?
___________________ screens for Anxiety - ANSWER-GAD- 7
questions to ask for depression or suicidal ideations: - ANSWER-Depression:
,Over the past two weeks, have you fell down, depressed or hopeless?
Over the past 2 weeks, have you felt little interest or pleasure in doing things?
Suicidal:
Have you ever felt so blue you thought of hurting yourself?
Do you have a plan to hurt yourself?
How would you do it?
***Must not ignore any talk of suicide***
When is a full mental status exam necessary? - ANSWER-* Patients whose initial
screening suggests an anxiety disorder or depression
* Behavioral changes: such as memory loss, inappropriate social interaction
* Brain lesions: trauma, tumor, cerebrovascular accident or stroke
* Aphasia: impairment of language ability secondary to brain damage
* Symptoms- of psychiatric mental illness especially with acute onset
________________ Screens for Alcoholism. - ANSWER-CAGE: Score 2 or
greater highly significant
* Have you ever felt you should CUT down on your drinking?
* Have people ANNOYED you by criticizing your drinking?
* Have you ever felt bad or GUILTY about your drinking?
* Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get
rid of a hangover? (EYE OPENER)
Things to Consider When Assessing Older Adults mental status include: -
ANSWER-Ask about chronic illness and how they are managing?
Sensory impairments?
Polypharmacy (med list again!)
,Social isolation
Physiological issue
- Delirium vs. Dementia
- UTI
- Sundowners
Delirium VS Dementia VS Depression:
Onset
course
duration
consciousness
attention
psychomotor changes
reversibility - ANSWER-Delirium ** Dementia ** Depression:
==========================================
O: Acute insidious Acute or insidious
C: Fluctuating Progressive May be chronic
D: Hrs to wks Mos to yrs Mos to yrs
C: Altered Usually clear clear
A: Impaired Normal unless May be decreased
severe dementia
P: increased often normal may be slowed in decreased severe cases
R: usually irreversible usually
, Delirium Causes: - ANSWER-D- Dementia
E- Electrolyte disorders
L - Lung, liver, heart, kidney, brain dysfunction
I- Infection
R- Rx Drugs
I- Injury, pain, stress
U- Unfamiliar environment
M- Metabolic
Adolescent: heeadsss psychosocial interview: - ANSWER-- Home
- Education & Employment
- Eating
- Activities
- Drugs
- Sexuality
- Suicide & Depression
- Safety (injury/violence)
When assessing children for mental heath disorders, things to consider: -
ANSWER-Does the child seem sad, tired, restless?
Does the child spend a lot of time alone?
Frequent outbursts of shouting, complaining, or crying?
Lost interest in hobbies like music/sports?
Talks about death or suicide?
Sleep too much or not enough?
Other questions...