Exam 1 - Mental Status Exam
Questions and Complete Detailed
Answers
what is the MSE? - Answer: used to assess the mental status of an individual at the exact time of the
examination
it is the patient's current psychopathology
it is often used on admission, and again during each nurse shift change, as the main part of their PE
"head to toe" of psychiatric nursing
components of mental status exam - Answer: appearance
behavior
motor
speech
affect/mood
thought process
thought content
perception
orientation
cognition
insight
judgement
"A beautiful mental status always pleases customers, provided of course it's justified!"
end of MSE - extra - Answer: add the SRA in brief context
, suicide: explore and be nosy. (ask about plan, intent, availability, perceived lethality, note, etc.)
what is not apart of the MSE - Answer: personal judgement, bias, or stigma
the patient's history or past mental state
subjective vs. objective - Answer: subjective - includes pt's current psychological s/s
(mood*, thoughts, perception, insight)
objective - what you observe about the pt during the interview
(appearance, behavior, speech, cognition, mood*)
* = direct quotes from pt in parenthesis
appearance - Answer: •Pt's demographics: gender/apparent age/racial origin
•Physique; hair; make-up
•Clothing style (may be flashy or provocative during bipolar manic phase)
•Cleanliness
•Weight loss; habitus; obesity
•Distinguishing features, ei: facial
behavior - Answer: rapport: attitude, eye contact, cooperation, facial expression
psychomotor activity: agitation or retardation
Questions and Complete Detailed
Answers
what is the MSE? - Answer: used to assess the mental status of an individual at the exact time of the
examination
it is the patient's current psychopathology
it is often used on admission, and again during each nurse shift change, as the main part of their PE
"head to toe" of psychiatric nursing
components of mental status exam - Answer: appearance
behavior
motor
speech
affect/mood
thought process
thought content
perception
orientation
cognition
insight
judgement
"A beautiful mental status always pleases customers, provided of course it's justified!"
end of MSE - extra - Answer: add the SRA in brief context
, suicide: explore and be nosy. (ask about plan, intent, availability, perceived lethality, note, etc.)
what is not apart of the MSE - Answer: personal judgement, bias, or stigma
the patient's history or past mental state
subjective vs. objective - Answer: subjective - includes pt's current psychological s/s
(mood*, thoughts, perception, insight)
objective - what you observe about the pt during the interview
(appearance, behavior, speech, cognition, mood*)
* = direct quotes from pt in parenthesis
appearance - Answer: •Pt's demographics: gender/apparent age/racial origin
•Physique; hair; make-up
•Clothing style (may be flashy or provocative during bipolar manic phase)
•Cleanliness
•Weight loss; habitus; obesity
•Distinguishing features, ei: facial
behavior - Answer: rapport: attitude, eye contact, cooperation, facial expression
psychomotor activity: agitation or retardation
