NR548/ NR 548 Reviews (NEW Updates 2024/
2025
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
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"
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
Factors that affect the interpretation of the MSE - ANSWER culture
native language
educational level
literacy
social factors
MSE: Appearance - ANSWER -posture
-dress
-grooming
-physical appearance
• distinguishable markings; scars or tattoos
-facial expressions
level of alertness
, -attitudes
-Self-esteem
-Personal statement
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
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
individual who presents with an extremely rapid and pressured speech with constant
interruptions may be experiencing __________ or __________ - ANSWER
hypomania or mania
An absence of speech is seen with some diagnoses such as ___________ -
ANSWER dementia
non-sensical speech is often associated with _______________ - ANSWER
psychotic disorders
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
2025
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
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"
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
Factors that affect the interpretation of the MSE - ANSWER culture
native language
educational level
literacy
social factors
MSE: Appearance - ANSWER -posture
-dress
-grooming
-physical appearance
• distinguishable markings; scars or tattoos
-facial expressions
level of alertness
, -attitudes
-Self-esteem
-Personal statement
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
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
individual who presents with an extremely rapid and pressured speech with constant
interruptions may be experiencing __________ or __________ - ANSWER
hypomania or mania
An absence of speech is seen with some diagnoses such as ___________ -
ANSWER dementia
non-sensical speech is often associated with _______________ - ANSWER
psychotic disorders
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
