©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
NSB204 – MSE Exam Study Guide.
Purpose 1 - answer✔Obtain cross-sectional description of person's mental status, when
combined with biographical and historical information of psychiatric history, allows for a more
accurate diagnostic formulation
Purpose 2 - answer✔Identify person's strengths, and areas needing support to promote
resilience in their recovery
Purpose 3 - answer✔to develop clinical formulation
Purpose 4 - answer✔Provide baseline information to compare further MSE's
Appearance - answer✔Build, height, complexion, eye colour, hair colour, distinguishing features
(scars, tattoos etc)
Manner of dress and appropriateness
Age and Gender
Self-care - grooming, hygiene, nutrition, dental care
Posture
Stature and physical characteristics
Recent injury - self harm, trauma
Substance abuse - inc previous use
Physical disorder/disability
Behaviour - answer✔Psychomotor activity
Abnormal movements - tremors, tics etc
Bizarre behaviours - rituals, grimacing
Medication and treatment side effects
Eye Contact
1|Page
, ©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
Ability to form rapport
Attitude and level of cooperation
Psychomotor retardation - answer✔reduction in level of movement
psychomotor agitation - answer✔increases in the overall level of movement
bradykinesia - answer✔slowed movement
hypokinesia - answer✔decreased movement
akinesia - answer✔absence of movement
cooperation - answer✔facial expression - interested or bored
hostility, defensive not cooperating
friendly and cooperative
guarded, uncomfortable or relaxed
information trustworthy
subjective observations
speech - answer✔quantity - amount of speech, aphasia, mutism, incessant, refusal to speak
rate - rapid, slow, slurred, monotonous, normal
tempo and rhythm - melody of speech, inc dysarthria and dysphasia
volume - load, soft, quiet etc
irrelevance (pattern of speech and thought) - answer✔looseness of association
flight of ideas (pattern of speech and thought) - answer✔change of topic
magical thinking (pattern of speech and thought) - answer✔attributing experience to external
forces
racing (pattern of speech and thought) - answer✔rapid thought
tangential (pattern of speech and thought) - answer✔departure from topic with no return
circumstantial (pattern of speech and thought) - answer✔being vague
word salad (pattern of speech and thought) - answer✔nonsensical responses
2|Page
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
NSB204 – MSE Exam Study Guide.
Purpose 1 - answer✔Obtain cross-sectional description of person's mental status, when
combined with biographical and historical information of psychiatric history, allows for a more
accurate diagnostic formulation
Purpose 2 - answer✔Identify person's strengths, and areas needing support to promote
resilience in their recovery
Purpose 3 - answer✔to develop clinical formulation
Purpose 4 - answer✔Provide baseline information to compare further MSE's
Appearance - answer✔Build, height, complexion, eye colour, hair colour, distinguishing features
(scars, tattoos etc)
Manner of dress and appropriateness
Age and Gender
Self-care - grooming, hygiene, nutrition, dental care
Posture
Stature and physical characteristics
Recent injury - self harm, trauma
Substance abuse - inc previous use
Physical disorder/disability
Behaviour - answer✔Psychomotor activity
Abnormal movements - tremors, tics etc
Bizarre behaviours - rituals, grimacing
Medication and treatment side effects
Eye Contact
1|Page
, ©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
Ability to form rapport
Attitude and level of cooperation
Psychomotor retardation - answer✔reduction in level of movement
psychomotor agitation - answer✔increases in the overall level of movement
bradykinesia - answer✔slowed movement
hypokinesia - answer✔decreased movement
akinesia - answer✔absence of movement
cooperation - answer✔facial expression - interested or bored
hostility, defensive not cooperating
friendly and cooperative
guarded, uncomfortable or relaxed
information trustworthy
subjective observations
speech - answer✔quantity - amount of speech, aphasia, mutism, incessant, refusal to speak
rate - rapid, slow, slurred, monotonous, normal
tempo and rhythm - melody of speech, inc dysarthria and dysphasia
volume - load, soft, quiet etc
irrelevance (pattern of speech and thought) - answer✔looseness of association
flight of ideas (pattern of speech and thought) - answer✔change of topic
magical thinking (pattern of speech and thought) - answer✔attributing experience to external
forces
racing (pattern of speech and thought) - answer✔rapid thought
tangential (pattern of speech and thought) - answer✔departure from topic with no return
circumstantial (pattern of speech and thought) - answer✔being vague
word salad (pattern of speech and thought) - answer✔nonsensical responses
2|Page
