Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
A physical exam is usually part of mental health tests to rule out any physical conditions. This could involve blood tests and urine tests as well as brain scans.
Psychologists also use a wide range of tools to evaluate mental health. These range from tests that are written on paper and pen to in-depth interviews, or self-complete questionnaires sent to you by post.
Mood and affect
Mood and affect are the most crucial components of the mental health examination (MSE) and are the first thing to be viewed by the medical professional. assessment mental health define a patient's general emotional state. It can range from happiness to sorrow or anger and irritability. The patient's mood can be measured through facial expressions, overall demeanor and the reaction to external or internal stimuli. smiling at the joke or crying over the loss of a loved one).
Affect is a temporary emotion, whereas mood is a more long-lasting emotional state. It is usually described as euthymic, or dysphoric or normal (meaning depression). Psychologists should be cautious to avoid confusion between the terms, as they are defined differently and are affected by a variety of factors.
The MSE is a helpful instrument for diagnosing clinical conditions however, it can be difficult to interpret from a subjective patient report. It is therefore helpful to ask patients how they have been feeling in the last few weeks, rather than relying solely on the observations of doctors. A recent study revealed that a significant proportion of symptoms, even those that are grouped under the same disorder category, vary between assessment tools. This could be due to the different emphasis placed on cognitive, emotional or physical symptoms as along with differences in time periods and frequency of reporting symptoms.
It is possible that the MSE relies on self-reporting which could be biased. For instance, a person who complains of anxiety and a headache will likely report an lower score than someone who has only an occasional headache. Additionally, there is a tendency for patients to minimize negative feelings and overestimate the severity of positive ones.
Affect and mood can have a direct impact on thought content. This can impact the way we make decisions, our interpersonal behavior, and physical functioning. They can be affected by stress, fatigue and social interactions. In reality, a positive mood has been proven to increase the ability to think and be creative. Conversely, a negative mood can affect concentration and cause confusion. Therefore, a careful and thorough mental health assessment needs to take into account the patient's mood and state of mind as well as their underlying factors.
Thought content
One of the most important aspects of a mental state exam is assessing how a patient thinks. Specifically, evaluating thought process and thought content. Thought process refers the coherence, logic and organization of a patient's thoughts. A normal thought processes is objective-oriented and logical. Thought processing may be altered when a person suffers from mental health issues. Examples include delusions, hallucinations and loose associations.
A mental status examination also examines judgment and insight. Insight is being able to identify a problem. Judgement is the process to make a rational decision after receiving information. Both are impaired in many mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and depression. If a patient suffers from impaired insight and/or judgement in any way, they are at greater risk of causing harm to themselves or others. If they are in danger, their sensible judgement would tell to leave the premises immediately. A patient with impaired judgement may suggest that they stay in the building to try to get rid of the fire.
The contents of a patient's mind encompasses their subject matter, themes, and beliefs. Typically, examiners discuss the clarity, relatedness and quality of a patient's thoughts. They will take note of any thoughts that are tangential or circumstantial or thoughts, and also if the patient is prone to having a flurry of ideas (digressions from the conversation subject). They will also make comments on the speed of a person's thoughts, including whether they appear fast or slow.
Other important aspects to consider are whether the patient's thoughts are and in tune with their surroundings. For example, a patient who is depressed may hear voices that sound hostile and frightening, whereas someone suffering from schizophrenia could have a hallucination of an ethereal and calm voice. The patient should be asked about any suicidal or homicidal thoughts. These are rare but can be life-threatening and should be taken into account in every mental health assessment.
Observation
The nurse's ability to observe is essential in a mental assessment. They are a thorough review of appearance, behaviour as well as any unusual beliefs or perceptions (such as hallucinations or delusions), mood, and aspects of cognition (including attention, orientation memory). A nursing mental status examination also involves observing motility, including any physical movement such as eating or drinking, brushing your teeth using the toilet and putting on shoes.
The Observation element of the mental status exam is an essential element of determining if a patient may pose a risk to themselves or others. This is determined by assessing whether the patient appears to be acting in a deliberate way that suggests they are trying to harming themselves or someone else.
In addition, a comprehensive thought content assessment is made by observing the patient throughout the interview and determining their preoccupations. It is particularly important to check if the patient has any suicidal or homicidal thoughts and to determine if they are having thoughts of suicide or delusions.
Global assessment of functioning (GAF), a numerical rating from 0 to 100, combines the ability of an individual to perform in everyday life and their capability of managing stressors. The GAF is an essential part of the mental state exam and helps guide treatment decisions.
It is important to be aware of the fact that observing an individual's behavior can cause distress and it is crucial that the procedure is carried out in a way that does not cause anxiety for the patient or make them feel intrusive. It is essential that the patient is fully aware of the reason for the observation and the duration of the procedure.
Nursing observation is an essential ability and should be an integral element of the nursing process. However, it should be remembered that patients may not agree with the degree of observation and if they are unable to come to an agreement with staff, then they should have access to an advocate service that can represent their interests and support patients in any discussions about their care. This should be a part of the local policy and practice, with the participation and participation of user groups.
Questioning
Many people have a difficult to discuss their mental health problems however, family members are often able to tell the signs that something is not right. They can also assist the person to get an assessment. These tests can be a variety of subjects such as mood, appearance and the thought process. In addition to these tests, the mental health professional will also ask the person questions about their personal life, such as what's been happening recently and what their emotions have been like.
The test also includes a cognitive test, which focuses on the ability of the individual to think clearly and recall information. The person may be asked to complete simple tasks, such as focusing their attention on the list of words or objects and recollecting lists of basic information or solving math problems. The test will also test the person's ability to make good decisions and make good judgments. The test also evaluates the patient's insight that reflects their knowledge of their condition and its effects on them.
Another crucial aspect of the mental health assessment is the person's attitude toward the world, himself and his illness. The tone of voice, the facial expression, and the body language of a patient can indicate depression, anger or a sense of helplessness. It is crucial to determine whether the patient appears be seeking help or accepting their situation.
In more serious instances the assessment of mental health could include a look at the patient's thinking which could include hallucinations or illusions. It is crucial to recognize the presence of these conditions as they can be extremely risky and even life-threatening.
In general an assessment of mental health should take a holistic approach and consider the person's relationship to their social environment. A health professional could use photographs, music, art or a range of assessment tools that are electronic to help understand the person and their unique view of the world around them. They should also talk about the difficulties that prompted the person to seek help, and reassure them there is nothing wrong with seeing a mental health professional.