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Mental Health Nursing – Assessing Mental Health Mental health assessments often involve a physical examination, to rule out physical conditions. This may involve blood work and urine tests as well as brain scans. Psychologists utilize a variety tools to assess mental health. They can use tests that are written on paper and pen to in-depth interviews, or self-complete postal questionnaires. Mood and affect The clinician will first notice the patient's mood and affect. They define a patient's general emotional tone. This can range from happiness to sorrow or anger and irritability. The patient's mood can be measured through facial expressions, overall attitude and reaction to internal or external stimuli. smiling at the joke or crying over the loss of a loved one). Affect is a feeling that lasts only a few minutes but mood is a more long-lasting emotional state. It is usually described as being either euthymic (normal) or dysphoric, meaning depressed. Psychologists should be cautious to avoid confusion between the two terms because they are different in their definition and can be affected by various factors. While the MSE is a helpful clinical tool but it isn't always easy to interpret based on subjective patient report. It is therefore beneficial to ask patients how they've felt over the past few weeks, as opposed to relying on physician observation only. A recent study revealed that a significant proportion of symptoms, which includes those grouped together within the same disorder category, vary between assessment tools. This could be due to the different emphasis on emotional, cognitive or physical symptoms as and also the different duration and frequency of reporting symptom reports. It is possible that the MSE relies on self-reports which is susceptible to bias. A patient who reports both anxiety and a headache is likely to get a lower score compared to a patient reporting only a migraine. In addition, there is the tendency for patients to minimize negative emotions and overestimate the severity of positive feelings. The mood and the affect of a person can have an impact on the thought content. This can impact decision-making, interpersonal behavior, and physical function. They are influenced by fatigue, stress and social interactions, as well as global events, hormones and weather. A positive mood can actually enhance creativity and mental power. A negative mood can cause confusion and reduce concentration. A thorough and thoughtful mental health evaluation must be able to consider the patient's mood and affect, as well as fundamental factors. Thought content One of the most essential aspects of a mental health examination is to determine how the patient thinks. Particularly, evaluating thought processes and thought content. Thought process refers to the logic, organization and coherence of a patient's thoughts. Normal thought processes are focused and logic-based. In many mental health disorders however, the thought process is altered. Examples include hallucinations, delusions and loose associations. Insight and judgment are assessed in a mental status exam. Insight is the ability to recognize the presence of an issue, and judgement is the ability to make a rational decision when presented with information. Both can be impaired by several mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and depression. If a patient suffers from impaired judgment or insight, they are at a higher risk of harming themselves or others. If they are in danger, their sensible judgment would advise them to leave the premises immediately. A patient with impaired judgment may suggest that they stay in the building to try to get rid of the fire. The thoughts of a patient encompasses their subject matter, themes and beliefs. Generally, examiners comment on the clarity, connection and the content of a patient's thoughts. They will note tangential thoughts or those that are merely circumstantial, and if the patient has digressions (digressions off from the main topic of the conversation). They will also make comments on the speed of someone's thoughts, including whether they seem to be fast or slow. Other important areas to consider are whether the patient's thoughts are compatible or not in line with their environment. For instance, a person who is depressed may hear voices that are hostile and frightening, whereas someone suffering from schizophrenia could have a hallucination of the sound of a calm and soothing voice. The patient should be questioned about any suicidal or homicidal thought. These are rare but can be life-threatening and should be considered in every mental health assessment. Observation The observation skills of nurses are essential to an assessment of mental health. They involve a thorough evaluation of appearance, behavior and any peculiar beliefs or perceptions (such delusions or hallucinations) and mood cognition (including attention, memory and orientation). The mental status exam for nurses is also a way of observing motility. This is any physical activity, like eating, drinking and brushing teeth. The observation component of the mental status examination is a key component of determining whether or not a patient may pose an imminent risk to themselves or others. This is determined by assessing whether or not the patient appears to be moving in a way that suggests that they are about to harm themselves or someone else. A thorough assessment of the content of thoughts is also done by monitoring the patient during the interview and determining the concerns. It is particularly important to check if the patient is having suicidal or violent thoughts and to determine if they're having delusions. A global assessment of functioning (GAF) is an assessment of a numerical score on a scale of 0 to 100 that combines a person's ability to function in everyday life with their ability to cope with the stresses in their lives. The GAF is a vital component of the mental health exam and assists in guiding treatment decisions. It is essential to be aware that observing an individual's behavior could cause anxiety, and it is important that the procedure is carried out in a manner that does not provoke the patient or make them feel intrusive. It is important that the patient is fully informed of the purpose of the observations and the length of the procedure. Nursing observation is a vital skill that must be the core of any nursing process. It is essential to remember that patients may disagree about the level of observation. If they cannot reach a consensus with the staff, they must be able access an advocate service to represent their interests and assist them in any discussions about their treatment. more information should be a fundamental part of the local policy and practice with the involvement of user groups to ensure that patients are a part in the creation of written information as well as staff training for this aspect of clinical governance. Questioning Many people have a difficult to discuss their mental health issues, but loved ones will often be able to recognize the signs of something being wrong. They can also assist the person take an assessment. These assessments can cover a wide range of topics such as mood, appearance and the thought process. A mental health professional could also ask questions about the person's private life. They will ask them what they've been feeling and what has happened recently. The test includes a cognitive evaluation which focuses on an individual's ability to think clearly and remember information. The test taker may be asked to complete simple tasks, such as focusing their attention on the list of words or objects as well as storing lists and lists for solving math problems. The test can also be used to assess the ability of the person's judgement and to make informed choices. The assessment also determines the patient's knowledge that reflects their knowledge of the illness and its effects on them. Another vital aspect of the mental health assessment is the person's attitude towards the world, himself and his illness. The tone of voice, the facial expression, and the body expressions of a patient could indicate depression, anger or a sense of helplessness. It is also important to note whether the patient is seeking help or is content living with their condition. In more serious cases the evaluation of mental health may include an examination the patient's thoughts, which may involve hallucinations or illusions. It is crucial to recognize the presence of these disorders because they can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening. A mental health assessment must be holistic and examine the person's interaction with their social world. Health professionals can employ images, music, or art or any other assessment tool to better understand the individual. They should also speak to the person about the challenges that have caused them to seek help and reassure them that there is nothing wrong with seeking out an expert in mental health.