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Mental Health Nursing – Assessing Mental Health A physical exam is often included in mental health assessments to rule out any physical conditions. This may involve blood work, urine tests or brain scans. Psychologists also employ a range of tools to evaluate mental health. These tools be anything from pencil and paper test forms to more in-depth interviews or self-completed postal questionnaires. Affect and mood The doctor will first be aware of the patient's mood and affect. online mental health assessments define a patient's general emotional state. This could be anything from sadness to happiness or irritability and anger. The degree of affect can be determined by observing facial expressions and overall demeanour as well as the reaction to external or internal stimuli (e.g. You can express your emotions by smirking at the joke or crying when you lose a beloved one. Affect refers to an emotion that is temporary, whereas mood is a long-lasting emotion. It is typically described as euthymic or normal, or dysphoric (meaning depression). However, psychiatric specialists must be careful not to misunderstand the terms because they have different definitions and are influenced by a variety of factors. While the MSE is a useful diagnostic tool but it can be difficult to interpret based upon subjective patient reports. It is therefore helpful to ask patients how they have been feeling in the last few weeks, rather than relying on physician observation only. A recent study showed that a significant proportion of symptoms, including those grouped together under the same disorder category, vary between assessment tools. This can be due to the different emphasis placed on cognitive, emotional or physical symptoms, as and also the different the duration and frequency of reporting symptoms. It is also possible that the MSE relies on self-reports, which may be prone to bias. For example, a patient who complains of anxiety and a headache will likely have less than a person who describes only the sensation of a headache. Additionally, there is an inclination for patients to minimize negative feelings and overestimate the severity of positive emotions. Mood and affect influence thought content and can affect the way people make decisions, their interpersonal behavior and physical functioning. They are affected by stress, fatigue and social interactions. A positive mood can boost creativity and mental energy. A negative mood can lead to confusion and lower concentration. A thorough and meticulous mental health evaluation must consider the patient's mood and affect as well as the fundamental factors. Thought content The ability to determine how a patient thinks is among the most important aspects of a mental health exam. Particularly, it is assessing thought process and thought content. The thought process is the coherence, logic and structure of the patient's thoughts. A normal thought processes is focused and rational. In several mental health conditions however, thought processing can be altered. Examples include hallucinations, delusions and loose associations. Insight and judgement are also assessed during a mental state exam. Insight is being able to recognize a problem. Judgment is the capability to make a well-considered choice after receiving information. Both are affected by several mental health conditions, such as depression and schizophrenia. If a patient has impaired insight and/or judgement is at a higher risk of harming themselves or others. If they are in danger, their rational judgment would advise them to leave the home immediately. A patient with impaired judgement may suggest that they stay in the building to try and get rid of the flame. Thought content refers to the topics, subjects and beliefs that a patient has. Examiners will evaluate the clarity, relevance and the content of the patient's thoughts. They will also note tangential thoughts or those that are merely circumstantial, and in the event that the patient's thoughts diverge (digressions away from the subject of the conversation). They will also make comments on a person's pace of thinking, such as whether they seem fast or slower. Other areas to be considered are whether the patient's thoughts are congruent or incongruent with their environment. Patients suffering from depression may hear voices of anger, while those suffering from schizophrenia may experience an illusion that a calm voice is speaking. The patient should be questioned about any suicidal or homicidal ideation. These are uncommon, but could be life-threatening and should be taken into account during every mental health assessment. Observation The nurse's ability to observe is crucial in the mental assessment. They are a thorough review of behavior, appearance and any strange beliefs or perceptions (such as hallucinations or delusions) mood, and aspects of cognition (including attention, orientation memory). A mental state examination for nurses also includes observing mobility, which includes any physical movement, such as eating, drinking, brushing teeth using the toilet and taking off shoes. The Observation component of the mental state exam is an essential element of determining if a patient may pose a risk to themselves or others. This is accomplished by determining whether or not the patient appears to be moving deliberately in a way which suggests they are in danger of harming themselves or someone else. A thorough assessment of the content of thoughts is also made by monitoring the patient during the interview and determining the preoccupations. It is essential to determine if a patient is suffering from suicidal or homicidal thoughts and to determine if they are experiencing thoughts of delusion. Global assessment of functioning (GAF) which is a numerical rating between 0 and 100, measures the capacity of the person to function in daily life with their ability of dealing with stressors. The GAF is an important part of the mental status examination and helps to guide the treatment decisions. It is crucial to realize that observing the behavior of a patient may cause distress. It is crucial that the process be conducted in a way that does not provoke or cause discomfort. It is essential that the patient be fully aware of the reason for the observation and the duration of the procedure. Nursing observation is an important skill and it must be a key part of the nursing process. It is important to remember that patients might disagree on the degree of observation. If they cannot come to an agreement with staff, they should be able to access an advocate service that can represent their interests and aid them in any discussions about their treatment. This should be a part of the local policy and practice, with the participation and participation of user groups. Questioning Many people have a hard time talking about their mental health problems however, family members can often notice the signs that something is not right. They can also assist the person to obtain an assessment. These tests can be a variety of topics such as mood, appearance and thought process. In addition to these tests, the mental health professional will also ask the individual questions about their personal life, including what's happened recently and what their emotions have been like. The test includes an assessment of cognitive ability that focuses on a person's ability to think clearly and remember information. The test taker may be asked to complete basic tasks, like focusing their attention on an alphabet of words or objects, memorizing simple lists or solving math problems. The test can also be used to assess the person's judgment and ability to make good choices. The test also assesses the patient's insight, which reflects their understanding of their condition and its effects on them. The patient's attitude towards himself, others and the illness is an important part of a mental evaluation. The tone of voice, facial expression and body language can convey hostility, anger or depression, or a feeling of powerlessness. It is important to check whether the patient seems to be asking for assistance or is accepting their situation. In more serious instances the mental health assessment may include an assessment of the patient's thinking that could include hallucinations (false perceptions of sensory stimuli that are not real stimuli) or illusions (misperceptions of real stimuli). It is crucial to recognize the presence of these disorders because they can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening. A mental health assessment should be holistic and examine the person's relationship to their world. A health professional may use art, music or photos or any other electronic assessment tool to gain a better understanding of the person. They should also speak to the person about the difficulties that led them to seek help and reassure them that there is nothing wrong with visiting a mental health professional.