Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
A physical exam is often included in mental health tests to rule out any physical ailments. This could include urine tests, blood tests tests or even brain scans.
Psychologists use a variety of tools to assess mental health. These range from pen and paper test forms to deep interviews or self-fill questionnaires for postal delivery.
Affect and mood
The doctor will first be aware of the patient's mood and affect. They define a patient's general emotional tone. It can be anything from sadness to happiness or anger and irritability. Affect can be measured by observing facial expressions and overall manner of speaking as well as the reactivity to internal or external stimuli (e.g. smiling at an absurd joke or crying over the loss of a loved one).
Affect is an emotion that is only temporary, whereas mood is a long-lasting emotion. It is usually described as euthymic, or dysphoric or normal (meaning depression). However, psychiatric specialists must be careful not to misunderstand the terms since they have different definitions and are influenced by a variety of factors.
The MSE can be a useful tool for diagnosing clinical problems, but it is difficult to interpret based on the subjective report of a patient. Asking patients about their feelings in the last few weeks is more helpful than relying on just observations from a physician. A recent study showed that a significant percentage of symptoms, which includes those that fall within the same disorder category, differ 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 symptom reporting.
It is possible that the MSE relies on self-reporting which could be biased. For instance, a patient who complains of a headache and anxiety will likely report less than a patient who reports only the sensation of a headache. Patients tend to minimize negative feelings while exaggerating positive feelings.
Affect and mood have a direct impact on thought content and can affect the way we make decisions, our interpersonal behavior, and physical functioning. They can be affected by fatigue, stress and social interactions. In actual fact positive moods have been proven to increase thinking and creativity. However, a mood that is negative can decrease concentration and cause confusion. A thorough and careful mental health assessment should be able to consider the patient's mood and affect and the fundamental factors.
Thought content
The ability to determine how a patient thinks is one the most important aspects of a mental health diagnostic assessment state examination. Assessment of thought process and content. The thought process is the logic, coherence and organization of the patient's thoughts. Normal thought processes are objective-oriented and logic-based. In many mental health disorders, however, thought processing is distorted. Examples include delusions, hallucinations and loose associations.
Insight and judgement are also assessed during a mental state test. Insight is the ability to identify the presence of an issue, and judgement is the ability to make a rational decision when presented with information. Both can be impaired in several mental health conditions, such as depression and schizophrenia. A patient with impaired insight or judgment is more prone to harm themselves or others. For instance when they are at risk of burning their house down the sensible judgment would tell that they should leave the premises immediately. A patient with impaired judgement may suggest that they stay in the building to try and get rid of the flame.
The content of a patient's thoughts encompasses their subject matter, themes and beliefs. Examiners will evaluate the clarity, relatedness, and content of patient's thoughts. They will take note of any thoughts that are circumstantial or tangential, and whether the patient is prone to having a flurry of ideas (digressions from the topic of conversation). They will also make comments on the speed of someone's thoughts, such as whether they seem to be fast or slow.
Other important areas to consider are whether the patient's thoughts are mood and in tune with their surroundings. Patients suffering from depression may hear voices of anger, while someone suffering from schizophrenia may experience an illusion that a calm voice is speaking. A patient should be questioned about any homicidal or suicidal thought. Although they are uncommon however, they can be life-threatening and must be considered in every mental health evaluation.
Observation
The observation skills of nurses are essential to an assessment of mental health. They will conduct a thorough examination of the appearance, behavior, any unusual beliefs and perceptions (such as hallucinations or delusions) mood, as well as aspects of cognition (including attention, orientation, memory). A mental health assessment terms state examination for nurses also includes observing the ability to move, which includes physical activity like eating drinking, eating, brushing teeth using the toilet and putting on shoes.
The observation component of the aged care mental health assessment state examination is crucial in determining if the patient is a danger to them or others. This is done by assessing whether or not the patient is acting in a manner that suggests that they are about to harm themself or someone else.
A detailed evaluation of the content of thoughts is also done by monitoring the patient during the interview and determining the thoughts and concerns. It is important to check whether the patient has suicidal, homicidal, or delusional thoughts.
A global assessment of functioning (GAF) is an evaluation of the numerical value on a scale of zero to 100 that evaluates the capacity of a person to function in everyday life along with their capacity to handle the stresses that come with life. The GAF is an important part of the mental status examination and helps to guide the 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 way that does not provoke the patient or make them feel intrusive. It is crucial that the patient be fully aware of the goal of the observation and the duration of the process.
Nursing observation is a vital skill that must be a central part of any nursing procedure. However, it should be kept in mind that patients could be dissatisfied with the quality of observation. If they are unable to reach an agreement with staff then they should have access to an advocate service that will represent their interests and assist them in any discussions regarding their treatment. This should be a part of local policy and practice, with the involvement and support of groups of users.
Questioning
Many people are hesitant to discuss their mental health issues, but their family members are often able to tell when something is amiss. They can also encourage the person to take a look at an carers assessment mental health. These assessments can cover a wide range of subjects, including mood, appearance and the thought process. In addition to these tests, mental health professionals will also ask the person questions regarding their personal life, such as what has been going on recently and what their emotions have been like.
The test also includes a cognitive assessment, which focuses on the ability of the person to think clearly and recall information. The person may be required to complete basic tasks such as focussing on a list or objects, memorizing lists or solving math questions. The test may also test the person's ability to make sound decisions and use their judgment. The test also assesses the patient's knowledge and understanding of the illness and its effects on them.
The attitude of the patient toward others, himself and the illness is an important element of a emergency mental health assessment assessment. The tone of voice, the facial expression, and body language of a patient may convey anger, depression or a sense of powerlessness. It is also important to determine whether the patient is seeking help or just living with their illness.
In more serious cases the evaluation of mental health Assessment private health might include a thorough examination of the patient's thoughts, which may involve illusions or hallucinations. It is vital to be aware of the presence of these conditions as they can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening.
A mental health assessment should be holistic and focus on the person's interaction with their environment. A health professional may use art, music or photos or any other assessment tool to better understand the person. They should also speak to the person about the difficulties that have led them to seek help and assure them that there is nothing wrong with seeing a mental health professional.