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Mental Health Nursing – Assessing Mental HealthA physical exam is usually included in mental health assessments to rule out any physical ailments. This may involve blood work and urine tests as well as brain scans.Psychologists use a variety of tools to assess mental health. They can use pen and paper test forms to deep interviews or self-fill questionnaires for postal delivery.Affect and moodThe affect and mood are the most significant components of the mental health examination (MSE) and are the first things to be observed by a clinician. They are the general mood, which can range from joy to sadness or irritability to anger. The effect can be analyzed by facial expressions, overall attitude and reaction to external or internal stimuli. You can express your emotions by laughing at an absurd joke, or crying when you lose a loved one.Affect is a feeling that is temporary, while mood is a long-lasting emotion. It is often described as euthymic (normal) or dysphoric, which means depressed. However, psychiatrists should be cautious not to mix the two as they have varying definitions and are affected by a variety of factors.The MSE is a helpful tool for diagnosing clinical problems however, it can be difficult to interpret from a subjective patient report. It is therefore important to ask patients how they have felt over the past few weeks, instead of relying on physician observation only. Recent research has revealed that assessment tools differed in their ability to capture a significant portion of symptoms. This included those that were grouped under the same disorder. This could be due to the different emphasis on emotional or cognitive symptoms, as well as differences between time periods and frequency in reporting symptoms.It is also possible that the MSE relies on self-report which could be susceptible to bias. For instance, a person who complains of anxiety and headaches will likely have an lower score than a patient who reports only an occasional headache. In addition there is an inclination for patients to downplay negative emotions and underestimate the severity of positive feelings.Mood and affect directly affect the content of thoughts which influences the way we make decisions, our interpersonal behavior and physical functioning. They are affected by stress, fatigue and social interactions. A positive mood can boost creativity and mental energy. However, a mood that is negative can reduce concentration and lead to confusion. A thorough and careful mental health evaluation must consider both the patient’s mood and affect and the underlying factors.Thought contentAssessing how the patient thinks is one the most important aspects of a mental state examination. Specifically, evaluating thought process and thoughts. Thought process refers the logic, organization and coherence of a patient’s thinking. The normal process of thinking is objective-oriented and rational. Thought processing may be altered when a person suffers from mental health issues. Examples include hallucinations, delusions and loose associations.A mental status examination also examines judgment and insight. Insight is being able to recognize a problem. Judgement is the process to make a rational decision after receiving information. Both can be impaired by several mental health conditions such as depression and schizophrenia. If a patient suffers from impaired judgment and/or insight, they are at a higher chance of harming themselves or others. If they are in danger, their sensible judgement would tell to leave the home immediately. A person with impaired judgment may suggest that they stay in the house to try to put out the fire.The thoughts of a patient include the subject matter, themes and beliefs. Generally, examiners comment on the clarity, relatedness and content of a patient’s thinking. They will be able to identify tangential ideas or circumstantial ones, and if the patient has digressions (digressions away from the subject of the conversation). They will also make comments on the pace at which a person is thinking, such as if they seem to be faster or slower.Other important aspects to consider are whether the patient’s thoughts are mood and in tune with their surroundings. A person suffering from depression could hear voices of anger, while a person suffering from schizophrenia may experience an illusion that a calm voice is speaking. Ask the patient if they are experiencing any thoughts of suicide or homicide. Although they are uncommon however, they can be life-threatening and must be taken into consideration during every mental health assessment.ObservationNurses’ observation skills are essential to the mental health assessment. independent mental health assessment Iam Psychiatry are a thorough examination of appearance, behavior, any unusual beliefs or perceptions (such hallucinations or delusions) mood, cognition (including attention, memory, orientation). The mental status exam for nurses is also a way of monitoring motility. This includes any physical movement such as eating, drinking, or brushing your teeth.The Observation component of the mental state exam is crucial in determining if the patient is a danger to them or anyone else. This is accomplished by determining if the patient appears to be acting in a way that suggests they’re trying to harm themselves or another person.A thorough assessment of the thought-based content is also done by monitoring the patient during the interview and determining the thoughts and concerns. It is particularly important to check if the patient has any suicidal or homicidal ideas and to determine if they’re having delusions.A global assessment of functioning (GAF) is a numerical rating on a scale from 0 to 100 that combines a person’s ability to function in daily life along with their ability to cope with the stressors in their life. The GAF is a key part of the mental state examination and helps guide treatment decisions.It is important to be aware that watching a patient’s behaviour can cause distress and it is important that the procedure is carried out in a way that doesn’t provoke the patient or make them be uncomfortable for them. It is also essential that the patient is fully aware of the reason for the observation and the length of time it will take.Nursing observation is an essential ability that should be a central part of any nursing procedure. However, it must be remembered that patients may not agree with the degree of observation. If they are unable to come to an agreement with staff then they should have access to an advocate service that will represent their needs and help patients in any discussions about their care. This should be a component of local policy and practice, with the participation and the support of user groups.QuestioningMany people have a hard to talk about their mental health issues, but loved ones can often notice the signs that something is not right. They can also help the person to seek an assessment. These assessments are broad and cover a wide range of topics including mood, appearance, thought process, memory and more. A mental health professional can also ask questions regarding the person’s personal life. They’ll ask them what they feel and what has happened recently.The assessment also includes a cognitive evaluation, which focuses on the person’s ability to think clearly and retain information. The test subject may require the person to complete basic tasks such as paying attention to a list of objects, remembering lists or solving math questions. The test can also check the ability of the individual to make sound decisions and make good judgments. The test also assesses the patient’s understanding and level of understanding about the illness and its effects on them.The attitude of the patient towards others, himself and the illness is also an important aspect of a mental evaluation. The patient’s tone of expression, facial expression and body language can indicate hostility, anger, depression or a sense of powerlessness. It is also important to know whether the patient appears to be seeking help or is content living with their illness.In more serious cases the mental health assessment may include an examination of the patient’s mental state that may include hallucinations (false sensory perceptions that do not correspond to real stimuli) or illusions (misperceptions of real stimuli). It is crucial to recognize the presence of these disorders because they can be extremely risky and even life-threatening.In general an assessment of mental health should be holistic and examine the person’s interactions with their social life. A health professional can use art, music or photos, or any other electronic assessment tool to better understand the individual. 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 seeking out an expert in mental health.