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Mental Health Nursing – Assessing Mental Health Mental health assessments usually involve a physical examination, to rule out physical conditions. This can include urine tests, blood test or even brain scans. Psychologists also employ a array of tools to measure mental health. These tools can vary from pencil and paper test forms to in depth interviews or self-completed questionnaires via mail. Affect and mood The affect and mood are the most important components of the mental health examination (MSE) and are the first thing to be viewed by the doctor. They define the patient's general mood that can range from joy to sadness, or anger to anger. The effect can be analyzed through facial expressions, general behavior and reaction to external or internal stimuli. smiling at the joke or crying over the loss of a loved one). Affect is a temporary emotion while mood is a longer-lasting emotional state. It is usually described as either euthymic (normal) or dysphoric, which means depressed. Psychologists should be cautious to avoid confusion between the terms, as they are defined differently and can be affected by various factors. While the MSE is a useful clinical tool however, it isn't always easy to interpret based on a subjective patient report. It is therefore beneficial to ask patients how they have been feeling in the last few weeks, instead of relying solely on the observations of doctors. A recent study revealed that a significant proportion of symptoms, including those grouped together within the same disorder category, differ between assessment tools. This can be because of the different emphasis placed on cognitive or emotional symptoms as well as differences between time periods and frequency of reporting symptoms. It is possible that the MSE relies solely on self-reporting, which could be biased. Patients who report both a headache and anxiety is likely to get a lower score compared to those who report only headache. Furthermore, there is an inclination for patients to downplay negative emotions and underestimate the severity of positive emotions. The mood and the affect of a person can have a direct impact on thought content. This can affect the way people make decisions, their interpersonal behavior and physical functioning. They are affected by stress, fatigue and social interactions. In actual fact, a positive mood has been proven to boost the ability to think and be creative. A negative mood can decrease concentration and cause confusion. Therefore, a careful and thorough mental health evaluation needs to take into account the patient's current mood and state of mind as well as their underlying factors. Thought content One of the most important aspects of a mental state examination is to determine how the patient thinks. Evaluation of the thought process and its content. The thought process is the coherence, logic and structure of the patient's thoughts. Normal thought processes are logical and focused on a goal. In several mental health conditions however, the thought process can be altered. Examples include hallucinations, delusions, and loose associations. Insight and judgment are assessed in a mental status exam. Insight is being able to identify the presence of a problem. Judgement is the process to make a well-considered choice after receiving information. Both are impaired in many mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and depression. Patients with impaired insight or judgment is more prone to harm themselves or others. For instance, if they are at risk of burning their house down and they have a good sense of judgement, it would be wise for them to leave the building immediately. However, a person with impaired judgment may decide to stay in the building and attempting to put out the fire. Thought content is the topics, subject matter, and beliefs that a patient has. Examiners will evaluate the clarity, connection and the content of the patient's thoughts. They will also note any thoughts that are circumstantial or tangential or thoughts, and also if the patient has flights of thoughts (digressions from the topic of conversation). They will also comment on the speed of a person's thoughts, for instance, whether they appear fast or slow. Other areas to be considered are whether the patient's thoughts are compatible or not in line with their environment. For instance, a person who is depressed could hear voices that sound hostile and frightening, whereas those suffering from schizophrenia may have a hallucination of an ethereal and calm voice. The patient should be asked about any suicidal or homicidal thought. These are rare but can be life-threatening and should be taken into account in every mental health assessment. Watching Nurses' observation skills play an important role in a mental health assessment. They are a thorough review of behavior, appearance, any unusual beliefs and perceptions (such as hallucinations or delusions) mood, as well as aspects of cognition (including attention to orientation, attention, memory). The mental status exam for nurses also includes monitoring motility. This includes any physical movement such as eating, drinking and brushing teeth. click hyperlink of the mental state exam is vital in determining if the patient poses a risk to themselves or anyone else. This is done by assessing whether or not the patient is moving deliberately in a way that suggests that they are in danger of harming themself or someone else. 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 important to check whether the patient is experiencing suicidal, homicidal or delusional thoughts. Global assessment of functioning (GAF) 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 a key part of the mental health examination and assists in making the treatment decisions. It is important to be aware that observing a patient's behaviour could cause anxiety, and it is crucial that the process is conducted in a manner that doesn't provoke the patient and does not be uncomfortable for them. It is also essential that the patient is informed about the purpose of the observation and the length of time it will last. Nursing observation is a vital ability that should be a central part of any nursing program. It is essential to remember that patients may disagree about the degree of observation. If they cannot reach a consensus with the staff, they should be able to access an advocate service that can represent their interests and assist in any discussions about their treatment. This should be a fundamental part of local observation policy and practice with the involvement of user groups to ensure that patients are a part in the development of written information as well as staff training on this aspect of governance in the clinic. Questioning A lot of people are hesitant to talk about their mental health issues, but their family members can often discern when something isn't right. They can also assist the person obtain an assessment. These assessments can be very broad and cover a variety of subjects including appearance, mood, memory, thought process and much more. In addition to these tests, the mental health professional will also ask the person questions about their life, including what's been happening recently and what their feelings have been like. The assessment also includes a cognitive evaluation that is focused on the ability of the person to think clearly and recall information. The test taker may be asked to complete basic tasks, such as keeping their attention on the list of objects or words, memorizing simple lists or solving math problems. The test can also check the ability of the individual to make sound decisions and make good judgments. The assessment determines a patient's insight which is their understanding of their condition and how it affects them. The person's attitude towards himself, others and the illness is also an important element of a mental assessment. The patient's tone of voice, facial expression and body language can convey hostility, anger depression or a feeling of insecurity. It is also important to know whether the patient appears to be seeking help or is content living with their illness. In more serious instances, an assessment of mental health might include a look at the patient's thoughts, which may involve illusions or hallucinations. It is crucial to recognize the presence of these conditions because they can be extremely risky and even life-threatening. A mental health assessment must be holistic and examine the person's interaction to their world. A health professional can use art, music or photos or any other assessment tool to better understand the person. They should also talk with the person about the issues that have led them to seek help and assure them that there is nothing wrong with seeing an expert in mental health.