15 Interesting Facts About Assessing Mental Health That You Never Knew
Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
Mental health assessments usually include a physical exam to rule out physical ailments. This can include urine tests, blood test or even brain scans.
Psychologists also utilize a range of tools to evaluate mental health. These tools be anything from pencil and paper test forms to in depth interviews or self-completed questionnaires for postal mail.
Mood and affect
Mood and affect are the most crucial components of the mental health examination (MSE) and are the first things to be observed by the doctor. They describe the patient's general emotional state, which can range from joy to sadness, or anger to anger. The effect can be analyzed by facial expressions, overall attitude and reaction to internal or external stimuli. You can express your feelings by smiling at the joke or crying when you lose a loved one.
Affect is a feeling that lasts only a few minutes but mood is a longer-lasting emotional state. It is usually described as euthymic, dysphoric, or normal (meaning depression). However, psychiatric specialists should be cautious not to mix the two because they have different definitions and are affected by a variety of factors.
The MSE can be a useful tool for clinical diagnosis however it is difficult to interpret based on the subjective report of a patient. Inquiring about the feelings of patients in the last few weeks is more effective than relying solely on observations from a physician. Recent research revealed that assessment tools were different in their ability to capture a significant part of symptoms. This included those that were classified under the same disorder. This could be due to the different emphasis 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 anxiety and a headache is likely to report a lower score compared to one who reports only migraine. Patients tend to minimize negative emotions while exaggerating positive feelings.
The affect and mood of a person influence thought content which influences the way we make decisions, our interpersonal behavior and physical functioning. They can be affected by stress, fatigue, social interactions, world events, hormones and weather. In fact, a positive mood has been proven to increase the ability to think and be creative. A mood that is negative can cause confusion and reduce concentration. A thorough and careful mental health evaluation must be able to consider both the patient's mood and affect, as well as underlying factors.
Thought content
One of the most essential elements of a mental status examination is assessing how the patient thinks. Particularly, evaluating thought processes and thoughts. The thought process is the logic, coherence and organization of a patient's thoughts. Normal thought processes are logical and focused on a goal. In a variety of mental health conditions, however, thought processing is distorted. Examples include delusions, hallucinations and loose associations.
A mental status examination also evaluates insight and judgement. Insight is being able to identify the presence of a problem. Judgment is the capability to make a rational decision after receiving information. Both are affected by various mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and depression. 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 judgement would tell to leave the house immediately. However, someone with impaired judgment may recommend staying in the house and attempting to put out the fire.
The content of a patient's thoughts include the subject matter, themes, and beliefs. Examiners generally comment on the clarity, connection and content of a patient's thoughts. They will also note any thoughts that are circumstantial or tangential and also whether the patient has flights of ideas (digressions from the conversation subject). They will also comment on the pace at which a person is thinking, such as whether they seem to be faster or slower.
It is also important to determine if the patient's mood is in line with their surroundings. For example, a patient who is depressed could hear voices that are angry and threatening, while someone suffering from schizophrenia could be able to imagine the sound of a calm and soothing voice. Ask the patient if they are experiencing any thoughts of suicide or homicide. These are rare but can be life-threatening and should be considered in every mental health assessment.
Observation
Nurses' observation skills are essential to a mental health assessment. They involve a thorough evaluation of appearance, behavior and any peculiar beliefs or perceptions (such delusions or hallucinations) mood, cognition (including attention, memory and orientation). The nursing mental status exam is also a way of observing motility. This includes any physical movement, such as eating, drinking, or brushing teeth.
The Observation component of the mental state examination is essential in determining whether the patient poses a risk to themselves or others. private mental health assessment is accomplished by determining whether or not the patient appears to be moving in a way that suggests they are about to harm 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 particularly important to check if the patient is having suicidal or homicidal thoughts and to determine if they are experiencing thoughts of suicide or delusions.
A global assessment of functioning (GAF) is a numerical rating on a scale ranging from 100 to 0 that measures the capacity of a person to function in everyday life and their ability to cope with the stresses that come with life. The GAF is a crucial element of the mental state exam and assists in guiding the treatment decisions.
It is important to recognize that observing the behaviour of a patient may cause anxiety. Therefore, it is essential to conduct the procedure in a manner that doesn't cause or cause discomfort. It is also vital that the patient is fully informed about the purpose of the observation and the amount of time it will take.
Nursing observation is a crucial ability that should be a central part of any nursing program. However, it must be remembered that patients may be dissatisfied with the quality of observation and if they are unable to come to an agreement with the staff, they should have access to an advocate service that will represent their interests and assist their discussions on their treatment. This should be a part of the local policy and practice, with the participation and support of user groups.
Questioning
Many people have a hard to talk about their mental health issues, but loved ones are often able to tell the signs that something is not right. They can also help the person take steps to take an assessment. These tests can be a variety of subjects such as mood, appearance and thought process. A mental health professional may also inquire about the person's private life. They will ask them what they have been feeling and what's happened in the last few days.
The test also includes a cognitive test that is focused on the person's ability to think clearly and recall information. The test subject may ask to complete a few basic tasks, like focusing their attention on an alphabet of words or objects, memorizing simple lists or solving math problems. The test can also check the person's ability to make informed decisions and use judgment. The test determines a person's insight which is their understanding of their condition and how it affects them.
The attitude of the patient towards others, himself and the illness is also an important part of a mental assessment. The patient's voice, facial expressions and body language can indicate hostility, anger depression or a feeling of powerlessness. It is also important to note whether the patient is seeking help or just living with their health condition.
In more serious instances the assessment of mental health may include an examination the patient's mental state which could include hallucinations or even illusions. It is important to note the presence of these conditions as they can be extremely risky and even life-threatening.
A mental health assessment should be comprehensive and look at the person's relationship with their environment. A health professional could use photographs, music, art or a variety of assessment tools that are electronic to help the person understand themselves and their unique view of the world around them. They should also talk about the challenges that led the person to seek help, and reassure them there is nothing wrong with seeking out a mental healthcare professional.