5 Assessing Mental Health Lessons From Professionals
Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
Mental health assessments typically include a physical exam, to rule out physical problems. This may include blood tests and urine tests as well as brain scans.
Psychologists also utilize a variety of tools to assess mental health. They can use tests that are written on paper and pen to deep interviews or self-fill questionnaires sent to you by post.
Mood and affect
Mood and affect are the most important elements of the mental state examination (MSE) and are the first to be observed by the clinician. They are the most accurate indicators of a patient's emotional state. This could range from happiness to sorrow or anger and irritability. Affect can be assessed 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 state of constant emotion. It is typically described as euthymic, or normal, or dysphoric (meaning depression). Psychiatric professionals should be careful to not confuse the two terms, as they are different in their definition and can be affected by various factors.
The MSE is a helpful tool for clinical diagnosis, but it is difficult to interpret from an individual patient's report. It is therefore important to inquire about how patients have been feeling in the last few weeks, instead of relying on physician observation only. A recent study showed that a significant percentage of symptoms, which includes those that are grouped within the same disorder category, differ between assessment tools. This could be due the different emphasis placed on cognitive, emotional or physical symptoms, as along with differences in duration and frequency of reporting symptom reports.
It is also possible that the MSE relies on self-report which is susceptible to bias. For instance, a patient who reports anxiety and a headache will likely report a lower score than someone who has only the sensation of a headache. Patients tend to minimize negative emotions while exaggerating positive feelings.
The mood and the affect of a person can have a direct impact on the content of thought. This can impact decision-making, interpersonal behavior, and physical performance. They are affected by stress, fatigue and social interactions. Positive moods can enhance creativity and mental power. A negative mood can cause confusion and reduce concentration. Therefore, a thorough and thorough mental health evaluation needs to take into account the patient's current mood and affect as well as the underlying causes.
Thought content
Assessing how the patient thinks is one the most important aspects of a mental state examination. Particularly, it is assessing thought process and thought content. The term "thought process" refers to the coherence, logic and organization of a patient's thought processes. Normal thought processes are logical and focused on a goal. In many mental health disorders however, the thought process can be altered. Examples include hallucinations, delusions and loose associations.
A mental health assessment also assesses the quality of insight and judgement. Insight is the ability to recognize the presence of a problem, while judgement is the ability to make an informed decision when presented with information. Both are affected by several mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and depression. Patients with impaired insight or judgement is more likely to hurt themselves or others. If they are in danger, their sensible judgement would tell to leave the premises immediately. A patient with impaired judgement might suggest that they remain in the building to try and get rid of the fire.
The content of a patient's thoughts encompasses the subject matter, themes and beliefs. Generally, examiners comment on the clarity, connection and content of a patient's thought. They will also note any tangential or circumstantial thoughts or thoughts, and also if the patient is prone to having a flurry of thoughts (digressions from the topic of conversation). They will also discuss the speed of someone's thoughts, for instance, whether they seem fast or slow.
It is also crucial to determine if the patient's mood is in line with their environment. Patients suffering from depression may hear angry voices, whereas someone suffering from schizophrenia might experience the illusion that a peaceful voice is speaking. The patient should also be asked about any suicidal or homicidal thoughts. Although they are uncommon but they could be life-threatening and must be taken into account during every mental health assessment.
Watching
Nurses' observation skills are essential to the mental health assessment. They involve a thorough evaluation of behavior, appearance and any unusual beliefs or perceptions (such delusions or hallucinations) mood, cognition (including memory, attention and orientation). A mental state examination for nurses also involves observing mobility, which includes any physical activity like eating drinking, eating, brushing teeth using the toilet and taking off shoes.
The Observation component of the mental state examination is crucial in determining if the patient is a danger to them or others. This is done by assessing if the patient appears to be moving in a deliberate way that suggests they're about harming themselves or someone else.
In addition, a comprehensive thought content assessment is made by monitoring the patient throughout the interview and identifying their main concerns. It is crucial to determine whether the patient is experiencing suicidal, homicidal or delusional thoughts.
A global assessment of functioning (GAF) is a numerical rating on a scale ranging from zero to 100 that evaluates the capacity of a person to perform in daily life with their ability to cope with the stresses in their lives. The GAF is a crucial component of the mental state examination and assists in making the treatment decisions.
It is crucial to realize that observing the behaviour of a patient can cause anxiety. It is therefore important that the process be conducted in a manner that doesn't cause or make the patient feel uncomfortable. It is also essential that the patient is fully aware of the reason for the observation as well as the length of time it will last.
Nursing observation is an essential ability that should be at the heart of any nursing process. However, it should be kept in mind that patients could disagree with the level of observation. If they are unable to come to an agreement with staff, then they should be able to access an advocate service which can represent their interests and support their discussions on their care. This should be an integral part of local observation policy and practice, with the involvement of user groups to ensure that patients are a part in the creation of written information and staff training to support this aspect of governance in the clinic.
Questioning
Many people are reluctant to talk about their mental health issues, but their family members are often able to detect if something is not right. They can also assist the person take steps to get an assessment. These assessments can be very broad and cover a wide range of subjects, including mood, appearance and memory, thinking process and many more. A mental health professional could also inquire regarding the person's personal life. They will ask what they've been feeling and what's happened in the last few days.
The test includes a cognitive evaluation that examines a person's ability think clearly and retain information. The test subject may ask to complete simple tasks, such as focusing their attention on the list of words or objects, memorizing simple lists or solving math problems. The test will also test the ability of the individual to make good decisions and use judgment. The test also assesses the patient's insight and level of understanding about their condition and its effects on them.
mental health assessments of the mental health assessment is the person's attitude toward the world, himself and his illness. The tone of voice, facial expression and body language can indicate hostility, anger or depression, or a feeling of insecurity. It is also important to note whether the patient is seeking help or resigned to living with their illness.
In more serious cases an assessment of mental health might include an assessment of the patient's thinking that could include hallucinations (false sensory perceptions that do not correspond to real stimuli) or illusions (misperceptions of real stimuli). It is vital to be aware of the presence of these disorders because they can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening.
A mental health assessment must be holistic and examine the person's interactions to their world. A health professional might use art, music, photos or a range of electronic assessment tools to better understand the person and their unique perspective on the world around them. They should also talk about the challenges that led the person to seek help, and assure them there is nothing wrong with seeing a mental healthcare professional.