Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
Mental health assessments typically involve a physical examination, to rule out physical conditions. This could involve blood tests or urine tests, as well as brain scans.
Psychologists also use a wide variety of tools to assess mental health. They can use tests that are written on paper and pen to in-depth interviews, or self-complete postal questionnaires.
Affect and mood
The doctor will first observe the patient's mood and affect. They are the most accurate indicators of a patient's emotional tone. This could be anything from sadness to happiness or anger and irritability. The patient's mood can be measured through facial expressions, general demeanor and the response to external or internal stimuli. You can express your feelings by laughing at an absurd joke, or crying when you lose a beloved one.
Affect is a feeling that is temporary, while mood is a long-lasting emotion. It is often described as euthymic (normal) or dysphoric, meaning depressed. However, psychiatric professionals must be careful not to mix the two as they have varying definitions and are affected by a variety of factors.
The MSE can be a valuable instrument for diagnosing clinical conditions however, it can be difficult to interpret based on the subjective report of a patient. The process of asking patients to share their experiences over the past few weeks can be more beneficial than relying on just the observations of a doctor. Recent research showed that the assessment instruments differed in their capacity to detect a substantial portion of symptoms. This included those that were grouped under the same disorder. This can be because of the different emphasis placed on cognitive or emotional symptoms and also the differences between the time intervals and frequency of symptom reporting.
It is possible that the MSE is based solely on self-reporting which could be biased. A patient who reports both a headache and anxiety is likely to get a lower score compared to a patient reporting only a migraine. Patients tend to minimize negative emotions while exaggerating positive ones.
Mood and affect can have a direct influence on thought content. This could affect the way people make decisions, their interpersonal behavior and physical performance. They are affected by stress, fatigue and social interactions. In reality positive moods have been shown to enhance creativity and thinking power. However, a mood that is negative can reduce concentration and lead to confusion. Therefore, a thorough and thorough mental health assessment is required to take into account the patient's current mood and state of mind as well as the underlying causes.
assessment in mental health of the most crucial elements of a mental status examination is to determine how the patient thinks. Specifically, evaluating thought process and thoughts. Thought process refers to the coherence, logic, and organization of a patient's thinking. A normal thought processes is goal directed and logical. Thought processing may be altered in several mental health conditions. Examples include hallucinations, delusions, and loose associations.
A mental status examination also examines judgment and insight. Insight is the ability to identify the presence of a problem, and judgement is the ability to make an informed decision when presented with information. Both are impaired in several mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and depression. If a patient suffers from impaired judgment and/or insight in any way, they are at a higher risk of harming themselves or others. For example if they are at risk of burning their home down, sensible judgement would tell them to leave the building immediately. A patient with impaired judgment might suggest they stay in the house to try to put out the fire.
Thought content includes the topics, subject matter, and beliefs that a patient has. Examiners will comment on the clarity, connection, and content of patient's thoughts. They will be able to identify tangential ideas or circumstantial ones, and in the event that the patient's thoughts diverge (digressions away from the subject of the conversation). They will also comment on the pace of a person's thoughts, for instance, whether they seem fast or slow.
Other important areas to consider are whether the patient's thoughts are compatible or not in line with their surroundings. For instance, a person who is depressed may hear voices that sound hostile and frightening, whereas someone suffering from schizophrenia could experience a hallucination of the sound of a calm and soothing voice. A patient should also be asked about any suicidal or homicidal ideation. These are rare but can be life-threatening and should be taken into consideration in every mental health assessment.
Watching
The observation skills of nurses play an important role in a mental health assessment. They involve a thorough evaluation of appearance, behavior, any peculiar beliefs or perceptions (such hallucinations or delusions) mood, cognition (including attention, memory and orientation). The mental status exam for nurses is also a way of the observation of motility. This includes any physical movement, like eating, drinking and brushing your teeth.
The Observation component of the mental state examination is essential in determining whether the patient poses a risk to them or others. This is determined by assessing whether the patient appears to be moving deliberately in a way that suggests that they are about to harm themselves or someone else.
A thorough assessment of the thought-based content is also accomplished by observing the patient during the interview and determining the concerns. It is particularly important to determine if a patient has any suicidal or homicidal thoughts and to determine if they're having delusions.
Global assessment of functioning (GAF) is an assessment of functioning in numerical form, ranging from 0 to 100, evaluates the ability of the person to function in daily life with their ability of managing stressors. The GAF is a crucial element of the mental state exam and assists in guiding the treatment decisions.
It is essential 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 and doesn't be uncomfortable for them. It is also crucial that the patient is fully informed about the purpose of the observation and the amount of time it will take.
Nursing observation is a vital skill that must be at the heart of any nursing procedure. However, it must be kept in mind that patients could not agree with the degree of observation and if they are unable to reach an agreement with the staff, they should have access to an advocate service that can represent their interests and assist their discussions on their care. This should be a part of the local policy and practice, with the participation and the support of groups of users.
Questioning
Many people have a difficult to talk about their mental health problems however, family members can often notice when something is wrong. They can also help the person obtain an assessment. These assessments can be very broad and cover a variety of topics including appearance, mood as well as memory, thought process and much more. A mental health professional can also ask questions about the person's personal life. They will ask them what they've been feeling and what's happened recently.
The test includes a cognitive evaluation that examines a person's ability to think clearly and remember information. The test subject may require the person to complete basic tasks such as paying attention to a list of objects, memorizing lists or solving math questions. The test can also be used to assess the individual's judgment and ability to make informed choices. The test also evaluates the patient's insight that reflects their knowledge of their condition and its effects on them.
Another vital aspect of an assessment of mental health is the patient's attitude towards other people, himself and the illness. The patient's tone of voice, facial expression and body language can convey anger, hostility depression or a feeling of helplessness. It is also important to note whether the patient appears to be seeking help or is content living with their condition.
In more serious cases an assessment of mental health could include a thorough assessment of the patient's thinking that could include hallucinations (false perceptions of sensory stimuli that are not real stimuli) or illusions (misperceptions of real stimuli). It is important to note the presence of these disorders because they can be extremely risky and even life-threatening.
A mental health assessment should be holistic and focus on the person's relationship to their world. A health professional may use photographs, music, art or any other assessment tool to gain a better understanding of the person. They should also talk with the person about the issues that led them to seek help and assure them that there is nothing wrong with seeking out an expert in mental health.