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Mental Health Nursing – Assessing Mental Health A physical exam is often included in mental health tests to rule out physical issues. This could involve blood tests and urine tests as well as brain scans. Psychologists also employ a array of tools to measure mental health. These tools range from paper and pencil test forms to in depth interviews or self-completed questionnaires for postal mail. Affect and mood Mood and affect are among the most significant elements of the mental state exam (MSE) and are the first thing to be viewed by the doctor. They are the most accurate indicators of a patient's emotional state. This could vary from joy to sadness or anger and irritability. The affect can be assessed through facial expressions, overall attitude and response to external or internal stimuli. smiling at an absurd joke or crying over the loss of a loved one). Affect refers to an emotion that is only temporary, whereas mood is a long-lasting emotion. It is generally described as euthymic or normal, or dysphoric (meaning depression). Psychiatric professionals should be careful to avoid confusion between the terms, as they are defined differently and are affected by a variety of factors. While the MSE is a helpful tool for clinical use however, it can be difficult to interpret based upon subjective patient report. The process of asking patients to share their experiences in the last few weeks is more effective than relying on just the observations of a doctor. A recent study found that a significant percentage of symptoms, even those grouped together under the same disorder category, differ between assessment tools. This could be due the differing emphasis on cognitive, emotional or physical symptoms, as along with differences in time periods and frequency of reporting symptom reports. It is possible that the MSE is based solely on self-reporting, which could be biased. Patients who report both anxiety and a headache is likely to get an lower score than a patient reporting only migraine. Additionally, there is a tendency for patients to minimize negative emotions and underestimate the severity of positive feelings. The affect and mood of a person influence thought content and can affect the way we make decisions, our interpersonal behavior, and physical functioning. They can be affected by stress, fatigue and social interactions, as well as world events, hormones, and the weather. In actual fact, a positive mood has been proven to boost the ability to think and be creative. A negative mood can affect concentration and cause confusion. A thorough and thoughtful mental health evaluation must take into account the patient's mood as well as affect, as well as other factors. Thought content One of the most essential aspects of a mental health examination is to determine how the patient thinks. Particularly, it is assessing thought process and thought content. Thought process refers the coherence, logic and organization of a patient's thoughts. The normal process of thinking is focused and logical. Thought processing can be altered in a variety of mental health conditions. Examples include delusions, hallucinations and loose associations. A mental state examination also examines judgment and insight. Insight is the ability to recognize the presence of a problem. Judgement is the process to make a well-considered choice after receiving information. Both can be impaired in several mental health conditions, like schizophrenia and depression. If a patient is impaired in judgment and/or insight is at a higher risk of causing harm to themselves or others. For instance if they are at risk of destroying their home the sensible judgment would tell that they should leave the premises immediately. A person with impaired judgment might suggest they stay in the building to try and get rid of the fire. Thought content is the subject matter, themes and beliefs that a patient has. Examiners generally comment on the clarity, relatedness and quality of a patient's thinking. They will take note of any tangential or circumstantial thoughts and also whether the patient is prone to having a flurry of thoughts (digressions from the subject of conversation). They will also comment on the speed of a person's thoughts, for instance, whether they seem to be fast or slow. It is also crucial to determine if the patient's mood is in line with the environment in which they live. For example, a patient who is depressed might hear voices that are hostile and frightening, whereas someone suffering from schizophrenia could experience a hallucination of an ethereal and calm voice. The patient should be questioned about any suicidal or homicidal ideation. They are not common, but they can be life-threatening and should be considered in every mental health assessment. mental assessments of nurses to observe is essential in a mental assessment. They involve a thorough evaluation of behavior, appearance and any unusual beliefs or perceptions (such hallucinations or delusions) and mood cognition (including memory, attention and orientation). The mental status exam for nurses also involves observing the movement. This includes any physical movement, such as eating, drinking or brushing teeth. The Observation element of the mental health exam is an essential element of determining if the patient could pose the risk to themselves or others. This is determined by assessing whether or not the patient is moving in a way which suggests they are about to harm themselves or someone else. In addition, a detailed assessment of the content of thoughts is conducted by keeping track of the patient throughout the interview and determining their main concerns. It is essential to determine whether the patient is experiencing suicidal, homicidal or delusional thoughts. Global assessment of functioning (GAF), a numerical rating from 0 to 100, combines the ability of an individual to function in daily life with their ability of coping with stressors. The GAF is a vital component of the mental health examination and helps to guide the treatment decisions. It is essential to be aware of the fact that observing the behavior of a patient can cause anxiety and it is crucial that the process is conducted 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 informed about the purpose of the observation and the amount of time it will take. Nursing observation is a vital skill that must be the core of any nursing process. However, it should be noted that patients might disagree with the level of observation. If they are unable to reach an agreement with staff, then they should be able to access 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 involvement and support of groups of patients. Questioning Many people are reluctant to discuss their mental health issues, but their family members can often discern when something isn't right. They can also assist the person take an assessment. These tests can be conducted on a variety of topics that include mood, appearance and thought process. In addition to these tests, mental health professionals will also ask the individual questions about their life, such as what's happened lately and what their feelings have been like. The assessment also includes a cognitive evaluation that is focused on the ability of the individual to think clearly and retain information. The person may be required to complete simple tasks such as paying attention to a list of objects, remembering lists or solving math questions. The test may also test the person's ability to make good decisions and use judgment. The test also assesses the patient's knowledge and understanding of the illness and its effects on them. The patient's attitude towards others, himself and the illness is an important part of a mental evaluation. The tone of voice, facial expression, and body language of a patient can indicate depression, anger, or a feeling of powerlessness. It is also important to note whether the patient is seeking help or just living with their illness. In more serious cases the evaluation of mental health could include a look at the patient's mental state that may include hallucinations or even illusions. These conditions can be dangerous and even deadly. In general, a mental health assessment should take a holistic approach and consider the person's interactions with their social environment. A health professional may use photographs, music, art, or any other assessment tool to better understand the person. They should also speak to the person about the challenges that caused them to seek help and assure them that there is nothing wrong with seeing a mental health professional.