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Mental Health Nursing – Assessing Mental Health A physical exam is usually part of mental health assessments to rule out any physical conditions. This may involve blood work or urine tests, as well as brain scans. Psychologists also employ a array of tools to measure mental health. They can use pen and paper test forms to deep interviews or self-fill questionnaires for postal delivery. Mood and affect Mood and affect are among the most significant components of the mental health examination (MSE) and are the first to be observed by a medical professional. They define the patient's general emotional tone that can range from joy to sadness, or anger to anger. The effect can be analyzed by facial expressions, overall demeanor and the reaction to external or internal stimuli. smiling at an absurd joke or crying over the loss of a loved one). Affect is a feeling that lasts only a few minutes while mood is a more long-lasting emotional state. It is usually described as either euthymic (normal) or dysphoric, which means depressed. However, psychiatrists must be careful not to misunderstand the terms as they have varying definitions and are affected by a range of factors. The MSE is a helpful tool for diagnosing clinical problems however it is difficult to interpret from a subjective patient report. It is therefore important to ask patients how they've been feeling in the last few weeks, rather than using only the observation of a physician. Recent research revealed that assessment tools differed in their ability to identify a significant portion of symptoms. This included those that were grouped under the same disorder. This can be due to the differing emphasis on cognitive, emotional or physical symptoms as and also the different the duration and frequency of symptom reporting. It is possible that the MSE relies on self-report which is susceptible to bias. A patient who reports both anxiety and a headache is likely to have lower scores than a patient reporting only headache. Patients tend to minimize negative feelings while exaggerating positive feelings. Mood and affect influence the content of thoughts which influences the way we make decisions, our interpersonal behavior and physical performance. They are influenced by fatigue, stress and social interactions, as well as global events, hormones and the weather. In actual fact positive moods have been proven to increase the ability to think and be creative. A negative mood can cause confusion and lower concentration. Therefore, a careful and thorough mental health assessment is required to consider the patient's mood and state of mind as well as the underlying causes. Thought content The ability to determine how a patient thinks is one the most crucial aspects of a mental health examination. Specifically, evaluating 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 logic-based. In a variety of mental health conditions however, thought processing is distorted. Examples include hallucinations, delusions and loose associations. Insight and judgement are evaluated during a mental status test. Insight is the ability to recognize the presence of an issue, and judgement is the ability to make a considered decision when presented with information. Both can be impaired by various mental health conditions like depression and schizophrenia. A person who isn't able to see or judgment is more likely to hurt themselves or others. For instance when they are at risk of destroying their home the sensible judgment would tell that they should leave the premises immediately. A patient with impaired judgment might suggest they stay in the house to try to put out the fire. The thoughts of a patient includes the subject matter, themes and beliefs. Examiners will evaluate the clarity, relevance and content of a thoughts of the patient. 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 topic of the conversation). They will also make comments on the pace at which a person is thinking, such as whether they seem fast or slower. Other areas to be considered are whether the patient's thoughts are mood congruent or incongruent with their surroundings. Patients suffering from depression may hear angry voices, whereas those suffering from schizophrenia may have an illusion that a calm voice is speaking. Patients should be questioned about any suicidal or homicidal ideation. Although these are rare but they could be life threatening and should be taken into consideration in every mental health evaluation. Watching A nurse's observation skills are crucial in an assessment of mental health. They are a thorough review of the appearance, behavior as well as any unusual beliefs or perceptions (such as hallucinations or delusions) mood, as well as aspects of cognition (including attention to orientation, attention memory, and orientation). mental health assessment uk nursing mental status exam also includes observing motility. This includes any physical movement, such as eating, drinking and brushing your teeth. The observation component of the mental state examination is a crucial aspect of determining if the patient could pose the risk to themselves or others. This is done by assessing whether the patient appears to be moving deliberately in a way which suggests they may be threatening to harm themselves or anyone else. In addition, a detailed thought content assessment is made by observing the patient throughout the interview and identifying their thoughts and concerns. It is important to check whether the patient has suicidal, homicidal, or delusional thoughts. Global assessment of functioning (GAF) is an assessment of functioning in numerical form, ranging between 0 and 100, combines the ability of an individual to perform in everyday life with their ability of managing stressors. The GAF is a vital component of the mental health exam and assists in guiding the treatment decisions. It is important to understand that observing the behavior of a patient may cause distress. It is therefore important that the process be conducted in a manner that does not provoke or feel intrusive. 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 an important ability and should be a key element of the nursing process. However, it must be kept in mind that patients could disagree with the level of observation. If they are unable to reach an agreement with the staff, they should have access to an advocate service which can represent their needs and help them in any discussions regarding their treatment. This should be an integral element of the 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 on this aspect of clinical governance. Questioning Many people have a difficult to discuss their mental health problems However, loved ones will often be able to recognize the signs of something being wrong. They can also help the person to take an assessment. These assessments be conducted on a variety of topics that include mood, appearance and the thought process. A mental health professional may also inquire regarding the person's personal life. They will ask them what they have been feeling and what has happened recently. The assessment includes an assessment of cognitive ability which focuses on an individual's ability think clearly and retain information. The person may be required to complete simple tasks such as focussing on a list or objects, recollecting lists or completing math problems. The test may also test the person's ability to make informed decisions and use their judgment. The test determines a person's awareness, which is the understanding of their condition and how it affects them. Another crucial aspect of the mental health assessment is the patient's attitude towards others, himself and his illness. The tone of voice, facial expression, and the body language of a patient may convey anger, depression or a sense of powerlessness. It is important to observe whether the patient appears to seek help or accepting their condition. In more serious instances the evaluation of mental health could include a look at the patient's thinking which could include hallucinations or illusions. These conditions can be extremely dangerous and even fatal. In general, a mental health assessment should be holistic and look at the person's connection to their social environment. A health professional may use art, music or photos or any other assessment tool to better understand the individual. They should also discuss the issues that led to the person to seek help, and reassure them that there is nothing wrong in seeing an expert in mental health.