Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
A physical examination is typically included in mental health tests to rule out any physical issues. This could involve blood tests or urine tests, as well as brain scans.
Psychologists use a variety of tools to assess mental health. These tools range from paper and pencil test forms to in depth interviews or self-completed questionnaires for postal mail.
Mood and affect
The clinician will first notice the patient's mood as well as their affect. They are the general emotional tone that can range from joy to sadness or irritability to anger. Affect can be measured by looking at facial expressions and demeanour as well as the reactivity to internal or external stimuli (e.g. You can express your feelings by smirking at an absurd joke, or crying when you lose a loved one.
Affect is a short-term emotion, whereas mood is a longer-lasting emotional state. It is typically described as euthymic, or normal, or dysphoric (meaning depression). Professionals in psychiatry must be careful to avoid confusion between the terms, as they are defined differently and are affected by various factors.
The MSE can be a valuable tool for diagnosing clinical problems however, it can be difficult to interpret from a subjective patient report. It is therefore helpful to inquire about how patients have been feeling over the last few weeks, instead of using only the observation of a physician. A recent study revealed that a significant percentage of symptoms, which includes those that are grouped under the same disorder category, differ between assessment tools. This can be because of the different emphasis on emotional or cognitive 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. For instance, a person who reports a headache and anxiety is likely to report an lower score than someone who has only a headache. Patients tend to minimize negative feelings while exaggerating positive feelings.
Affect and mood influence thought content which influences decision-making, interpersonal behaviour, and physical functioning. They can be affected by fatigue, stress and social interactions. In actual fact positive moods have been proven to boost the ability to think and be creative. A mood that is negative can cause confusion and decrease concentration. Therefore, a careful and thorough mental health evaluation needs to consider the patient's mood and state of mind as in addition to the underlying causes.
Thought content
One of the most essential aspects of a mental state examination is to determine how the patient thinks. Evaluation of thoughts and their content. The thought process is the logic, coherence and organization of the patient's thoughts. Normal thought processes are logical and focused on goals. Thought processing can 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 being able to identify the presence of a problem. Judgement is the process of making a well-considered decision after receiving information. Both can be impaired in several mental health conditions, such as depression and schizophrenia. A patient with impaired insight or judgment is more likely to harm themselves or others. If Continue are in danger, their rational judgement would suggest leaving the home immediately. A person with impaired judgment might suggest they stay in the building to try and put out the fire.
Thought content includes the topics, subjects and beliefs that a patient holds. Examiners will evaluate the clarity, relatedness and content of a thoughts of the patient. They will note any tangential or circumstantial thoughts, and whether the patient has flights of thoughts (digressions from the topic of conversation). They will also comment on the speed at which someone is thinking, for example, if they seem fast or slower.
Other important aspects to consider are whether the patient's thoughts are mood compatible or not in line with their environment. For instance, a person who is depressed might hear voices that sound hostile and frightening, whereas someone suffering from schizophrenia could have a hallucination of a calm and soothing voice. The patient should also be asked about any homicidal or suicidal thought. These are rare but can be life-threatening and should be taken into account in every mental health evaluation.
Observation
Nurses' observation skills are crucial in a mental health assessment. They include a careful review of the appearance, behavior, any unusual beliefs and perceptions (such as hallucinations or delusions), mood, and aspects of cognition (including attention to the environment, orientation, memory). A mental health assessment for nursing also includes observing the ability to move, which includes physical movement such as eating, drinking, brushing teeth using the toilet and putting on shoes.
The Observation component of the mental health examination is a key component of determining whether a patient may pose the risk to themselves or others. This is determined by assessing whether the patient is moving deliberately in a way that suggests they are in danger of harming themselves or anyone else.
Additionally, a thorough assessment of thought content is done by monitoring the patient throughout the interview and determining their thoughts and concerns. It is essential to determine whether the patient has suicidal, homicidal, or delusional thoughts.
A global assessment of functioning (GAF) is an evaluation of the numerical value on a scale ranging from 100 to 0 that measures a person's ability to function in everyday life along with their ability to cope with the stresses in their lives. The GAF is a vital part of the mental status exam and assists in guiding treatment decisions.
It is crucial to realize that observing the behavior of a patient could cause distress. Therefore, it is essential to conduct the procedure in a way that doesn't cause or cause discomfort. It is crucial that the patient be fully aware of the reason for the observations and the length of the process.
Nursing observation is an essential ability and should be a central part of the nursing process. However, it should be noted that patients might not agree with the degree of observation and if they are unable to reach an agreement with staff, then they should have access to an advocate service that can represent their needs and help their discussions on their treatment. This should be a fundamental part of local observation policy and practice with the involvement of user groups, to ensure that patients are involved in the development of written documents and staff training for this aspect of governance in the clinic.
Questioning
Many people have a hard time talking about their mental health issues however, family members will often be able to recognize the signs of something being wrong. They can also assist the person take steps to get an assessment. These assessments 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 person questions regarding their personal life, including what's been happening recently and what their feelings have been like.
The assessment also includes a cognitive evaluation that is focused on the ability of the person to think clearly and retain information. The test subject may ask to complete simple tasks, such as keeping their attention on an alphabet of objects or words and recollecting lists of basic information or solving math problems. The test may also test the ability of the individual to make sound decisions and make good judgments. The test measures a patient's awareness, which is the understanding of their condition and how it affects them.
Another vital aspect of an assessment of mental health is the person's attitude towards others, himself and his illness. The tone of voice, facial expressions and body language can convey hostility, anger or depression, or a feeling of insecurity. It is important to observe whether the patient appears be seeking help or accepting their condition.
In more serious instances an assessment of mental health could include a thorough examination of the patient's thoughts 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 conditions as they can be extremely hazardous and even life-threatening.
A mental health assessment must be comprehensive and look at the person's relationship with their environment. A health professional can use photographs, music, art or any other electronic assessment tool to gain a better understanding of the person. They should also talk about the challenges that led the person to seek help, and assure them that there is nothing wrong in seeing a mental healthcare professional.