Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
Mental health assessments typically include a physical exam to rule out physical problems. This could involve blood tests or urine tests, as well as brain scans.
Psychologists employ a variety of instruments to evaluate mental health. These range from tests that are written on paper and pen to deep interviews or self-fill questionnaires for postal delivery.
Mood and affect
Mood and affect are the most significant components of the mental status examination (MSE) and are the first to be observed by the medical professional. They are the general emotional state, which can range from joy to sadness, or anger to anger. The patient's mood can be measured by facial expressions, overall demeanor and the response 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 but mood is a more sustained emotional state. It is often described as either euthymic (normal) or dysphoric, which means depressed. Professionals in psychiatry must be careful to avoid confusion between the two terms, as they are interpreted differently and can be affected by various factors.
While the MSE is a helpful clinical tool but it can be difficult to interpret based on a subjective patient reports. The process of asking patients to share their experiences over the past few weeks is more helpful than relying on only observations from a physician. A recent study found that a significant percentage of symptoms, even those that fall within the same disorder category, vary between assessment tools. This could be due to the different emphasis placed on emotional or cognitive symptoms, as well as differences between time periods and frequency in symptom reporting.
It is possible that the MSE is based solely on self-reporting which could be biased. A patient who has anxiety and a headache is likely to get a lower score compared to a patient reporting only headache. Patients tend to minimize negative feelings while exaggerating positive feelings.
Affect and mood have a direct impact on thoughts and can affect the way we make decisions, our interpersonal behavior and physical performance. They are affected by fatigue, stress and social interactions. In reality, a positive mood has been shown to enhance the ability to think and be creative. A mood that is negative can cause confusion and reduce concentration. Therefore, a thorough and thorough mental health assessment needs to consider the patient's current mood and emotional state as in addition to the underlying causes.
Thought content
Assessing how the patient thinks is among the most crucial aspects of a mental health exam. Evaluation of the thought process and its content. The thought process is the coherence, logic and structure of a patient’s thoughts. The normal process of thinking is focused and logical. In many mental health disorders however, the thought process is distorted. Examples include delusions, hallucinations and loose associations.
Insight and judgment are assessed in a mental status test. Insight is the ability to recognize that there is a problem, and judgement is the ability to make a considered decision when presented with information. Both are affected by many mental health conditions like schizophrenia and depression. If a patient is impaired in judgment or insight is at greater risk of harming themselves or others. For instance when they are in danger of burning their home down, sensible judgement would tell them to leave the building immediately. However, a person with impaired judgment may recommend staying in the house and trying to put the fire out.
The content of a patient's thoughts include the subject matter, themes, and beliefs. Typically, examiners discuss the clarity, connection and the content of a patient's thoughts. They will take note of any tangential or circumstantial thoughts and also whether the patient is having flashes of thoughts (digressions from the topic of conversation). They will also discuss the speed of a person's thoughts, including whether they seem to be fast or slow.
It is also important to determine if the patient's mood is similar to their surroundings. A patient with depression might hear voices of anger, while those suffering from schizophrenia may experience an illusion that a calm voice is speaking. Ask the patient if they've had any suicidal or homicidal thoughts. These are uncommon, but could be life-threatening and should be considered during every mental health assessment.
Watching
Nurses' observation skills are essential to the mental health assessment. They will conduct a thorough examination of appearance, behaviour, 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 activity like eating drinking, eating, brushing teeth using the toilet and putting on shoes.
The Observation component of the mental status examination is a key component of determining whether or not a patient may pose the risk to themselves or others. This is accomplished by determining if the patient appears to be acting in a way that suggests they're about harm themselves or another person.
A thorough assessment of the thought-based content is also done by monitoring the patient during the interview and determining thoughts and concerns. It is crucial to determine if the patient is having suicidal or violent thoughts and to determine if they are experiencing thoughts of delusion.
A global assessment of functioning (GAF) is an evaluation of the numerical value on a scale of zero to 100 that evaluates a person's ability to function in daily life with their ability to cope with the stresses that come with life. The GAF is a crucial component of the mental state exam and aids in making treatment decisions.
It is important to recognize that observing the behaviour of a patient could cause distress. Therefore, it is essential that the procedure is conducted in a way that does not provoke or make the patient feel uncomfortable. It is also crucial that the patient is informed about the purpose of the observation as well as the length of time it will take.
Nursing observation is an important ability and should be a key part of the nursing process. However, mental assessment should be remembered that patients may 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 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 involvement and support of user groups.
Questioning
Many people are reluctant to talk about their mental health issues, but family members can usually discern when something isn't right. They can also encourage the person to seek an assessment. These tests can be extremely broad and cover a wide range of subjects such as mood, appearance and memory, thinking process and much more. In addition to these tests, a mental health professional will also ask the person questions about their personal life, including what's been happening recently and what their emotions have been like.
The assessment also includes a cognitive evaluation that is focused on the person's ability to think clearly and recall information. The person may be asked to complete simple tasks, like focusing their attention on a list of objects or words as well as storing lists and lists for solving math problems. The test will also test the person's ability to make good decisions and use judgment. The test measures a patient's perception, which is their knowledge of their condition and how it affects them.
Another vital aspect of a mental health assessment is the person's attitude toward other people, himself and the illness. The tone of voice, the facial expression, and body language of a patient may signal depression, anger, or a feeling of powerlessness. It is important to observe whether the patient appears seek assistance or is accepting their situation.
In more serious cases, a mental health assessment could include a thorough examination of the patient's thoughts that may include hallucinations (false sensory perceptions that do not correspond to real stimuli) or illusions (misperceptions of real stimuli). These conditions can be harmful and even deadly.
A mental health assessment must be comprehensive and look at the person's interactions with their social world. A health professional could use art, music, photos or a range of assessment tools using electronic technology to help understand the person and their unique perspective on the world around them. They should also speak to the person about the issues that caused them to seek assistance and reassure them that there is nothing wrong with visiting a mental health professional.