Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
Mental health assessments often include a physical exam, to rule out physical problems. This could involve blood tests or urine tests, as well as brain scans.
Psychologists also use a wide array of tools to measure mental health. They can use pen and paper test forms to deep interviews or self-fill questionnaires sent to you by post.
Affect and mood
The clinician will first notice the patient's mood and emotional state. They describe the patient's general emotional tone, which can range from joy to sadness, or even irritability to anger. The degree of affect can be determined by watching facial expressions and demeanour as well as the reaction to external or internal stimuli (e.g. You can express your emotions by smirking at an absurd joke, or crying when you lose a loved one.
Affect refers to an emotion that is only temporary, whereas mood is a state of constant emotion. It is often described as euthymic (normal) or dysphoric, which translates to depressed. Professionals in psychiatry must be careful to avoid confusion between the terms because they are defined differently and are affected by various factors.
The MSE is a helpful tool for diagnosing clinical problems however it is difficult to interpret from an individual patient's report. It is therefore beneficial to inquire about how patients have been feeling over the last few weeks, as opposed to relying on physician observation only. A recent study revealed that a significant percentage of symptoms, including those grouped together under the same disorder category, differ between assessment tools. This can be because of the different emphasis on cognitive or emotional symptoms as well as differences between time periods and frequency in symptom reporting.
It is also possible that the MSE is based on self-reporting which is susceptible to bias. For example, a patient who reports anxiety and a headache is likely to report a lower score than someone who has only a headache. Patients tend to minimize negative feelings while exaggerating positive ones.
Affect and mood directly affect thought content, which can influence the way we make decisions, our interpersonal behavior and physical performance. They can be affected by stress, fatigue and social interactions, as well as world events, hormones and even the weather. In reality, a positive mood has been proven to increase creativity and thinking power. A negative mood can cause confusion and lower concentration. Therefore, a careful and thorough mental health assessment is required to take into account the patient's current mood and state of mind as in addition to the underlying causes.
Thought content
One of the most crucial elements of a mental status examination is to determine how the patient thinks. Evaluation of thoughts and their content. Thought process refers to the logic, organization and coherence of a patient's thought processes. Normal thought processes are logical and focused on goals. In several mental health conditions however, thought processing is altered. Examples include hallucinations, delusions and loose associations.
Insight and judgement are also assessed in a mental status exam. Insight is the ability to identify that there is a problem, and judgement is the ability to make a considered decision based on information. Both are affected by many mental health conditions like schizophrenia and depression. Patients with impaired insight or judgement is more prone to harm themselves or others. If mental health assesment are in danger, their sensible judgement would tell to leave the premises immediately. A patient with impaired judgment might suggest they stay in the building to try and put out the fire.
Thought content includes the topics, subject matter, and beliefs that a patient has. Examiners will assess the clarity, relevance and content of a patient's thoughts. They will take note of any thoughts that are circumstantial or tangential or thoughts, and also if the patient is having flashes of thoughts (digressions from the subject of conversation). They will also provide feedback on the speed at which someone is thinking, for example, if they seem fast or slower.
Other areas to be considered are whether the patient's thoughts are mood congruent or incongruent with their surroundings. For instance, a person who is depressed could hear voices that are angry and threatening, while someone suffering from schizophrenia could experience a hallucination of the sound of a calm and soothing voice. Ask the patient if they have any suicidal or homicidal ideas. These are uncommon, but could be life-threatening and should be considered in every mental health assessment.
Watching
The nurse's ability to observe is crucial in the mental assessment. They are a thorough examination of behavior, appearance as well as any peculiar beliefs or perceptions (such hallucinations or delusions) and mood cognition (including memory, attention and orientation). The nursing mental state exam also involves observing motility. This includes any physical movement, like eating, drinking and brushing teeth.
The Observation element of the mental health examination is a key component of determining whether or not the patient is posing an imminent risk to themselves or others. This is determined by assessing whether the patient appears be moving in a deliberate way that suggests they are about harming themselves or someone else.
A thorough assessment of the thought-based content is also done by monitoring the patient during the interview and determining their thoughts and concerns. It is essential to determine whether the patient has suicidal, homicidal or delusional thoughts.
Global assessment of functioning (GAF) is a numerical rating from 0 to 100, combines the ability of an individual to function in daily life with their ability of managing stressors. The GAF is an essential part of the mental state exam and helps guide treatment decisions.
It is important to understand that observing the behaviour of a patient can cause distress. Therefore, it is essential to conduct the procedure in a way that does not provoke or feel intrusive. It is also essential that the patient is aware of the reason for the observation and the length of time it will last.
Nursing observation is a crucial ability and should be an integral part of the nursing process. However, mental health online assessment uk must be remembered that patients may not agree with the degree of observation. If they cannot reach an agreement with the staff, they should be able to access an advocate service that will represent their interests and assist their discussions on their treatment. This should be part of local policy and practice, with the participation and support of user groups.
Questioning
Many people have a hard time talking about their mental health issues, but loved ones will often be able to recognize the signs that something is not right. They can also urge the person to seek an assessment. These assessments can be a variety of subjects that include mood, appearance and thought process. In addition to these tests, a mental health professional will also ask the individual questions regarding their personal life, such as what's happened lately and what their feelings have been like.
The assessment includes a cognitive evaluation that focuses on a person's ability think clearly and retain information. The test subject may require the person to complete basic tasks such as focussing on a list or objects, recollecting lists or completing math problems. The test can also be used to check the person's judgment and ability to make sound decisions. The test also evaluates the patient's understanding, which reflects their knowledge of the illness and its effects on them.
Another vital aspect of a mental health assessment is the person's attitude towards the world, himself and his illness. The patient's tone of voice, facial expressions and body language may convey anger, hostility depression or a feeling of insecurity. It is also important to know whether the patient appears to be seeking help or is content living with their illness.
In more serious situations the evaluation of mental health may include an examination the patient's mental state which could include hallucinations or illusions. It is important to note the presence of these conditions because they can be extremely hazardous and even life-threatening.
A mental health assessment should be holistic and focus on the person's relationship with their environment. Health professionals can employ 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 challenges that led them to seek help and assure them that there is nothing wrong with seeking out an expert in mental health.