Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
Mental health assessments typically involve a physical examination, to rule out physical problems. This may include blood tests or urine tests, as well as brain scans.
Psychologists also utilize a range of tools to evaluate mental health. They can use tests that are written on paper and pen to in-depth interviews or self-complete postal questionnaires.
Mood and affect
Mood and affect are among the most crucial components of the mental status exam (MSE) and are the first things to be observed by the medical professional. They are the general emotional state, which can range from happiness to sadness or irritability to anger. Affect can be measured by observing facial expressions and overall attitude as well as reaction to external or internal stimuli (e.g. You can express your feelings by laughing at the joke or crying when you lose a beloved one.
Affect is an emotion that is temporary, while mood is a state of constant emotion. It is typically described as euthymic, dysphoric, or normal (meaning depressed). However, psychiatric professionals must be careful not to mix the two since they have different definitions and are influenced by a variety of factors.
While the MSE is a helpful diagnostic tool but it isn't always easy to interpret based upon subjective patient report. Asking patients about their feelings in the last few weeks can be more beneficial than relying on only observations from a physician. Recent research revealed that assessment tools were different in their ability to capture a significant portion of symptoms. This included the symptoms that were classified under the same disorder. This can be due to the different emphasis on cognitive, emotional or physical symptoms, as well as 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. For example, a patient who complains of anxiety and headaches will likely have a lower score than a person who describes only a headache. Patients tend to minimize negative emotions while exaggerating positive feelings.
Affect and mood directly affect thought content, which can influence the way we make decisions, our interpersonal behavior and physical functioning. They can be influenced by fatigue, stress and social interactions, as well as global events, hormones and the weather. In reality, a positive mood has been proven to boost creativity and thinking power. A negative mood can lead to 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
Examining the way a patient thinks is among the most important aspects of a mental state exam. Assessment of thought process and content. Thought process refers the coherence, logic, and organization of a patient's thought processes. Normal thought processes are focused and rational. Thought processing can be distorted in a variety of mental health conditions. Examples include hallucinations and delusions as well as loose associations.
A mental state examination also examines judgment and insight. Insight is the ability to identify the presence of an issue, and judgement is the ability to make a considered decision based on information. Both can be impaired in several mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and depression. If a patient is impaired in judgment or insight in any way, they are at a higher chance of harming themselves or others. If they are in danger, their rational judgment would advise them to leave the home immediately. However, someone with impaired judgment may suggest staying in the building and attempting to put out the fire.
The contents of a patient's mind include the subject matter, themes, and beliefs. Generally, examiners comment on the clarity, connection and content of a patient's thoughts. They will take note of any thoughts that are tangential or circumstantial, and whether the patient has flights of ideas (digressions from the subject of conversation). They will also make comments on a person's pace of thinking, such as whether they seem to be more or less fast.
Other areas to be considered are whether the patient's thoughts are mood compatible or not in line with their surroundings. Patients suffering from depression may hear voices of anger, while those suffering from schizophrenia might experience a hallucination that a soothing voice is speaking. Ask the patient if they are experiencing any suicidal or homicidal ideas. Although they are not common but they could be life-threatening and should be considered during every mental health assessment.
Observation
The nurse's ability to watch is crucial in an assessment of mental health. They involve a thorough evaluation of appearance, behavior and any peculiar beliefs or perceptions (such delusions or hallucinations), mood, and cognition (including memory, attention, orientation). A nursing mental status examination also incorporates observation of the ability to move, which includes physical movement, such as eating drinking, eating, brushing teeth or using the toilet, as well as wearing shoes.
The observation component of the mental state examination is a crucial aspect of determining whether or not the patient could pose an imminent risk to themselves or others. This is accomplished by determining whether the patient appears to be moving in a way which suggests they may be threatening to harm themself 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 crucial to determine if a patient is having suicidal or homicidal ideas and to determine if they're having thoughts of suicide or delusions.
Global assessment of functioning (GAF) which is which is a numerical score ranging from 0 to 100, measures the capacity of an individual to perform in everyday life along with their capacity for coping with stressors. The GAF is an essential part of the mental health examination and assists in making the treatment decisions.
It is important to understand that observing the behaviour of a patient could cause distress. Therefore, it is essential that the process be conducted in a manner that does not cause discomfort or make the patient feel uncomfortable. It is crucial that the patient is informed of the purpose of the observations and the length of the process.
Nursing observation is an essential ability and should be a central part of the nursing process. It is crucial to keep in mind that patients might disagree on the level of observation. If they are unable to reach an agreement with staff members, they should be able to use an advocate service to represent their interests and assist them in any discussions regarding their care. This should be a fundamental part of local observation policy and practice, including the involvement of user groups, to ensure that patients are included in the creation of written information as well as staff training on this aspect of governance in the clinic.
Questioning
Many people are reluctant to talk about their mental health issues, however family members can often discern when something isn't right. assess your mental health can also help the person take steps to take an assessment. These assessments cover a wide range of topics, including mood, appearance and the 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 recently and what their feelings have been like.
The test includes an assessment of cognitive ability which focuses on an individual's ability to think clearly and retain information. The person could be asked to complete simple tasks such as focusing on a list or objects, memorizing lists or solving math questions. The test can also be used to assess the person's judgment and ability to make sound decisions. The assessment also determines the patient's insight and understanding of their illness and its impact on them.
Another important component of an assessment of mental health is the person's attitude towards other people, himself and the illness. The tone of voice, facial expression and body language may convey anger, hostility or depression, or a feeling of insecurity. It is also important to determine whether the patient is seeking help or resigned to living with their condition.
In more serious situations the mental health assessment may include an examination of the patient's thoughts that could include hallucinations (false sensory perceptions without real stimuli) or illusions (misperceptions of real stimuli). These conditions can be extremely dangerous and even deadly.
In general, a mental health assessment should be holistic and look at the person's connection to their social life. A health professional could use art, music, photos or a variety of assessment tools using electronic technology to help understand the person and their unique perspective on the world around them. They should also talk with the person about the difficulties that caused them to seek help and assure them that there is nothing wrong with seeing an expert in mental health.