Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
Mental health assessments typically include a physical exam, to rule out physical problems. These can include blood tests, urine testing, or even brain scans.
Psychologists employ a variety of instruments to evaluate mental health. These tools vary from pencil and paper test forms to in depth interviews or self-completed questionnaires via mail.
Mood and affect
The doctor will first be aware of 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. The patient's mood can be measured through facial expressions, general demeanor and the reaction to external or internal stimuli. You can express your feelings by smiling at the joke or crying when you lose a beloved one.
Affect refers to an emotion that is only temporary, whereas mood is a state of sustained emotion. It is generally described as euthymic, normal, or dysphoric (meaning depression). However, psychiatric professionals must be careful not to misunderstand the terms because they have different definitions and are affected by a range of factors.
The MSE is a helpful instrument for diagnosing clinical conditions, but it is difficult to interpret based on an individual patient's report. It is therefore beneficial to inquire about how patients have felt over the past few weeks, rather than relying solely on the observations of doctors. A recent study found that a significant percentage of symptoms, even those grouped together within the same disorder category, vary between assessment tools. This can be because of the different emphasis placed on emotional or cognitive symptoms, and also the differences between time periods and frequency of the reporting of symptoms.
It is possible that the MSE relies solely on self-reporting, which could be biased. A patient who has anxiety and a headache is likely to report a lower score compared to those who report only headache. Patients tend to minimize negative feelings while exaggerating positive ones.
Affect and mood influence thought content and can affect the way people make decisions, their interpersonal behavior and physical functioning. They are affected by fatigue, stress and social interactions. In reality positive moods have been proven to increase creativity and thinking power. However, private mental health assessment near me that is negative can reduce concentration and lead to confusion. Therefore, a careful and thorough mental health evaluation needs to take into account the patient's mood and emotional state as well as the underlying causes.
Thought content
Assessing how the patient thinks is one of the most crucial aspects of a mental state exam. Particularly, it is assessing thought process and thoughts. Thought process refers to the coherence, logic, and organization of a patient's thinking. Normal thought processes are logical and goal-oriented. In several mental health conditions however, the thought process is distorted. Examples include hallucinations, delusions and loose associations.
Insight and judgement are also assessed during a mental state test. Insight is the ability to identify a problem. Judgment is the capability of making a well-considered decision after receiving information. Both are affected by many mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and depression. A patient with impaired insight or judgement is more prone to harm themselves or others. For example, if they are in danger of burning their home down, sensible judgement would tell them to leave the building immediately. However, someone with impaired judgment may suggest staying in the building and trying to put the fire out.
Thought content is the topics, subjects and beliefs that a patient has. Examiners will evaluate the clarity, connection and the content of the patient's thoughts. They will also note any tangential or circumstantial thoughts, and whether the patient has flights of thoughts (digressions from the subject of conversation). They will also comment on the pace of a person's thoughts, including whether they seem to be fast or slow.
It is also essential to determine if the patient's mood is similar to their surroundings. Patients suffering from depression may hear angry voices, whereas a person suffering from schizophrenia may experience an illusion that a calm voice is speaking. Ask the patient if they have any suicidal or homicidal ideas. Although they are uncommon however, they can be life threatening and should be taken into consideration during every mental health assessment.
Watching
A nurse's observation skills play an important role in the mental health assessment. They will conduct a thorough examination of appearance, behaviour and any strange beliefs or perceptions (such as hallucinations or delusions) mood, as well as aspects of cognition (including attention, orientation memory). A nursing mental status examination also includes observing the ability to move, which includes physical movement such as eating drinking, eating, brushing teeth using the toilet and taking off shoes.
The Observation component of the mental status examination is a crucial aspect of determining whether or not the patient is posing the risk to themselves or others. This is accomplished by determining whether the patient appears to be moving in a deliberate way that suggests they are about harm themselves or another person.
A detailed assessment of the thought-based content is also made by monitoring the patient during the interview and determining the thoughts and concerns. It is important to check whether the patient has suicidal, homicidal, or delusional thoughts.
Global assessment of functioning (GAF) which is a numerical rating between 0 and 100, measures the capacity of a person to perform in everyday life and their capability of coping with stressors. The GAF is a key part of the mental state examination and assists in making the treatment decisions.
It is essential to be aware that observing a patient's behaviour could cause anxiety, and it is essential to conduct the procedure in a way that doesn't provoke the patient or make them feel intrusive. It is also crucial that the patient is aware of the reason for the observation as well as the length of time it will take.
Nursing observation is an essential skill that must be a central part of any nursing program. However, it must be noted that patients might be dissatisfied with the quality of observation. If they are unable to reach an agreement with staff, then they should have access to an advocate service that can represent their interests and support them in any discussions regarding their treatment. This should be a part of local policy and practice, with the involvement and support of groups of users.
Questioning
A lot of people are hesitant to discuss their mental health issues, but their family members are often able to detect if something is not right. They can also urge the person to get an assessment. These tests can be a variety of subjects such as mood, appearance and the thought process. A mental health professional can also inquire about the person's private life. They'll ask them what they have been feeling and what's happened recently.
The test includes an assessment of cognitive ability that examines a person's ability to think clearly and retain information. The person could be asked to complete basic tasks, such as focusing on a list or objects, recollecting lists or completing math problems. The test can also check the ability of the individual to make informed decisions and use judgment. The test also assesses the patient's insight and understanding of their condition and its effects on them.
Another important component of a mental health assessment is the person's attitude towards others, himself and his illness. The patient's tone of voice, facial expressions and body language can convey anger, hostility, depression or a sense of insecurity. It is also important to know whether the patient is seeking help or just living with their health condition.
In more serious cases an assessment of mental health might include an examination of the patient's thoughts that may include hallucinations (false sensory perceptions without 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.
In general an assessment of mental health should be holistic and consider the person's relationship to their social environment. A health professional could use art, music, photos or a range of assessment tools using electronic technology to help the person understand themselves and their unique view of the world around them. They should also discuss the challenges that led the person to seek help, and assure them there is nothing wrong with seeing a mental healthcare professional.