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Mental Health Nursing – Assessing Mental Health Mental health assessments usually include a physical exam, to rule out physical conditions. This could include urine tests, blood tests testing, or even brain scans. Psychologists also utilize a range of tools to evaluate mental health. They can use pen and paper test forms to in-depth interviews or self-complete postal questionnaires. Affect and mood The affect and mood are the most significant elements of the mental state examination (MSE) and are the first to be observed by a doctor. They are the general emotional tone that can range from happiness to sadness, or anger to anger. The patient's mood can be measured through facial expressions, overall behavior and reaction to external or internal stimuli. smiling at a joke or crying at the loss of a loved one). Affect is a feeling that lasts only a few minutes while mood is a more sustained emotional state. It is typically described as euthymic, or dysphoric, or normal (meaning depressed). However, psychiatric specialists should be cautious not to mix the two since they have different definitions and are influenced by a variety of factors. The MSE is a helpful instrument for diagnosing clinical conditions however it is difficult to interpret based on an individual patient's report. It is therefore important to ask patients how they have been feeling in the last few weeks, as opposed to using only the observation of a physician. A recent study revealed that a significant proportion of symptoms, which includes those that fall under the same disorder category, vary between assessment tools. This could be due the different emphasis placed on cognitive, emotional or physical symptoms, as and also the different time periods and frequency of symptom reporting. It is possible that the MSE relies on self-reporting which could be biased. A patient who has a headache and anxiety is likely to have a lower score compared to one who reports only a migraine. In addition there is a tendency for patients to downplay negative feelings and overestimate the severity of positive feelings. The affect and mood of a person influence thought content which influences decision-making, interpersonal behaviour and physical functioning. They can be affected by fatigue, stress and social interactions. In fact positive moods have been proven to increase the ability to think and be creative. Conversely, a negative mood can decrease concentration and cause confusion. A thorough and meticulous mental health evaluation must be able to consider the patient's mood and affect and the underlying factors. Thought content Examining the way a patient thinks is one of the most crucial aspects of a mental health examination. Particularly, evaluating thought processes and thoughts. Thought process refers the coherence, logic, and organization of a patient's thoughts. A normal thought processes is objective-oriented and logical. Thought processing can be altered when a person suffers from mental health issues. Examples include delusions, hallucinations and loose associations. Insight and judgement are assessed in a mental status test. Insight is the ability to see the presence of a problem, while judgement is the ability to make an informed decision based on information. Both are affected by a variety of mental health issues like depression and schizophrenia. If a patient suffers from impaired insight and/or judgement is at greater risk of harming themselves or others. If they are in danger, their rational judgement would tell to leave the home immediately. However, a patient with impaired judgment may recommend staying in the house and trying to put the fire out. Thought content refers to the topics, subjects and beliefs that a patient holds. Typically, assessment in mental health discuss the clarity, relevance and quality of a patient's thought. They will be able to identify tangential ideas or those that are merely circumstantial, and when a patient is digressing (digressions away from the topic of the conversation). They will also provide feedback on the speed at which someone is thinking, such as if they seem to be more or less fast. It is also important to determine whether the patient's mood matches the environment in which they live. A patient with depression might hear voices of anger, while a person suffering from schizophrenia may have the illusion that a peaceful voice is speaking. The patient should also be asked about any homicidal or suicidal ideation. These are uncommon, but could be life-threatening and should be taken into consideration in every mental health evaluation. Observation The nurse's ability to watch is essential in a mental assessment. They include a careful examination of appearance, behavior as well as any peculiar beliefs or perceptions (such hallucinations or delusions), mood, and cognition (including attention, memory and orientation). The nursing mental state exam also includes observing motility. This includes any physical movement, such as eating, drinking and brushing teeth. The observation component of the mental health examination is essential in determining whether a patient poses a risk to themselves or anyone else. This is accomplished by determining whether or not the patient is acting in a manner that suggests they may be threatening to harm themselves or someone else. A thorough assessment of the content of thoughts is also made by monitoring the patient during the interview and determining the thoughts and concerns. It is essential to determine whether the patient is suffering from suicidal, homicidal or delusional thoughts. Global assessment of functioning (GAF) is which is a numerical score ranging between 0 and 100, measures the capacity of a person to perform in everyday life and their capability of managing stressors. The GAF is an important element of the mental state exam and assists in guiding the treatment decisions. It is crucial to be aware that observing an individual's behavior can cause anxiety and it is crucial that the procedure is carried out in a manner that does not provoke the patient or make them be uncomfortable for them. It is essential that the patient is fully informed of the purpose of the observation and the duration of the process. Nursing observation is an essential skill that must be at the heart of any nursing program. It is essential to remember that patients may disagree about the degree of observation. If they are unable to reach a consensus with staff members, they should be able to access an advocate service to represent their interests and assist in any discussions about their care. This should be a component of the local policy and practice, with the involvement and the support of groups of patients. Questioning Many people have a difficult to discuss their mental health issues However, loved ones are often able to tell the signs that something is not right. They can also assist the person obtain an assessment. These tests can be conducted on a variety of subjects such as 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 happened recently and what their emotions have been like. The test also includes a cognitive assessment that is focused on the ability of the person to think clearly and retain information. The person may be required to complete basic tasks such as paying attention to a list of objects, remembering lists or completing math problems. The test can also check the ability of the individual to make sound decisions and use their judgment. The test also assesses the patient's insight and level of understanding about their condition and its effects on them. The patient's attitude towards others, himself and the illness is also an important element of a mental evaluation. The tone of voice, facial expression, and the body language of a patient may signal depression, anger or a sense of helplessness. It is also important to determine whether the patient is seeking help or just living with their health condition. In more serious cases, a mental health assessment may include an assessment of the patient's thinking, which could involve hallucinations (false sensory perceptions without real stimuli) or illusions (misperceptions of real stimuli). It is crucial to recognize the presence of these conditions because they can be extremely hazardous and even life-threatening. In general, a mental health assessment must be holistic and consider the person's relationship to their social environment. A health professional might use art, music, photos or a variety of assessment tools that are electronic to help understand the person and their unique view of the world around them. They should also talk about the issues that led to the person to seek help, and reassure that there is nothing wrong in seeing a mental healthcare professional.