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Mental Health Nursing – Assessing Mental Health Mental health assessments often involve a physical examination, to rule out physical problems. This can include blood tests, urine tests or even brain scans. Psychologists employ a variety of instruments to evaluate mental health. These tools be anything from pencil and paper test forms, to in-depth interviews or self-completed questionnaires for postal mail. Mood and affect The doctor will first be aware of the patient's mood and affect. They define the patient's general emotional state that can range from happiness to sadness, or anger to anger. The degree of affect can be determined by looking at facial expressions and manner of speaking as well as the response to external or internal stimuli (e.g. smiling at the joke or crying over the loss of a loved one). Affect is an emotion that is only temporary, whereas mood is a state of sustained emotion. It is typically described as euthymic, normal, or dysphoric (meaning depression). Psychiatric professionals should be careful to not confuse the two terms because they are different in their definition and can be affected by many factors. While the MSE is a valuable clinical tool however, it isn't always easy to interpret based on subjective patient reports. Asking patients about their feelings during the past few weeks can be more beneficial than relying solely on physician observations. A recent study showed that a large proportion of symptoms, which includes those that are grouped within the same disorder category, vary between assessment tools. This could be due to the different emphasis placed on emotional or cognitive symptoms, and also the differences between time periods and frequency of symptom reporting. It is possible that the MSE is based solely on self-reporting which could be biased. Patients who report both a headache and anxiety is likely to report a lower score compared to a patient reporting only a migraine. Patients tend to minimize negative emotions while exaggerating positive ones. Mood and affect can have an impact on thought content. This can impact the way people make decisions, their interpersonal behavior and physical performance. They can be affected by fatigue, stress and social interactions. A positive mood can actually enhance creativity and mental power. A negative mood can lead to confusion and reduce concentration. Therefore, a thorough and thorough mental health assessment is required to consider the patient's current mood and affect as in addition to the underlying causes. Thought content Assessing how the patient thinks is among the most important aspects of a mental state exam. Particularly, it is assessing thought process and thoughts. The thought process is the coherence, logic and structure of the patient's thoughts. Normal thought processes are logical and focused on a goal. Thought processing may be altered when a person suffers from mental health issues. Examples include hallucinations, delusions and loose associations. Insight and judgement are assessed during a mental state test. online mental health assessment is the ability to spot a problem. Judgement is the process of making a well-considered decision after receiving information. Both can be impaired by several mental health conditions like depression and schizophrenia. A patient with impaired insight or judgment is more likely to harm themselves or others. If they are in danger, their rational judgment would advise them to leave the home immediately. A person with impaired judgment may suggest that they stay in the house to try to put out the fire. The thoughts of a patient include the subject matter, themes, and beliefs. Examiners will comment on the clarity, relevance, and content of patient's thoughts. They will also note tangential thoughts or those that are merely circumstantial, and in the event that the patient's thoughts diverge (digressions away from the topic of the conversation). They will also make comments on a person's pace of thinking, such as whether they seem to be faster or slower. Other important areas to consider are whether the patient's thoughts are mood and in tune with their surroundings. For instance, a patient who is depressed might hear voices that sound angry and threatening, while a person with schizophrenia might have a hallucination of an ethereal and calm voice. The patient should be asked about any suicidal or homicidal thoughts. These are rare but can be life-threatening and should be taken into consideration in every mental health assessment. Watching Nurses' observation skills are crucial in a mental health assessment. They will conduct a thorough examination of behavior, appearance and any strange beliefs or perceptions (such as hallucinations or delusions) mood, as well as aspects of cognition (including attention to orientation, attention, memory). A nursing mental status examination also includes observing mobility, which includes any physical movement such as eating drinking, eating, brushing teeth or using the toilet, as well as wearing shoes. The Observation portion of the mental state exam is vital in determining if the patient is a danger to them or anyone else. This is accomplished by determining whether the patient appears be acting in a manner that suggests they are trying to harming themselves or someone else. In addition, a comprehensive thought content assessment is made by observing the patient throughout the interview and determining their preoccupations. It is essential to determine whether the patient is suffering from suicidal, homicidal or delusional thoughts. A global assessment of functioning (GAF) is a numerical rating on a scale from zero to 100 that evaluates the ability of a person to function in everyday life along with their ability to deal with the stresses that come with life. The GAF is a key part of the mental state exam and assists in making treatment decisions. It is important to understand that observing the behaviour of a patient can cause distress. It is therefore important to conduct the procedure in a manner that doesn't cause or cause discomfort. It is essential that the patient is aware of the reason for the observations and the length of the procedure. Nursing observation is a vital skill that should be the core of any nursing procedure. However, it should be noted that patients might be dissatisfied with the quality of observation and if they cannot reach an agreement with staff then they should be able to access an advocate service which can represent their interests and support them in any discussions regarding their treatment. This should be a fundamental element of the local observation policy and practice with the participation of user groups to ensure that patients are a part in the development of written information and staff training on this aspect of governance in the clinic. Questioning Many people have a hard time talking about their mental health issues, but loved ones are often able to tell the signs that something is not right. They can also urge the person to take a look at an assessment. These tests can be conducted on a variety of topics such as mood, appearance and the thought process. A mental health professional can also ask questions about the person's private life. They will ask them what they feel and what's happened recently. The test includes a cognitive evaluation which focuses on an individual's ability think clearly and retain information. The test taker may be asked to complete a few basic tasks, such as focusing their attention on the list of words or objects, memorizing simple lists or solving math problems. The test can also be used to assess the ability of the person's judgement and to make sound decisions. The assessment also determines the patient's insight that reflects their knowledge of the illness and its effects on them. The patient's attitude towards others, himself and the illness is also an important element of a mental assessment. The tone of voice, the facial expressions, and body expressions of a patient could indicate depression, anger or a sense of helplessness. It is also important to note whether the patient is seeking help or resigned to living with their condition. In more serious situations an assessment of mental health may include an examination of the patient's mental state that could include hallucinations (false sensory perceptions that do not correspond to real stimuli) or illusions (misperceptions of real stimuli). It is important to note the presence of these conditions as they can be extremely risky and even life-threatening. A mental health assessment must be holistic and examine the person's relationship with their environment. A health professional might use photographs, music, art or a variety of assessment tools using electronic technology to help the person understand themselves and their unique perspective on the world around them. They should also discuss the difficulties that prompted the person to seek help, and assure them that there is nothing wrong in seeing an expert in mental health.