lilycare54

Mental Health Nursing – Assessing Mental Health A physical exam is often part of mental health tests to rule out physical issues. This can include urine tests, blood tests test or even brain scans. Psychologists also employ a variety of tools to assess mental health. These tools be anything from pencil and paper test forms to in depth interviews or self-completed questionnaires for postal mail. Affect and mood Mood and affect are among the most significant elements of the mental state examination (MSE) and are the first thing to be observed by a clinician. private psychiatric assessment uk describe the patient's general emotional state that can range from happiness to sadness, or anger to anger. Affect can be assessed by watching facial expressions and manner of speaking as well as the reaction to external or internal stimuli (e.g. smiling at the joke or crying over the loss of a loved one). Affect is a feeling that lasts only a few minutes, whereas mood is a more sustained emotional state. It is usually described as either euthymic (normal) or dysphoric, meaning depressed. However, psychiatric professionals must be careful not to mix the two as they have varying definitions and are influenced by a variety of factors. The MSE can be a valuable instrument for diagnosing clinical conditions, but it is difficult to interpret from a subjective patient report. The process of asking patients to share their experiences in the last few weeks is more helpful than relying on just observations from a physician. A recent study found that a large proportion of symptoms, including those grouped together under the same disorder category, vary between assessment tools. This can be due to the different emphasis on emotional, cognitive or physical symptoms, as along with differences in time periods and frequency of reporting symptoms. It is possible that the MSE is based on self-reporting which could be susceptible to bias. For example, a patient who reports anxiety and headaches is likely to report a lower score than a person who describes only a headache. Patients tend to minimize negative emotions while exaggerating positive feelings. Mood and affect can have an impact on the content of thought. This can affect the way we make decisions, our interpersonal behavior, and physical performance. They can be influenced by fatigue, stress social interactions, global events, hormones and weather. In fact positive moods have been shown to enhance creativity and thinking power. A mood that is negative can cause confusion and lower concentration. A thorough and thoughtful mental health assessment should consider both the patient's mood and affect as well as the other factors. Thought content The ability to determine how a patient thinks is one the most crucial aspects of a mental state exam. Assessment of thought process and content. Thought process refers to the coherence, logic, and organization of a patient's thinking. A normal thought processes is focused and logic-based. Thought processing may be altered when a person suffers from mental health issues. Examples include delusions, hallucinations and loose associations. Insight and judgment are assessed in a mental status test. Insight is the ability to recognize problems. Judgement is the process to make a rational decision after receiving information. Both are affected by many mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and depression. A person who isn't able to see or judgment is more likely to hurt themselves or others. If they are in danger, their rational judgment would advise them to leave the house immediately. A person with impaired judgment might suggest that they remain in the house to try to get rid of the flame. The thoughts of a patient encompasses their themes, subject matter, and beliefs. Generally, examiners comment on the clarity, relevance and quality of a patient's thinking. They will note tangential thoughts or circumstantial ones, and if the patient has digressions (digressions off from the main topic of the conversation). They will also comment on the pace of a person's thoughts, for instance, whether they seem to be fast or slow. Other important aspects to consider are whether the patient's thoughts are compatible or not in line with their environment. For instance, a patient who is depressed might hear voices that are angry and threatening, while a person with schizophrenia might be able to imagine a calm and soothing voice. Patients should be questioned about any homicidal or suicidal thoughts. Although they are not common, they can be life-threatening and must be considered during every mental health assessment. Observation A nurse's observation skills play an important role in the mental health assessment. They will conduct a thorough examination of behavior, appearance as well as any unusual beliefs or perceptions (such as hallucinations or delusions) mood, as well as aspects of cognition (including attention to the environment, orientation memory, and orientation). The nursing mental status exam also includes observing motility. This includes any physical movement such as eating, drinking and brushing teeth. The Observation element of the mental status exam is an essential element of determining whether or not the patient could pose a risk to themselves or others. This is determined by assessing if the patient appears to be acting in a deliberate way that suggests they are trying to harm themselves or another person. Additionally, a thorough assessment of thought content is done by monitoring the patient throughout the interview and determining their preoccupations. It is important to check whether the patient is suffering from suicidal, homicidal or delusional thoughts. Global assessment of functioning (GAF), which is a numerical score ranging from 0 to 100, measures the capacity of a person to function in daily life and their capability of dealing with stressors. The GAF is a crucial component of the mental state examination and helps guide treatment decisions. It is important to be aware of the fact that observing an individual's behavior can cause anxiety and it is crucial that the process is conducted in a manner that doesn't provoke the patient or make them be uncomfortable for them. It is important that the patient is fully aware of the goal of the observation and the duration of the procedure. Nursing observation is a crucial ability that should be the core of any nursing procedure. However, it should be noted that patients might be dissatisfied with the quality of observation. If they are unable to come to an agreement with staff then they should have access to an advocate service which can represent their needs and help their discussions on their care. This should be an integral part of the local policy and practice with the involvement of user groups, to ensure that patients are involved in the development of written documents and staff training for this aspect of governance in the clinic. Questioning Many people are hesitant to talk about their mental health issues, but their family members can usually detect if something is not right. They can also help the person to get an assessment. These assessments are broad and cover a wide range of subjects including mood, appearance, memory, thought process and many more. A mental health professional may also inquire about the person's personal life. They will ask them what they've been feeling and what's happened recently. The test also includes a cognitive evaluation that focuses on the person's ability to think clearly and recall information. The person could be asked 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 informed choices. The assessment also determines the patient's insight that reflects their level of understanding about the illness and its effects on them. Another crucial aspect of a mental health assessment is the person's attitude toward others, himself and his illness. The tone of voice, the facial expression, and the body expressions of a patient could signal depression, anger or a sense of helplessness. It is crucial to determine whether the patient seems to be seeking help or accepting their situation. In more serious instances the assessment of mental health may include an examination the patient's thinking that may include hallucinations or even illusions. It is important to note the presence of these disorders because they can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening. A mental health assessment should be holistic and focus on the person's interactions with their social world. A health professional might use photographs, music, art or a range of assessment tools that are electronic to better understand the person and their unique view of the world around them. They should also talk to the person about the challenges that caused them to seek assistance and assure them that there is nothing wrong with seeing an expert in mental health.