Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
A physical examination is typically included in mental health assessments to rule out any physical issues. This may include blood tests and urine tests as well as brain scans.
Psychologists use a variety of instruments to evaluate mental health. These range from pen and paper test forms to in-depth interviews, or self-complete postal questionnaires.
Mood and affect
The affect and mood are the most significant elements of the mental state exam (MSE) and are the first things to be observed by a medical professional. They describe the patient's general mood that can range from joy to sadness, or even irritability to anger. The affect can be assessed through facial expressions, general demeanor and the response to external or internal stimuli. You can express your feelings by laughing at a joke, or crying when you lose a beloved one.
Affect is an emotion that is temporary, while mood is a long-lasting emotion. It is usually described as euthymic or normal, or dysphoric (meaning depressed). Professionals in psychiatry must be careful to avoid confusion between the two terms because they are interpreted differently and can be affected by many factors.
While mental health assessments online is a valuable tool for clinical use however, it isn't always easy to interpret based on subjective patient report. Inquiring about the feelings of patients in the last few weeks is more effective than relying on only observations from a physician. A recent study showed that a significant percentage of symptoms, including those grouped together under the same disorder category, differ between assessment tools. This can be due to the different emphasis on emotional, cognitive or physical symptoms, as along with differences in duration and frequency of reporting symptom reports.
It is possible that the MSE relies on self-report which could be susceptible to bias. A patient who reports both a headache and anxiety is likely to report an lower score than one who reports only a migraine. Patients tend to minimize negative feelings while exaggerating positive feelings.
The mood and the affect of a person can have a direct influence on thought content. This can impact decision-making, interpersonal behavior, and physical function. They are affected by stress, fatigue and social interactions. In reality, a positive mood has been shown to enhance the ability to think and be creative. A negative mood can lead to confusion and reduce concentration. A thorough and thoughtful mental health assessment must take into account the patient's mood as well as affect as well as the other factors.
Thought content
Assessing how the patient thinks is among the most important aspects of a mental health exam. Specifically, evaluating thought process and thoughts. The thought process is the coherence, logic, and organization of a patient’s thoughts. A normal thought processes is objective-oriented and logical. In several mental health conditions however, the thought process is distorted. Examples include hallucinations, delusions and loose associations.
A mental health assessment also examines judgment and insight. Insight is being able to recognize the presence of a problem. Judgment is the capability to make a well-considered choice after receiving information. Both can be impaired by various mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and depression. If a patient suffers from impaired judgment or insight, they are at a higher risk of causing harm to themselves or others. If they are in danger, their sensible judgement would suggest leaving the home immediately. A patient with impaired judgment might suggest that they remain in the building to try to put out the flame.
Thought content is the topics, subjects and beliefs that a patient holds. Examiners will evaluate the clarity, relevance, and content of patient's thoughts. They will be able to identify tangential ideas or circumstantial ones, and when a patient is digressing (digressions away from the topic of the conversation). They will also discuss the speed of a person's thoughts, such as whether they seem to be fast or slow.
It is also crucial to determine if the patient's mood matches their environment. Patients suffering from depression may be able to hear angry voices, whereas someone suffering from schizophrenia may experience the illusion that a peaceful voice is speaking. A patient should also be asked about any suicidal or homicidal ideation. These are rare but can be life-threatening and should be taken into consideration in every mental health assessment.
Observation
The ability of nurses to observe is essential in an assessment of mental health. They involve a thorough evaluation of appearance, behavior, any peculiar beliefs or perceptions (such delusions or hallucinations) mood, cognition (including memory, attention and orientation). The nursing mental status exam is also a way of observing the movement. This includes any physical movement like eating, drinking, or brushing your teeth.
The Observation portion of the mental state exam is essential in determining whether the patient is a danger to themselves or others. This is accomplished by determining whether the patient appears be acting in a deliberate manner that suggests they are about harming themselves or someone else.
A thorough assessment of the thought-based content is also made by monitoring the patient during the interview and determining the concerns. It is essential to determine whether the patient has suicidal, homicidal, or delusional thoughts.
A global assessment of functioning (GAF) is an evaluation of the numerical value on a scale of zero to 100 that evaluates the capacity of a person to function in everyday life with their capacity to handle the stresses that come with life. The GAF is a crucial component of the mental health exam and assists in guiding the treatment decisions.
It is important to recognize that observing the behavior of a patient can cause anxiety. Therefore, it is essential to conduct the procedure in a way that does not cause discomfort or make the patient feel uncomfortable. 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 important skill and it must be an integral part of the nursing process. It is essential to remember that patients might disagree on the extent of observation. If they are unable to come to an agreement with the staff, they should be able to access an advocate service to represent their interests and assist them in any discussions about their care. This should be a fundamental part of the local policy and practice, including the involvement of user groups, to ensure that patients are involved in the development of written documents and staff training to support this aspect of governance in the clinic.
Questioning
Many people have a hard to discuss their mental health problems However, loved ones can often notice when something is wrong. They can also assist the person take steps to get an assessment. These assessments are broad and cover a wide range of subjects including appearance, mood and thought process, memory and many more. A mental health professional can also inquire regarding the person's personal life. They will ask what they feel and what's happened recently.
The assessment also includes a cognitive test, which focuses on the ability of the person to think clearly and remember information. The person may be required to complete basic tasks, such as paying attention to a list of objects, remembering lists, or solving math questions. The test can also be used to check the ability of the person's judgement and to make sound decisions. The assessment also determines the patient's understanding and knowledge of their condition and its effects on them.
Another vital aspect of a mental health assessment is the person's attitude towards other people, himself and the illness. The tone of voice, the facial expression, and body expressions of a patient could signal depression, anger, or a feeling of powerlessness. It is also important to determine whether the patient appears to be seeking help or just living with their condition.
In more serious situations, an assessment of mental health could include a look at the patient's mental state, which may involve hallucinations or illusions. These conditions can be extremely dangerous and even deadly.
In general, a mental health assessment should take a holistic approach and look at the person's interactions with their social life. A health professional could use photographs, music, art or a variety of electronic assessment tools to help understand the person and their unique view of the world around them. They should also talk about the challenges that led the person to seek help, and assure that there is nothing wrong with seeking out a mental health professional.