Mental Status Exam Flashcards

Mental Status Exam Components

• Essential elements include Appearance, Behavior, Cognition, and Thought Processes.

General Survey Information

• Most of the information for the Mental Status Exam (MSE) can be gathered through the general survey of the patient.

Appearance Factors

• Key aspects to assess: Body Movements, Dress, and Grooming/Hygiene.

Behavior Assessment

• Consider Level of Consciousness (LOC), Facial Expressions, Speech patterns (fast, slow, logical), and Mood/Affect.

Mood vs Affect

• Mood: Refers to the persistent emotional state of the individual.
• Affect: Represents the external display of feelings, often observable during interaction.

Cognition Evaluation

• Important cognitive components:
  • Orientation to person, place, and time
  • Attention span
  • Recent memory
  • Remote memory
  • Ability for new learning

Thought Processes Examination

• Evaluate the content of thought for consistency and logic.
• Assess perceptions for any auditory or visual hallucinations.

A/O x4 Questions

• Utilize key questions to assess orientation:
  • Name: "What is your name?"
  • Place: "Where are you right now?"
  • Time: "What day is it? What season is it?"
  • Event: "What is happening to you right now?"

Glasgow Coma Scale Overview

• The scale assesses eye opening, verbal response, and motor response levels.
• A normal score on the Glasgow Coma Scale is 15.