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Mental Health Nursing – Assessing Mental Health Mental health assessments typically include a physical exam, to rule out physical problems. This may involve blood work, urine tests or brain scans. Psychologists also utilize a range of tools to evaluate mental health. These range from pen and paper test forms to in-depth interviews, or self-complete questionnaires for postal delivery. Affect and mood The clinician will first notice the patient's mood and emotional state. They are the most accurate indicators of a patient's emotional tone. It can range from happiness to sorrow or irritability and anger. Affect can be measured by observing facial expressions and overall attitude as well as response to external or internal stimuli (e.g. smiling at an absurd joke or crying over the loss of a loved one). Affect is a feeling that lasts only a few minutes but mood is a more long-lasting emotional state. It is usually described as euthymic (normal) or dysphoric, meaning depressed. Professionals in psychiatry must be careful to avoid confusion between the two terms because they are interpreted differently and are affected by various factors. The MSE can be a useful instrument for diagnosing clinical conditions, but it is difficult to interpret from the subjective report of a patient. The process of asking patients to share their experiences during the past few weeks can be more beneficial than relying on only the observations of a doctor. A recent study found that a large proportion of symptoms, which includes those that fall within the same disorder category, differ between assessment tools. This can be because of the different emphasis placed on cognitive or emotional symptoms and also the differences between time periods and frequency of reporting symptoms. It is also possible that the MSE is based on self-reporting, which may be prone to bias. For example, a patient who describes experiencing a headache and anxiety will likely report less than someone who has only a headache. In addition there is a tendency for patients to downplay negative feelings and overestimate the severity of positive feelings. Affect and mood directly affect the content of thoughts which influences the way people make decisions, their interpersonal behavior and physical functioning. They can be affected by stress, fatigue and social interactions. In actual fact positive moods have been proven to boost creativity and thinking power. A negative mood can cause confusion and lower concentration. Therefore, how to get a private mental health assessment and thorough mental health assessment is required to consider the patient's current mood and affect as well as the underlying causes. Thought content The ability to determine how a patient thinks is one the most crucial aspects of a mental health exam. Evaluation of thought process and content. The thought process is the coherence, logic, and organization of a patient’s thoughts. Normal thought processes are logical and focused on goals. Thought processing can be distorted when a person suffers from mental health issues. Examples include hallucinations, delusions and loose associations. Insight and judgement are also assessed in a mental status exam. Insight is the ability to see that there is an issue, and judgement is the ability to make a considered decision based on information. Both are affected by a variety of mental health issues like depression and schizophrenia. If a patient is impaired in judgment or insight, they are at a higher chance of harming themselves or others. If they are in danger, their sensible judgment would advise them to leave the premises immediately. However, a patient with impaired judgment might recommend staying in the house and trying to put out the fire. Thought content refers to the subject matter, themes and beliefs that a patient has. Examiners generally comment on the clarity, connection and the content of a patient's thought. They will take note of any thoughts that are circumstantial or tangential or thoughts, and also if the patient is prone to having a flurry of thoughts (digressions from the subject of conversation). They will also make comments on the pace of a person's thoughts, including whether they seem fast or slow. It is also crucial to determine whether the patient's mood matches their surroundings. Patients suffering from depression may hear angry voices, whereas someone suffering from schizophrenia might experience an illusion that a calm voice is speaking. Ask the patient if they've had any suicidal or homicidal ideas. These are uncommon, but could be life-threatening and should be taken into consideration in every mental health assessment. Watching The observation skills of nurses are essential to an assessment of mental health. They involve a thorough evaluation of behavior, appearance, any unusual beliefs or perceptions (such delusions or hallucinations) mood, cognition (including memory, attention and orientation). A mental health assessment for nursing also incorporates observation of mobility, which includes any physical movement, such as eating, drinking, brushing teeth using the toilet and taking off shoes. The Observation element of the mental state examination is a crucial aspect of determining whether the patient could pose a risk to themselves or others. This is accomplished by determining whether the patient appears to be acting in a manner that suggests they are trying to harming themselves or someone else. In addition, a detailed thought content assessment is made by monitoring the patient throughout the interview and identifying their thoughts and concerns. It is particularly important to determine if the patient is suffering from suicidal or violent thoughts and to determine if they are experiencing delusions. A global assessment of functioning (GAF) is an evaluation of the numerical value on a scale from zero to 100 that evaluates the ability of a person to perform in daily life and their ability to cope with the stressors in their life. The GAF is a vital component of the mental health assessment and aids in making the treatment decisions. It is important to recognize that observing the behavior of a patient can cause anxiety. Therefore, it is essential that the process be conducted 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 process. Nursing observation is an important ability and should be a central part of the nursing process. It is crucial to keep in mind that patients can disagree with staff about the extent of observation. If they are unable to come to an agreement with the staff, they must be able access an advocate service to represent their interests and assist in any discussions about their care. This should be part of the local policy and practice, with the participation and the support of groups of patients. Questioning A lot of people are hesitant to talk about their mental health issues, but family members can often tell when something is amiss. They can also encourage the person to seek an assessment. These tests can be conducted on a variety of topics that include mood, appearance and the thought process. A mental health professional may also ask questions about the person's personal life. They will ask them what they've been feeling and what's happened recently. The test includes a cognitive evaluation that focuses on a person's ability think clearly and retain information. The test taker may be asked to complete simple tasks, such as focusing their attention on a list of objects or words, memorizing simple lists or solving math problems. The test can also be used to assess the person's judgment and ability to make sound decisions. The assessment determines a patient's insight which is their understanding of their illness and how it affects them. Another important component of a mental health assessment is the person's attitude towards the world, himself and his illness. The patient's voice, facial expression and body language can indicate hostility, anger or depression, or a feeling of powerlessness. It is also important to know whether the patient is seeking help or resigned to living with their health condition. In more serious instances the evaluation of mental health could include a thorough examination of the patient's mental state that may include illusions or hallucinations. It is crucial to recognize the presence of these disorders because they can be extremely hazardous and even life-threatening. In general an assessment of mental health should be holistic and consider the person's relationship to their social world. A health professional may employ images, 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 discuss the issues that led to the person to seek help, and reassure them there is nothing wrong in seeing a mental health professional.