Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
Mental health assessments typically involve a physical examination, to rule out physical problems. This can include blood tests, urine test or even brain scans.
Psychologists utilize a variety instruments to evaluate mental health. These range from pen and paper test forms to in-depth interviews or self-complete postal questionnaires.
Affect and mood
Mood and affect are the most significant components of the mental health examination (MSE) and are the first things to be viewed by the doctor. They describe the patient's general emotional state, which can range from happiness to sadness or irritability to anger. The affect can be assessed through facial expressions, overall demeanor and the reaction to external or internal stimuli. You can express your feelings by laughing at a joke, or crying when you lose a loved one.
Affect is a feeling that lasts only a few minutes but mood is a more sustained emotional state. It is generally described as euthymic, dysphoric or normal (meaning depressed). However, psychiatric professionals should be cautious not to misunderstand the terms because they have different definitions and are affected by a variety of factors.
The MSE can be a valuable tool for diagnosing clinical problems however it is difficult to interpret from the subjective report of a patient. The process of asking patients to share their experiences in the last few weeks is more effective than relying on only physician observations. A recent study found that a large proportion of symptoms, which includes those that are grouped under the same disorder category, vary between assessment tools. This could be due the different emphasis on emotional, cognitive or physical symptoms, as well as differences in duration and frequency of symptom reporting.
It is possible that the MSE is based solely on self-reporting, which could be biased. For instance, a person who reports anxiety and a headache is likely to report a lower score than a person who describes only the sensation of a headache. Additionally there is an inclination for patients to minimize negative emotions and overestimate the severity of positive emotions.
Mood and affect can have a direct impact on the thought content. This can impact the way we make decisions, our interpersonal behavior, and physical function. They can be influenced by fatigue, stress social interactions, world events, hormones and even the weather. A positive mood can enhance creativity and mental power. A mood that is negative can cause confusion and lower concentration. A thorough and thoughtful mental health assessment should consider the patient's mood as well as affect, as well as other factors.
Thought content
One of the most important aspects of a mental health examination is assessing how the patient thinks. Assessment of the thought process and its content. The thought process is the coherence, logic, and organization of a patient's thoughts. Normal thought processes are rational and focused on goals. In many mental health disorders, however, thought processing is altered. Examples include hallucinations and delusions as well as loose associations.
A mental status examination also examines judgment and insight. Insight is being able to recognize a problem. Judgment is the capability to make a well-considered choice after receiving information. Both can be impaired by a variety of mental health issues such as depression and schizophrenia. A person who isn't able to see or judgment is more likely to hurt themselves or others. If they are in danger, their sensible judgment would advise them to leave the home immediately. A patient with impaired judgement may suggest that they stay in the house to try to put out the fire.
Thought content is the topics, subject matter, and beliefs that a patient holds. Examiners will evaluate the clarity, relatedness, and content of thoughts of the patient. They will 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 comment on the speed of a person's thoughts, for instance, whether they seem fast or slow.
assessment for mental health is also important to determine if the patient's mood is similar to the environment in which they live. For example, a patient who is depressed may hear voices that sound aggressive and threatening, whereas those suffering from schizophrenia may have a hallucination of an ethereal and calm voice. Ask the patient if they are experiencing any suicidal or homicidal ideas. They are not common, but they can be life-threatening and should be considered in every mental health assessment.
Observation
The observation skills of nurses are crucial in an assessment of mental health. They are a thorough examination of behavior, appearance, any peculiar beliefs or perceptions (such delusions or hallucinations), mood, and cognition (including memory, attention, orientation). A nursing mental status examination also incorporates observation of motility, including any physical movement such as eating drinking, eating, brushing teeth, using the toilet and taking off shoes.
The Observation component of the mental state examination is crucial in determining if a patient poses a risk to them or others. This is accomplished by determining if the patient appears to be acting in a deliberate manner that suggests they are trying to harming themselves or someone else.
A detailed evaluation of the thought content is also made by monitoring the patient during the interview and determining the concerns. It is crucial 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 of zero to 100 that evaluates the ability of a person to function in daily life along with their ability to deal with the stressors in their life. The GAF is a key part of the mental state exam and aids in making treatment decisions.
It is important to be aware that watching an individual's behavior could cause anxiety, and it is important to conduct the procedure in a way that doesn't provoke the patient or make them feel intrusive. It is also crucial that the patient is aware of the reason for the observation as well as the length of time it will last.
Nursing observation is a crucial ability and should be a central part of the nursing process. However, it should be noted that patients might not agree with the degree of observation and if they are unable to come to an agreement with staff, then they should be able to access an advocate service that will represent their interests and assist their discussions on their care. This should be a fundamental part of local observation policy and practice with the participation of user groups to ensure that patients are a part in the creation of written documents and staff training for this aspect of clinical governance.
Questioning
Many people have a hard time talking about their mental health problems However, loved ones will often be able to recognize when something is wrong. They can also help the person to take an assessment. These assessments can be very broad and cover a wide range of topics including mood, appearance and memory, thought process and many more. A mental health professional could also ask questions about the person's private life. They'll ask them what they feel and what's happened recently.
The test consists of a cognitive evaluation which focuses on an individual's ability think clearly and retain information. The test subject may require the person to complete basic tasks, such as paying attention to a list of objects, remembering lists or completing math problems. The test can also be used to assess the individual's judgment and ability to make informed choices. The test measures a patient's perception, which is their knowledge of their condition and how it affects them.
The patient's attitude towards himself, others and the illness is also an important part of a mental evaluation. The patient's expression, facial expression and body language can indicate hostility, anger depression or a feeling of insecurity. It is also important to note whether the patient appears to be seeking help or just living with their condition.
In more serious instances, a mental health assessment may include an examination of the patient's mental state that may include hallucinations (false sensory perceptions that do not correspond to real stimuli) or illusions (misperceptions of real stimuli). These conditions can be dangerous and even deadly.
A mental health assessment must be comprehensive and look at the person's interactions to their world. A health professional may use images, music, or art, or any other assessment tool to gain a better understanding of the individual. They should also talk to the person about the challenges that led them to seek help and reassure them that there is nothing wrong with visiting a mental health professional.