Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health Mental health assessments often include a physical exam to rule out physical problems This could involve blood tests and urine tests as well as brain scans Psychologists also utilize a range of tools to evaluate mental health These tools can range from paper and pencil test forms, to in-depth interviews or self-completed questionnaires for postal mail Affect and mood Mood and affect are the most crucial components of the mental status exam MSE and are the first things to be viewed by the medical professional They are the general mood, which can range from joy to sadness, or anger to anger The degree of affect can be determined by watching facial expressions and demeanour as well as the reaction to external or internal stimuli eg smiling at a joke or crying at the loss of a loved one Affect is an emotion that is only temporary, whereas mood is a state of constant emotion It is typically described as euthymic or dysphoric or normal meaning depression However, psychiatrists should be cautious not to confuse the terms since they have different definitions and are affected by a range of factors The MSE can be a useful tool for diagnosing clinical problems however it is difficult to interpret based on an individual patient's report It is therefore beneficial to inquire about how patients have been feeling over the last few weeks, rather than relying solely on the observations of doctors A recent study showed that a significant percentage of symptoms, including those that fall within the same disorder category, vary between assessment tools This can be because of the different emphasis on emotional or cognitive symptoms, as well as the different time periods and frequency of reporting symptoms It is possible that the MSE relies on self-reporting, which can be biased For instance, a person who reports a headache and anxiety will likely report less than someone who has only the sensation of a headache In addition there is an inclination for patients to downplay negative emotions and overestimate the severity of positive ones Mood and affect directly affect thought content which influences the way people make decisions, their interpersonal behavior and physical functioning They are influenced by fatigue, stress, social interactions, global events, hormones and the weather In actual fact, a positive mood has been proven to boost thinking and creativity A negative mood can affect concentration and cause confusion Therefore, a careful and thorough mental health assessment needs to take into account the patient's current mood and emotional state as well as their underlying factors Thought content https//wwwiampsychiatryuk/private-mental-health-assessments/ to determine how a patient thinks is one of the most important aspects of a mental health examination Evaluation of the thought process and its content The thought process is the coherence, logic, and organization of the patient's thoughts Normal thought processes are logical and goal-oriented Thought processing may be altered in several mental health conditions Examples include delusions, hallucinations and loose associations Insight and judgement are assessed in a mental status test Insight is the ability to identify 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 like depression and schizophrenia A person who isn't able to see or judgement is more likely to harm themselves or others If they are in danger, their rational judgement would suggest leaving the home immediately However, someone with impaired judgment may suggest staying in the building and trying to put the fire out The content of a patient's thoughts includes their subject matter, themes, and beliefs Examiners will evaluate the clarity, relatedness, and content of patient's thoughts They will note any thoughts that are circumstantial or tangential or thoughts, and also if the patient is having flashes of ideas digressions from the conversation subject They will also provide feedback on a person's pace of thinking, such as whether they seem to be faster or slower It is also crucial to determine if the patient's mood is similar to their surroundings A person suffering from depression could hear angry voices, whereas someone suffering from schizophrenia may experience the illusion that a peaceful voice is speaking Ask the patient if they've had any suicidal or homicidal thoughts These are rare but can be life-threatening and should be considered during every mental health assessment Observation The observation skills of nurses play an important role in an assessment of mental health They are a thorough examination of appearance, behavior, any peculiar beliefs or perceptions such delusions or hallucinations, mood, and cognition including attention, memory, orientation A nursing mental status examination also includes observing the ability to move, which includes physical movement, such as eating drinking, eating, brushing teeth or using the toilet, as well as wearing shoes The Observation component of the mental state exam is essential in determining whether a patient poses a risk to themselves or others This is determined by assessing whether the patient appears to be moving in a deliberate way that suggests they are planning to harming themselves or someone else A detailed evaluation of the thought-based content is also made by monitoring the patient during the interview and determining the concerns It is crucial to determine whether the patient is experiencing suicidal, homicidal or delusional thoughts A global assessment of functioning GAF is a numerical rating on a scale of 100 to 0 that measures a person's ability to function in daily life along with their ability to deal with the stresses that come with life The GAF is a key part of the mental state examination and assists in making treatment decisions It is essential to be aware of the fact that observing a patient's behaviour could cause anxiety, and it is essential to conduct the procedure in a manner that does not cause anxiety for the patient or make them feel intrusive It is also crucial that the patient is aware of the reason for the observation and the amount of time it will last Nursing observation is a vital skill that should be the core of any nursing process However, it must be remembered that patients may not agree with the degree of observation and if they are unable to reach an agreement with the staff, they should have access to an advocate service that can represent their needs and help them in any discussions regarding their care This should be a part of the local policy and practice, with the participation and the support of user groups Questioning Many people are hesitant to discuss their mental health issues, however family members are often able to tell when something is amiss They can also encourage the person to seek an assessment These tests can be a variety of topics, including mood, appearance and the thought process A mental health professional may also inquire about the person's personal life They will ask what they have been feeling and what's happened recently The test includes an evaluation of the cognitive capacity which focuses on an individual's ability to think clearly and retain information The person could be asked to complete simple tasks such as focusing on a list or objects, remembering lists, or solving math questions The test can be used to test the ability of the person's judgement and to make informed choices The test also evaluates the patient's understanding and understanding of their condition and its effects on them Another crucial aspect of an assessment of mental health is the person's attitude towards others, himself and his illness The tone of voice, facial expressions and body language can convey anger, hostility, depression or a sense of powerlessness It is also important to note whether the patient appears to be seeking help or resigned to living with their condition In more serious situations an assessment of mental health could include a thorough examination of the patient's thoughts, which could involve hallucinations false sensory perceptions that do not correspond to real stimuli or illusions misperceptions of real stimuli These conditions can be harmful and even fatal A mental health assessment must be comprehensive and look at the person's interaction with their social world A health professional may employ photographs, music, art or a range of assessment tools that are electronic to better understand the person and their unique perspective on the world around them They should also discuss the challenges that led the person to seek help, and reassure them that there is nothing wrong with seeing a mental health professional