Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
Mental health assessments usually involve a physical examination, to rule out physical ailments. This may involve blood work, urine tests or brain scans.
Psychologists also utilize a array of tools to measure mental health. They can use tests that are written on paper and pen to in-depth interviews, or self-complete questionnaires for postal delivery.
Affect and mood
The doctor will first observe the patient's mood as well as their affect. They are the most accurate indicators of a patient's emotional tone. This can vary from joy to sadness or anger and irritability. Affect can be measured by watching facial expressions and demeanour as well as the reactivity to internal or external stimuli (e.g. You can express your emotions by smiling at an absurd joke, or crying when you lose a beloved one.
Affect is a temporary emotion while mood is a longer-lasting emotional state. mental health assessment london is often described as being either euthymic (normal) or dysphoric, which translates to depressed. Psychiatric professionals should be careful to avoid confusion between the two terms, as they are defined differently and can be affected by various factors.
While the MSE is a helpful clinical tool however, it can be difficult to interpret based on a subjective patient report. Asking patients about their feelings in the last few weeks is more helpful than relying on only observations from a physician. Recent research has revealed that assessment tools were different in their ability to detect a substantial part of symptoms. This included those that were grouped under the same disorder. This could be due to the different emphasis placed on cognitive or emotional symptoms and also the differences between the time intervals and frequency of symptom reporting.
It is possible that the MSE is based on self-reporting which could be susceptible to bias. Patients who report both anxiety and a headache is likely to have an lower score than a patient reporting only headache. Patients tend to minimize negative feelings while exaggerating positive ones.
The affect and mood of a person have a direct impact on thoughts which influences decision-making, interpersonal behaviour and physical performance. They can be affected by fatigue, stress and social interactions. In reality positive moods have been proven to increase creativity and thinking power. Conversely, a negative mood can affect concentration and cause confusion. A thorough and meticulous mental health assessment should consider the patient's mood and affect and the fundamental factors.
Thought content
One of the most important elements of a mental status examination is assessing how the patient thinks. Specifically, evaluating thought process and thoughts. Thought process refers the coherence, logic, and organization of a patient's thought processes. A normal thought processes is focused and logical. In several mental health conditions however, the thought process can be altered. Examples include hallucinations, delusions and loose associations.
Insight and judgement are also evaluated during a mental status test. Insight is being able to recognize the presence of a problem. Judgment is the ability 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 is impaired in judgment and/or insight in any way, they are at greater risk of harming themselves or others. For example when they are at risk of burning their house down the sensible judgment would tell them to leave the house immediately. A patient with impaired judgment may suggest that they stay in the building to try to get rid of the flame.
Thought content refers to the topics, subject matter, and beliefs that a patient has. Examiners will evaluate the clarity, relatedness, and content of patient's thoughts. They will also note any thoughts that are tangential or circumstantial, and whether the patient has flights of thoughts (digressions from the topic of conversation). They will also provide feedback on a person's pace of thinking, for example, if they seem to be more or less fast.
It is also crucial to determine whether the patient's mood is similar to their surroundings. For example, a patient who is depressed might hear voices that sound angry and threatening, while a person with schizophrenia might be able to imagine a calm and soothing voice. A patient should also be asked about any homicidal or suicidal thoughts. Although they are uncommon, they can be life-threatening and must be taken into account in every mental health assessment.
Watching
The observation skills of nurses play an important role in an assessment of mental health. They include a careful review of behavior, appearance, any unusual beliefs and perceptions (such as hallucinations or delusions) mood, as well as aspects of cognition (including attention to orientation, attention, memory). A mental health assessment for nursing also involves observing mobility, which includes any physical movement such as eating or drinking, brushing your teeth or using the toilet, as well as putting on shoes.
The observation component of the mental state examination is vital in determining if the patient is a danger to them or anyone else. This is accomplished by determining whether the patient appears be moving in a deliberate way that suggests they're trying to harming themselves or someone else.
A detailed evaluation of the thought content is also accomplished by observing the patient during the interview and determining thoughts and concerns. It is crucial to determine whether the patient is suffering from suicidal, homicidal or delusional thoughts.
A global assessment of functioning (GAF) is an evaluation of the numerical value on a scale of 0 to 100 that combines the ability of a person to perform in daily life and their capacity to handle the stressors in their life. The GAF is an important element of the mental state examination and helps to guide the treatment decisions.
It is important to recognize that observing the behavior of a patient may cause distress. Therefore, it is essential that the procedure is conducted in a way that does not provoke or feel intrusive. It is also essential that the patient is fully informed about the purpose of the observation and the length of time it will take.
Nursing observation is a vital ability that should be at the heart of any nursing process. It is crucial to keep in mind that patients can disagree with staff about the extent of observation. If they cannot come to an agreement with the staff, they should be able to use an advocate service that can represent their interests and assist in any discussions regarding their care. This should be a fundamental part of the local policy and practice, with the participation of user groups to ensure that patients are a part in the development of written information as well as staff training for this aspect of governance in the clinic.
Questioning
Many people have a hard to talk about their mental health problems However, loved ones can often notice the signs that something is not right. They can also urge the person to get an assessment. These tests can cover a wide range of topics such as mood, appearance and the thought process. A mental health professional can also ask questions regarding the person's personal life. They will ask what they feel and what's happened in the last few days.
The assessment also includes a cognitive evaluation that is focused on the person's ability to think clearly and recall information. The person may be asked to complete a few basic tasks, such as keeping their attention on an alphabet of objects or words, memorizing simple lists or solving math problems. The test can also check the ability of the individual to make sound decisions and use judgment. The assessment also determines the patient's knowledge, which reflects their understanding of their illness and its impact on them.
The patient's attitude toward others, himself and the illness is an important aspect of a mental evaluation. The patient's voice, facial expressions and body language can indicate anger, hostility, depression or a sense of helplessness. It is also important to know whether the patient is seeking help or resigned to living with their condition.
In more serious instances an assessment of mental health may include an assessment of the patient's thinking, which could involve hallucinations (false sensory perceptions that do not correspond to real stimuli) or illusions (misperceptions of real stimuli). These conditions can be extremely dangerous and even deadly.
In general the mental health assessment should be holistic and look at the person's connection to their social environment. A health professional might use photographs, music, art or a range of assessment tools using electronic technology to help 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 that there is nothing wrong with seeking out an expert in mental health.