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Mental Health Nursing – Assessing Mental Health Mental health assessments usually involve a physical examination, to rule out physical problems. This may involve blood work and urine tests as well as brain scans. Psychologists also use a wide array of tools to measure mental health. These range from pen and paper test forms to deep interviews or self-fill questionnaires sent to you by post. Mood and affect Mood and affect are among the most important components of the mental health examination (MSE) and are the first things to be observed by a clinician. They describe the patient's general emotional state that can range from happiness to sadness, or anger to anger. mental health assessments for adults uk can be assessed by looking at facial expressions and demeanour as well as the reaction to external or internal stimuli (e.g. You can express your emotions by laughing at a joke, or crying when you lose a loved one. Affect is a short-term emotion while mood is a longer-lasting emotional state. It is usually described as either euthymic (normal) or dysphoric, which translates to depressed. Psychiatric professionals should be careful to not confuse the two terms, as they are defined differently and are affected by a variety of factors. While the MSE is a valuable tool for clinical use but it can be difficult to interpret based on a subjective patient reports. It is therefore helpful to ask patients how they have felt over the past few weeks, instead of using only the observation of a physician. A recent study revealed that a large proportion of symptoms, even those that fall under the same disorder category, vary between assessment tools. This could be due to the different emphasis on cognitive or emotional symptoms and also the differences between the time intervals and frequency of the reporting of symptoms. It is also possible that the MSE relies on self-reports, which may be prone to bias. For instance, a person who complains of anxiety and headaches is likely to report less than a person who describes only the sensation of a headache. Patients tend to minimize negative emotions while exaggerating positive feelings. Mood and affect directly affect thought content, which can influence the way people make decisions, their interpersonal behavior, and physical functioning. They can be influenced by fatigue, stress, social interactions, world events, hormones and the weather. In reality, a positive mood has been shown to enhance 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 underlying factors. Thought content One of the most essential aspects of a mental health examination is assessing how the patient thinks. Evaluation of the thought process and its content. The thought process is the coherence, logic and structure of a patient's thoughts. The normal process of thinking is focused and logic-based. In many mental health disorders however, thought processing is distorted. Examples include hallucinations, delusions, and loose associations. Insight and judgement are also evaluated during a mental status exam. Insight is the ability to recognize the presence of a problem. Judgement is the process to make a rational decision after receiving information. Both can be impaired in several mental health conditions, such as depression and schizophrenia. Patients with impaired insight or judgment is more likely to hurt themselves or others. For example, if they are in danger of burning their home down, sensible judgement would tell them to leave the house immediately. However, a patient with impaired judgment might decide to stay in the building and attempting to put out the fire. Thought content includes the topics, subjects and beliefs that a patient holds. Examiners will assess the clarity, connection and content of a patient's thoughts. They will also note tangential thoughts or circumstantial ones, as well as when a patient is digressing (digressions away from the subject of the conversation). They will also comment on the pace at which a person is thinking, such as whether they seem to be more or less fast. Other important aspects to consider are whether the patient's thoughts are mood and in tune with their surroundings. A patient with depression might hear angry voices, whereas those suffering from schizophrenia may have the illusion that a peaceful voice is speaking. A patient should also be asked about any suicidal or homicidal thought. Although these are rare, they can be life threatening and should be taken into account in every mental health evaluation. Observation The ability of nurses to observe is essential in a mental assessment. They will conduct a thorough examination of the appearance, behavior as well as any unusual beliefs or perceptions (such as hallucinations or delusions) mood, and aspects of cognition (including attention to orientation, attention, memory). A mental health assessment for nursing also includes observing motility, including any physical movement, such as eating drinking, eating, brushing teeth, using the toilet and putting on shoes. The Observation element of the mental health exam is an essential element of determining whether or not a patient may pose a risk to themselves or others. This is accomplished by determining whether the patient appears be acting in a deliberate way that suggests they are planning to harming themselves or someone else. A detailed evaluation of the content of thoughts is also done by monitoring the patient during the interview and determining their thoughts and concerns. It is essential to determine whether the patient has suicidal, homicidal, or delusional thoughts. Global assessment of functioning (GAF) is a numerical rating between 0 and 100, evaluates the ability of an individual to function in daily life and their capability of coping with stressors. The GAF is a crucial element of the mental state examination and helps to guide treatment decisions. It is essential to be aware that observing an individual's behavior could cause anxiety, and it is essential that the process is conducted in a way that does not provoke the patient and doesn't be uncomfortable for them. It is also vital that the patient is fully informed about the purpose of the observation and the amount of time it will last. Nursing observation is a crucial skill that should be an integral part of the nursing process. It is essential to remember that patients might disagree on the extent of observation. If they cannot reach an agreement with staff, they must be able access an advocate service to represent their interests and assist in any discussions regarding their treatment. This should be a part of the local policy and practice, with the participation and support of user groups. Questioning Many people have a difficult time talking about their mental health issues however, family members are often able to tell the signs that something is not right. They can also help the person to take a look at an assessment. These assessments be conducted on a variety of subjects that include mood, appearance and thought process. A mental health professional could also inquire about the person's personal life. They will ask what they've been feeling and what has happened recently. The test also includes a cognitive test that focuses on the ability of the individual to think clearly and recall information. The test taker may be asked to complete simple tasks, such as keeping their attention on a list of objects or words as well as storing lists and lists for solving math problems. The test will also test the ability of the individual to make sound decisions and use their judgment. The assessment also determines the patient's insight, which reflects their understanding of their illness and its impact on them. The attitude of the patient towards others, himself and the illness is also an important aspect of a mental assessment. The patient's expression, facial expression and body language can convey hostility, anger or depression, or a feeling of powerlessness. It is also important to note whether the patient appears to be seeking help or is content living with their illness. In more serious cases the evaluation of mental health could include a thorough examination of the patient's thinking that may include hallucinations or illusions. These conditions can be extremely dangerous and even deadly. A mental health assessment should be holistic and examine the person's interaction to their world. A health professional may use photographs, music, art, or any other electronic assessment tool to gain a better understanding of the individual. They should also discuss the challenges that led the person to seek help, and reassure them there is nothing wrong with seeing a mental health professional.