Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
Mental health assessments typically include a physical exam to rule out physical conditions. This may include blood tests and urine tests as well as brain scans.
Psychologists use a variety of tools for assessing mental health. These tools can be anything from pencil and paper test forms to in depth interviews or self-completed questionnaires via mail.
Mood and affect
Mood and affect are the most crucial components of the mental health examination (MSE) and are the first thing to be observed by a clinician. They define a patient's general emotional tone. This could vary from joy to sadness or irritability and anger. Affect can be assessed by watching facial expressions and demeanour as well as the reaction to external or internal stimuli (e.g. You can express your feelings by smiling at the joke or crying when you lose a loved one.
Affect is a temporary emotion while mood is a more sustained emotional state. It is generally described as euthymic, dysphoric or normal (meaning depression). Psychiatric professionals should be careful to avoid confusion between the terms because they are interpreted differently and can be affected by various factors.
While the MSE is a useful tool for clinical use however, it can be difficult to interpret based on subjective patient reports. It is therefore important to inquire about how patients have been feeling in the last few weeks, rather than relying on physician observation only. A recent study showed that a significant percentage of symptoms, even those that are grouped under the same disorder category, vary between assessment tools. This can be due to the differing emphasis on cognitive, emotional or physical symptoms, as well as differences in the duration and frequency of symptom reporting.
It is possible that the MSE relies on self-reporting which could be biased. For example, a patient who reports anxiety and headaches will likely report less than a patient who reports only an occasional headache. Additionally there is an inclination for patients to minimize negative feelings and overestimate the severity of positive emotions.
Mood and affect can have a direct impact on the thought content. This could affect the way people make decisions, their interpersonal behavior and physical performance. They can be influenced by fatigue, stress social interactions, world events, hormones and weather. A positive mood can increase creativity and mental strength. A mood that is negative can cause confusion and decrease concentration. A thorough and meticulous mental health evaluation must be able to consider both the patient's mood and affect and the underlying factors.
Thought content
One of the most important aspects of a mental health examination is to determine how the patient thinks. Evaluation of thought process and content. Thought process refers the coherence, logic and organization of a patient's thought processes. The normal process of thinking is focused and rational. In many mental health disorders however, thought processing is distorted. Examples include hallucinations, delusions and loose associations.
Insight and judgment are assessed during a mental state test. Insight is the ability to identify 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 schizophrenia and depression. If a patient has impaired judgment or insight, they are at greater chance of harming themselves or others. For instance, if they are in danger of destroying their home and they have a good sense of judgement, it would be wise for them to leave the house immediately. A person with impaired judgment may suggest that they stay in the house to try to get rid of the flame.
The contents of a patient's mind encompasses the subject matter, themes, and beliefs. Examiners will evaluate the clarity, relevance and the content of the 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 conversation subject). They will also provide feedback on the pace at which a person is thinking, for example, if they seem to be more or less fast.
It is also crucial to determine whether the patient's mood matches their environment. For example, a patient who is depressed could hear voices that are hostile and frightening, whereas someone suffering from schizophrenia could have a hallucination of an ethereal and calm voice. Ask the patient if they have any suicidal or homicidal ideas. These are uncommon, but could be life-threatening and should be taken into consideration in every mental health assessment.
Observation
The nurse's ability to observe is vital in the mental assessment. They include a careful examination of appearance, behavior as well as any unusual beliefs or perceptions (such delusions or hallucinations) and mood cognition (including memory, attention, orientation). The nursing mental status exam is also a way of observing the movement. This includes any physical movement, such as eating, drinking, or brushing your teeth.
The observation component of the mental health exam is an essential element of determining if the patient could pose the risk to themselves or others. This is determined by assessing whether or not the patient appears to be moving deliberately in a way that suggests that they are in danger of harming themselves or someone else.
In addition, a detailed thought content assessment is made by observing the patient throughout the interview and determining their preoccupations. It is particularly important to check if the patient is suffering from suicidal or homicidal ideas and to determine if they're having thoughts of delusion.
Global assessment of functioning (GAF), a numerical rating from 0 to 100, evaluates the ability of an individual to function in daily life with their ability of dealing with stressors. The GAF is an important element of the mental state assessment and aids in making the treatment decisions.
It is crucial to realize that observing the behavior of a patient can cause anxiety. It is crucial that the process be conducted in a way that does not provoke or make the patient feel uncomfortable. It is important that the patient be fully aware of the goal of the observation and the duration of the procedure.
Nursing observation is a crucial 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 level of observation. If they cannot come to an agreement with staff, they must be able access an advocate service to represent their interests and aid them in any discussions regarding their treatment. This should be a part of the local policy and practice, with the participation and the support of groups of users.
Questioning
A lot of people are hesitant to talk about their mental health issues, but their family members can often detect if something is not right. They can also encourage the person to get an assessment. These tests can be conducted on a variety of topics that include mood, appearance and the thought process. In addition to these tests, the mental health professional will also ask the individual questions regarding their personal life, including what's been happening lately and what their feelings have been like.
The assessment also includes a cognitive assessment that is focused on the ability of the individual to think clearly and remember information. The test taker may be asked to complete a few basic tasks, such as keeping their attention on an alphabet of words or objects, memorizing simple lists or solving math problems. The test may also test the person's ability to make sound decisions and make good judgments. The test also assesses the patient's insight and understanding of the illness and its effects on them.
The patient's attitude towards himself, others and the illness is also an important part of a mental evaluation. The tone of voice, facial expression, and the body language of a patient can convey anger, depression or a sense of helplessness. It is crucial to determine whether the patient appears to be seeking assistance or is accepting their situation.
In more serious instances an assessment of mental health might include an examination of the patient's mental state that could include hallucinations (false sensory perceptions that do not correspond to real stimuli) or illusions (misperceptions of real stimuli). It is crucial to recognize the presence of these conditions as they can be extremely hazardous and even life-threatening.
In experienced should be holistic and consider the person's connection to their social world. A health professional could use art, music, photos or a range of assessment tools using electronic technology to better understand the person and their unique perspective on the world around them. They should also speak to the person about the difficulties that led them to seek help and reassure them that there is nothing wrong with seeking out a mental health professional.