Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
Mental health assessments typically include a physical exam to rule out physical conditions. This could involve blood tests and urine tests as well as brain scans.
Psychologists also employ a range of tools to evaluate mental health. These range from tests that are written on paper and pen to deep interviews or self-fill postal questionnaires.
Affect and mood
The clinician will first notice the patient's mood and emotional state. They describe a patient's general emotional state. This could vary from joy to sadness or anger and irritability. The effect can be analyzed through facial expressions, general attitude and reaction to external or internal stimuli. smiling at an absurd joke or crying over the loss of a loved one).
Affect is a feeling that is only temporary, whereas mood is a long-lasting emotion. It is usually described as euthymic, or dysphoric or normal (meaning depressed). However, psychiatric professionals should be cautious not to confuse the terms because they have different definitions and are affected by a variety of factors.
The MSE is a helpful tool for diagnosing clinical problems however it is difficult to interpret based on a subjective patient report. It is therefore helpful to ask patients how they have been feeling over the last few weeks, instead of relying solely on the observations of doctors. Recent research showed that the assessment tools differed in their ability to identify a significant part of symptoms. This included the symptoms that were classified under the same disorder. This can be due to the different emphasis on emotional, cognitive or physical symptoms, as and also the different time periods and frequency of reporting symptoms.
It is possible that the MSE is based solely on self-reporting which could be biased. For instance, a patient who complains of anxiety and a headache is likely to report a lower score than a patient who reports only an occasional headache. Patients tend to minimize negative emotions while exaggerating positive feelings.
The mood and the affect of a person can have a direct impact on thought content. This could affect decision-making, interpersonal behavior, and physical function. They are affected by stress, fatigue and social interactions. A positive mood can actually enhance creativity and mental power. A negative mood can cause confusion and lower concentration. Therefore, a thorough and thorough mental health assessment needs to consider the patient's mood and affect as in addition to the underlying causes.
Thought content
Examining the way a patient thinks is one the most important aspects of a mental health examination. Particularly, evaluating thought processes and thought content. The thought process is the coherence, logic, and organization of a patient’s thoughts. Normal thought processes are logical and focused on goals. In a variety of mental health conditions however, thought processing is distorted. Examples include hallucinations, delusions, and loose associations.
mental health assessment london assesses the quality of insight and judgement. Insight is the ability to see that there is a problem, while judgement is the ability to make an informed decision when presented with information. Both can be impaired by several mental health conditions like depression and schizophrenia. Patients with impaired insight or judgement is more prone to harm themselves or others. If they are in danger, their sensible judgement would suggest leaving the premises immediately. A patient with impaired judgement may suggest that they stay in the building to try to get rid of the flame.
Thought content refers to the subject matter, themes and beliefs that a patient holds. Examiners will evaluate the clarity, relevance, and content of thoughts of the patient. They will also note tangential thoughts or circumstantial ones, and when a patient is digressing (digressions away from the subject of the conversation). They will also comment on the pace of a person's thoughts, for instance, whether they seem to be fast or slow.
Other areas to be considered are whether the patient's thoughts are compatible or not in line with their surroundings. A patient with depression might be able to hear angry voices, whereas someone suffering from schizophrenia may experience a hallucination that a soothing voice is speaking. Ask the patient if they are experiencing any suicidal or homicidal thoughts. Although they are not common but they could be life-threatening and should be taken into consideration in every mental health assessment.
Observation
The ability of nurses to observe is essential in the mental assessment. They are a thorough review of appearance, behaviour, any unusual beliefs and perceptions (such as hallucinations or delusions), mood, and aspects of cognition (including attention, orientation, memory). The nursing mental state exam also includes monitoring the movement. This is any physical activity, like eating, drinking or brushing your teeth.
The Observation portion of the mental health examination is essential in determining whether the patient poses a risk to them or others. This is done by assessing whether or not the patient appears to be acting in a manner that suggests that they are about to harm themselves or someone else.
A thorough assessment of the content of thoughts is also done by monitoring the patient during the interview and determining the thoughts and concerns. It is crucial to determine whether the patient is experiencing suicidal, homicidal or delusional thoughts.
Global assessment of functioning (GAF) is which is a numerical score ranging between 0 and 100, measures the capacity of the person to perform in everyday life with their ability of coping with stressors. The GAF is an essential part of the mental state exam and assists in making the treatment decisions.
It is important to recognize that observing the behaviour of a patient can cause distress. It is therefore important to conduct the procedure in a manner that doesn't cause or cause discomfort. It is also crucial that the patient is fully informed about the purpose of the observation and the amount of time it will take.
Nursing observation is a crucial skill that must be a central part of any nursing program. However, it should be remembered that patients may not agree with the degree of observation and if they are unable to reach an agreement with staff then they should be able to access an advocate service that will represent their needs and help patients in any discussions about their treatment. This should be a component of local policy and practice, with the participation and participation of groups of users.
Questioning
Many people are hesitant to discuss their mental health issues, but their family members can often detect if something is not right. They can also help the person to take a look at an assessment. These tests can be a variety of subjects, including mood, appearance and the thought process. A mental health professional can also inquire about the person's private life. They will ask what they've been feeling and what has happened recently.
The assessment also includes a cognitive evaluation that focuses on the ability of the person to think clearly and remember information. The test subject may ask to complete a few basic tasks, such as keeping their attention on the list of objects or words and recollecting lists of basic information or solving math problems. The test may also test the ability of the individual to make sound decisions and use their judgment. The test determines a person's insight which is their understanding of their illness and how it affects them.
The attitude of the patient towards others, himself and the illness is also an important aspect of a mental evaluation. The tone of voice, facial expression, and the body language of a patient may convey anger, depression, or a feeling of powerlessness. It is also important to know whether the patient is seeking help or resigned to living with their illness.
In more serious situations an assessment of mental health might include an assessment of the patient's thinking that may include 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.
In general the mental health assessment should take a holistic approach and consider the person's relationship to their social environment. A health professional may use art, music or photos or any other electronic assessment tool to gain a better understanding of the individual. They should also talk with the person about the issues that have caused them to seek help and reassure them that there is nothing wrong with seeking out a mental health professional.