NR548 VERIFIED WEEK 3 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Mental Status Exam (MSE)
-best tool for establishing a psychiatric diagnosis
-combination of observations, impressions, & interpretation of client responses
-Eval of patients:
• appearance
• behavior
• speech
• affect
• thought process
• thought content
• cognition
mental health
"a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can
cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to
make a contribution to her or his community"
mental status
-refers to emotional (feeling) and cognitive (knowing) function
-functioning is inferred through assessment of an individual's behaviors:
• consciousness
• language
• mood and affect
• orientation
• attention
• memory
• abstract reasoning
• thought process
• thought content
• perceptions
Factors that affect the interpretation of the MSE
, culture
native language
educational level
literacy
social factors
MSE: Appearance
-posture
-dress
-grooming
-physical appearance
• distinguishable markings; scars or tattoos
-facial expressions
level of alertness
-attitudes
-Self-esteem
-Personal statement
MSE: Behavior
how the client presents themselves during the examination
-eye contact
-psychomotor activity
• increased or decreased
-movements
-mannerisms
-stereotypies
-posturing
-how the client responds to the exam
• responses appropriate to topics?
• sit still through exam?
-gait
-movements
• coordinated, slowed, excessive
ANSWERS
Mental Status Exam (MSE)
-best tool for establishing a psychiatric diagnosis
-combination of observations, impressions, & interpretation of client responses
-Eval of patients:
• appearance
• behavior
• speech
• affect
• thought process
• thought content
• cognition
mental health
"a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can
cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to
make a contribution to her or his community"
mental status
-refers to emotional (feeling) and cognitive (knowing) function
-functioning is inferred through assessment of an individual's behaviors:
• consciousness
• language
• mood and affect
• orientation
• attention
• memory
• abstract reasoning
• thought process
• thought content
• perceptions
Factors that affect the interpretation of the MSE
, culture
native language
educational level
literacy
social factors
MSE: Appearance
-posture
-dress
-grooming
-physical appearance
• distinguishable markings; scars or tattoos
-facial expressions
level of alertness
-attitudes
-Self-esteem
-Personal statement
MSE: Behavior
how the client presents themselves during the examination
-eye contact
-psychomotor activity
• increased or decreased
-movements
-mannerisms
-stereotypies
-posturing
-how the client responds to the exam
• responses appropriate to topics?
• sit still through exam?
-gait
-movements
• coordinated, slowed, excessive
