Mental Health Nursing - Assessing Mental Health
Mental health assessments usually involve a physical examination, to rule out physical ailments. This may include blood tests and urine tests as well as brain scans.
Psychologists also employ a array of tools to measure mental health. These range from pen and paper test forms to in-depth interviews or self-complete questionnaires sent to you by post.
Affect and mood
Mood and affect are among the most important elements of the mental state examination (MSE) and are the first things to be observed by a clinician. They are the most accurate indicators of a patient's emotional tone. This can be anything from sadness to happiness or anger and irritability. The affect can be assessed through facial expressions, overall behavior and response to external or internal stimuli. smiling at the joke or crying over the loss of a loved one).
Affect is a feeling that is temporary, while mood is a state of constant emotion. It is usually described as being either euthymic (normal) or dysphoric, which translates to depressed. Professionals in psychiatry must be careful to avoid confusion between the terms, as they are interpreted differently and are affected by various factors.
The MSE is a helpful tool for diagnosing clinical problems, but it is difficult to interpret based on a subjective patient report. It is therefore important to inquire about how patients have felt over the past few weeks, rather than using only the observation of a physician. A recent study showed that a significant percentage of symptoms, even those grouped together within the same disorder category, differ between assessment tools. This could be due to the different emphasis on cognitive, emotional or physical symptoms, as well as differences in duration and frequency of reporting symptoms.
It is possible that the MSE is based on self-reporting, which may be prone to bias. For instance, a patient who reports a headache and anxiety will likely report an lower score than a person who describes only the sensation of a headache. Furthermore there is an inclination for patients to minimize negative feelings and overestimate the severity of positive feelings.
Mood and affect can have an impact on the content of thought. This can impact the way we make decisions, our interpersonal behavior, and physical performance. They are affected by fatigue, stress and social interactions. A positive mood can boost creativity and mental energy. A negative mood can cause confusion and decrease concentration. Therefore, a thorough and thorough mental health assessment is required to consider the patient's current mood and state of mind as in addition to the underlying causes.
Thought content
The ability to determine how a patient thinks is one the most important aspects of a mental state examination. Assessment of the thought process and its content. The thought process is the coherence, logic and structure of a patient's thoughts. Normal thought processes are logical and goal-oriented. Thought processing may be altered when a person suffers from mental health issues. Examples include hallucinations, delusions, and loose associations.
A mental state examination also evaluates insight and judgement. Insight is being able to recognize a problem. Judgement is the process of making a well-considered decision after receiving information. Both can be impaired by various mental health conditions such as depression and schizophrenia. If a patient is impaired in judgment and/or insight is at a higher risk of causing harm to themselves or others. For instance, if they are in danger of burning their home down and they have a good sense of judgement, it would be wise for them to leave the building immediately. However, a person with impaired judgment may recommend staying in the house and trying to put the fire out.
The contents of a patient's mind encompasses their subject matter, themes and beliefs. Typically, examiners discuss the clarity, relatedness and content of a patient's thought. They will be able to identify tangential ideas or circumstantial ones, as well as in the event that the patient's thoughts diverge (digressions away from the topic of the conversation). They will also comment on the speed of someone's thoughts, such as whether they seem fast or slow.
It is also crucial to determine if the patient's mood is similar to their environment. Patients suffering from depression may be able to hear angry voices, whereas those 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. These are uncommon, but could be life-threatening and should be taken into consideration in every mental health evaluation.
Observation
Nurses' observation skills are crucial in an assessment of mental health. They include a careful examination of behavior, appearance, any unusual beliefs or perceptions (such hallucinations or delusions), mood, and cognition (including memory, attention, orientation). A mental health assessment for nursing also incorporates observation of mobility, which includes any physical movement such as eating, drinking, brushing teeth using the toilet and taking off shoes.
The Observation element of the mental health examination is a crucial aspect of determining whether or not a patient may pose the risk to themselves or others. This is accomplished by determining whether the patient is moving in a way which suggests they are in danger of harming themselves or someone else.
A detailed evaluation of the thought-based content is also done by monitoring the patient during the interview and determining their concerns. It is crucial to check if the patient is suffering from suicidal or homicidal thoughts and to determine if they are experiencing thoughts of delusion.
Global assessment of functioning (GAF) is an assessment of functioning in numerical form, ranging from 0 to 100, measures the capacity of a person to function in daily life with their ability of coping with stressors. The GAF is a vital component of the mental health examination and helps to guide treatment decisions.
It is important to be aware that observing a patient's behaviour can cause anxiety and it is essential that the process is conducted in a manner that doesn't provoke the patient and doesn't feel intrusive. It is important that the patient is informed of the purpose of the observations and the duration of the procedure.
Nursing observation is an important ability and should be a central element of the nursing process. It is important to remember that patients can disagree with staff about the degree of observation. If they are unable to reach a consensus with staff, they should be able to use an advocate service to represent their interests and aid them in any discussions regarding their care. This should be a component of the local policy and practice, with the participation and support of user groups.
Questioning
Many people are hesitant to discuss their mental health issues, but family members can often tell when something is amiss. They can also urge the person to take a look at an assessment. These tests can cover a wide range of subjects, including mood, appearance and the thought process. A mental health professional can also ask questions about the person's personal life. They will ask what they feel and what has happened recently.
The test consists of an assessment of cognitive ability that focuses on a person's ability to think clearly and retain information. The person may be required to complete basic tasks, such as paying attention to a list of objects, memorizing lists or completing math problems. The test can also be used to check the person's judgment and ability to make good choices. The test measures a patient's insight which is their understanding of their condition and how it affects them.
Another important component of the mental health assessment is the patient's attitude towards other people, himself and the illness. The patient's expression, facial expression and body language can convey hostility, anger, depression or a sense of powerlessness. It is important to check whether the patient appears be asking for help or accepting their situation.
In more serious instances the evaluation of mental health may include a thorough examination of the patient's thoughts which could include illusions or hallucinations. mental assessments is vital to be aware of the presence of these disorders because they can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening.
A mental health assessment must be comprehensive and look at the person's interactions to their world. A health professional could use art, music, photos or a range of assessment tools that are electronic to better understand the person and their unique view of the world around them. They should also talk with the person about the challenges that have caused them to seek assistance and reassure them that there is nothing wrong with visiting an expert in mental health.