cordcolor96

Mental Health Nursing – Assessing Mental Health Mental health assessments often involve a physical examination, to rule out physical problems. This could involve blood tests or urine tests, as well as brain scans. Psychologists employ a variety of tools for assessing mental health. These range from tests that are written on paper and pen to in-depth interviews or self-complete postal questionnaires. Mood and affect The affect and mood are the most significant elements of the mental state examination (MSE) and are the first to be observed by the doctor. They describe the patient's general emotional tone that can range from happiness to sadness, or anger to anger. The patient's mood can be measured through facial expressions, overall behavior and reaction to internal or external stimuli. smiling at a joke or crying at the loss of a loved one). Affect is an emotion that is only temporary, whereas mood is a long-lasting emotion. It is typically described as euthymic, or normal, or dysphoric (meaning depressed). Psychiatric professionals should be careful to avoid confusion between the terms because they are defined differently and are affected by many factors. The MSE is a helpful tool for diagnosing clinical problems however, it can be difficult to interpret based on an individual patient's report. Inquiring about the feelings of patients during the past few weeks is more effective than relying solely on observations from a physician. Recent research has revealed that assessment instruments differed in their capacity to detect a substantial part of symptoms. This included the symptoms that were classified under the same disorder. This could be due the differing emphasis on cognitive, emotional or physical symptoms, as along with differences in time periods and frequency of symptom reporting. It is possible that the MSE relies on self-reporting, which can be biased. For instance, a patient who describes experiencing anxiety and a headache will likely report less than someone who has only a headache. In addition there is a tendency for patients to minimize negative emotions and overestimate the severity of positive feelings. Mood and affect have a direct impact on the content of thoughts which influences the way we make decisions, our interpersonal behavior and physical performance. They are influenced by fatigue, stress, social interactions, global events, hormones and the weather. In fact, a positive mood has been proven to boost the ability to think and be creative. A mood that is negative can cause confusion and lower concentration. A thorough and careful mental health evaluation must be able to consider the patient's mood and affect, as well as other factors. Thought content One of the most essential aspects of a mental health examination is to determine how the patient thinks. Evaluation of the thought process and its content. The thought process is the coherence, logic, and organization of a patient’s thoughts. The normal process of thinking is objective-oriented and logical. Thought processing can be altered when a person suffers from mental health issues. Examples include delusions, hallucinations and loose associations. Insight and judgement are assessed in a mental status exam. Insight is the ability to see the presence of a problem, while judgement is the ability to make an informed decision when presented with information. Both can be impaired by various mental health conditions such as depression and schizophrenia. A person who isn't able to see or judgement is more likely to harm themselves or others. If they are in danger, their rational judgment would advise them to leave the home immediately. A patient with impaired judgement might suggest they stay in the house to try to get rid of the flame. The contents of a patient's mind includes the subject matter, themes and beliefs. Typically, examiners discuss the clarity, connection and quality of a patient's thought. They will take note of any thoughts that are circumstantial or tangential and also whether the patient has flights of thoughts (digressions from the topic of conversation). They will also make comments on the pace at which a person is thinking, such as whether they seem to be faster or slower. Other important aspects to consider are whether the patient's thoughts are mood congruent or incongruent with their environment. For example, a patient who is depressed might hear voices that sound hostile and frightening, whereas those suffering from schizophrenia may experience a hallucination of a calm and soothing voice. A patient should also be asked about any homicidal or suicidal thoughts. Although they are not common but they could be life-threatening and should be considered in every mental health assessment. Observation A nurse's observation skills are crucial in an assessment of mental health. They are a thorough review of appearance, behaviour as well as any unusual beliefs or perceptions (such as hallucinations or delusions) mood, and aspects of cognition (including attention to the environment, orientation memory). The nursing mental state exam is also a way of monitoring motility. This includes any physical movement, like eating, drinking or brushing teeth. The Observation component of the mental state exam is an essential element of determining if the patient is posing the risk to themselves or others. This is accomplished by determining whether the patient appears to be acting in a manner that suggests they are in danger of harming themselves or anyone else. A detailed assessment of the content of thoughts is also accomplished by observing the patient during the interview and determining their preoccupations. It is crucial to determine whether the patient is experiencing suicidal, homicidal, or delusional thoughts. Global assessment of functioning (GAF) which is an assessment of functioning in numerical form, ranging from 0 to 100, evaluates the ability of a person to function in daily life with their ability of dealing with stressors. The GAF is an important part of the mental status examination and helps to guide treatment decisions. It is important to recognize that observing the behaviour of a patient can cause distress. Therefore, it is essential to conduct the procedure in a manner that does not provoke or make the patient feel uncomfortable. It is crucial that the patient be fully informed of the purpose of the observations and the length of the procedure. Nursing observation is an essential skill that should be a central part of any nursing process. However, it should be kept in mind that patients could be dissatisfied with the quality of observation. If they are unable to reach an agreement with staff then they should be able to access an advocate service which can represent their needs and help patients in any discussions about their treatment. This should be an integral part of local observation policy and practice with the involvement of user groups, to ensure that patients are a part in the creation of written information and staff training for this aspect of clinical governance. Questioning Many people have a difficult time talking about their mental health issues, but loved ones can often notice the signs that something is not right. They can also help the person to get an assessment. These assessments be a variety of topics such as mood, appearance and thought process. In private psychology assessment to these tests, a mental health professional will also ask the individual questions about their personal life, such as what's been happening lately and what their feelings have been like. The test consists of an evaluation of the cognitive capacity that focuses on a person's ability think clearly and retain information. The person may be asked to complete simple tasks, like focusing their attention on an alphabet of words or objects as well as storing lists and lists for solving math problems. The test can be used to test the person's judgment and ability to make informed choices. The test determines a person's perception, which is their knowledge of their illness and how it affects them. Another important component of a mental health assessment is the patient's attitude towards others, himself and his illness. The patient's expression, facial expression and body language can indicate hostility, anger depression or a feeling of powerlessness. It is important to observe whether the patient seems to be asking for help or accepting their condition. In more serious situations the evaluation of mental health could include a look at the patient's mental state, which may involve illusions or hallucinations. It is vital to be aware of the presence of these conditions as they can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening. In general, a mental health assessment should be holistic and look at the person's connection to their social world. A health professional can use photographs, music, art or any other electronic assessment tool to better understand the individual. They should also talk with the person about the challenges that led them to seek help and reassure them that there is nothing wrong with seeking out an expert in mental health.