MENTAL STATUS EXAMINATION

PREPARED BY
MRS. SIVAGIRI P
 INTRODUCATION
• Mental status examination is a standardised
format in which the clinician records the
psychiatric signs and symptoms present at the
time of interview. It explores all the areas of
mental functioning and denotes evidence of
signs and symptoms of mental illness. Data are
gathered for the mental status examination
throughout the interview from the initial
moments of the interaction.
 Cont..
• Most of the information does not require
direct questioning, and the information
gathered from observation may give a clinician
a different data set than patient responses.
Some areas, however, may deserve more
emphasis according to the clinical impressions
that may arise from the history; example
mood and affect in depression and cognitive
functions in delirium and dementia.
 DEFINITION OF MSE
A mental status examination is an assessment of
a patient’s level of cognitive (knowledge
related) ability, appearance, emotional, mood,
speech and thought patterns at the time of
evaluation.
 PUROPSE OF MSE
• Provide information for diagnosis and
assessment of disorder and response to
treatment.
• To obtain a comprehensive cross sectional
description of the patients mental state.
• To obtain evidence of sign and symptoms of
mental disorders, it including danger to self
and oters.
 Cont..
• To inform decision about treatment strategy
and the choice of an appropriate treatment
setting.
• To get information on the patients insight,
judgement and capacity for abstract
reasoning.
• A mental status exam provides a snapshot at a
point in time.
 THEORETICAL FOUNDATION
• The MSE derives from an approach to psychiatry
known as descriptive psychopathology or
descriptive phenomenology, which developed
from the work of the philosopher and
psychiatrist karl jaspers. From jaspers
perspective it was assumed that the only way to
comprehend a patients experience is through
his or her own description as distinct from an
interpretive or psychoanalytic.
REFERENCES:
1.Ahuja N.A Short Textbook of Psychiatry. 7th Edition. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd.
2011Page 10-5
2.Townsend MC. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Concept of care in Evidenced- based
Practice. 8th Edition. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd. 2015 page 871-4
3.Sreevani R. A guide to mental health and psychiatric Nursing. 4 th Edition. Jaypee Brothers
Medical Publishers (P) Ltd. 2018 page 91
4.Sadock BJ, Sadock VA, Ruiz Pedro. Kaplan &Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry. 11th edition.
Wolters Kluwer (India) Pvt Ltd, New Delhi.2017. Page 201-3
5.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_status_examination