Mental Health Assessment

Question 1

Tangentiality

Answer 1

Verbalizations that are lengthy and tedious and because of numerous details are delayed or never reach an intended point- answering the question without actually answering the question

Question 2

Concrete Thinking

Answer 2

Thinking is literal; elemental, Absence of ability to think abstractly.

Question 3

Loose Associations

Answer 3

Verbalizations shift from one unrelated topic to another. There is lack of a normal logical relationship between thoughts and ideas that makes speech and thought inexact, vague, and unfocused.

Question 4

Clang Associations

Answer 4

Speaking in puns or rhymes; using words that sound alike but have different meanings.

Question 5

Word Salad

Answer 5

Using a mixture of words that have no meaning together, sounding incoherent

Question 6

Neologisms

Answer 6

The individual is making up nonsensical sounding words, which only have meaning to him or her- can be a blend of other words

Question 7

Perseveration

Answer 7

Persistently repeating the last word of a sentence spoken to the client

Question 8

Pressured Speech

Answer 8

Speech is frenzied and rapid, may be difficult to interpret

Question 9

Mute

Answer 9

Does not speak, either cannot or does not

Question 10

Flight of Ideas

Answer 10

Verbalizations are continuous and rapid and flow from one to another. The patients thoughts come so quickly, they cannot completely express one thought before beginning another

Question 11

Poverty Of Speech

Answer 11

minimal speech, restricted, brief, unelaborated responses

Question 12

Echolalia

Answer 12

Persistently repeating what another person says

Question 13

Tangentiality Example

Answer 13

Nurse: “What did you get at the store?”
Patient: “I needed apples, the first apple was red and had a slight
bruise, so I put it back. You don’t want bruised apples; they can
get mushy. The next apple was green and felt a little too firm
which makes it too tart. Tart apples aren’t good to make a pie.
The next apple was red, like the first. It didn’t have any bruises,
but it was missing its stem which just makes it look weird. Since
the other apples weren’t good, I got the last apple I picked up.”

Question 14

Poverty of speech Example

Answer 14

Speaks very little, one word responses, may be monotone

Question 15

Concrete Thinking Example

Answer 15

Patient: “If I throw a stone at a glass house, the glass will break”

Question 16

Pressured Speech Example

Answer 16

Patient: Loudly, quickly, and emphatically proclaims, “I LOVE
shopping! IT’s my favorite hobby, to buy things, pretty things,
sparkling things, can wear them everywhere! I feel like a
princess!”

Question 17

Mute Example

Answer 17

The patient does not or cannot speak

Question 18

Perseveration Example

Answer 18

Nurse: “Hi Tim, it’s time for your meds.”
Patient: “meds, meds, meds, meds, meds……”

Question 19

Echolalia Example

Answer 19

Nurse: “Good morning, Ella.”
Patient: “Good morning, Ella.”

Question 20

Loose Association Example

Answer 20

Nurse: “Were you a soldier in WWII?”
Patient: “You know, you have to be careful of the Germans
because they are friends with the Swiss and they have all the
cheese and all the watches and that means they have taken all the
time. The worst thing about Swiss cheese is all the holes. People
have to be careful about falling into holes.”

Question 21

Neologisms Example

Answer 21

Patient states, “When I get out of the hospital, I’m going to buy a
sprogle. Everyone should have a sprogle

Question 22

Clang Association Example

Answer 22

Patient states, “I will take a pill if I go up the hill, but not if my
name is Jill because I may spill the still”

Question 23

Flight of Ideas Example

Answer 23

Patient: The sky is pretty. I love blue eyes! My eyes are green.
There is water everywhere. Did you see the bird? I like animals.
Can we go to the zoo? Maybe it will rain today.”

Question 24

Word Salad Example

Answer 24

Patient: “Because make a twirl in my elephant, my box is broken,
help me purple dinosaur. It may taco brave, I like neutrons, hi..”