mental health and cognitive assessment Flashcards
(20 cards)
mental health
state of wellbeing in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community
important characteristics of mental health
Interpret reality accurately
Have a health self-concepts
Are able to relate to others
Achieve a sense of meaning in life
Demonstrate creativity/productivity
Have control over their behaviour
Adapt to change and conflict
mental health continuum
a person can experience good mental health while living with a severe mental health disorder
symptoms to mental health
Decreased emotional expression
Self-concept changes
Depressed mood
Occupational problems
Decreased motivation
Insomnia
Nervousness
Disorganized thoughts
when symptoms last for an extended time period (at least 2 weeks) and interfere with normal, everyday functioning, that is when it can become a sign of mental illness
what are the potential inspection findings of depression
closed posture
Flat or sad affect
Poor personal hygiene
Lack of eye contact
Negative thinking
Monotone voice
emotion/ mood vs affect
emotion/mood: how the patient reports they feel
affect: the observable expression of an individuals emotional state as seen through facial expression, body language and tone of voice
mental health screening tools
PHQ-9
GAD - 7
CAGE questionaire
PHQ - 9
used for screening, monitoring and measuring the severity of depression
GAD - 7
questionnaire designed to assess the severity of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms
CAGE
used to test for alcohol use disorder in adults
When to screen/assess for cognition
When client is over the age of 80 yrs
When client presents with a change in behavior or mood
After a client has a stroke
After treatment for delirium/depression
New difficulties with driving (near misses)
what is dementia
- Refers to a large class of disorders characterized by the progressive deterioration of thinking ability and memory as the brain becomes damaged, with no change in consciousness
- Dementia is a set of symptoms which influences memory, understanding and judgement
DSM V - Alzheimer’s Disease
Most common type of dementia
- Gradual onset and continual decline of cognitive function
- Cognitive deficits cause significant impairment in social or occupational functioning
Inclusive criteria
- Corroborated history from caregiver
- Progressive cognitive decline
- Personality changes
- Normal motor, sensory and visual function - early stage
- Absence of focal neurological symptoms or signs (paralysis)
what is an IADL
instrumental activities of daily living
more complex activities that are related to independent living
ex: to drive
what are ADLs
activities of daily living
basic activities that allow people to care for themselves
ex: to feed themselves
what is delirium
due to a cause → once cause fixed, patient goes back to normal
Develops abruptly
Duration usually brief
Impaired attention
Fluctuating, altered level of consciousness
Incoherent or disorganized speech
dementia
Develops slowly
Does not remit although may fluctuate
Normal attention except severe cases
Normal level of consciousness (alert)
Speech is ordered although patient may be anomic or aphasic
Mini mental state examination (MMSE)
One of the first tools developed to assess cognitive function
Less frequently used today
Tests numerous aspects of cognition (ability to recall information, attention, etc.)
Testable → Ex: tests for recall by asking patients to name 3 common objects and then repeat the names of those objects and then repeat the names of those objects later in the assessment
mini-cog
Quick and initial screen for cognitive impairment
Useful in determining when further assessments may be required
Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA)
Highly sensitive (accurate) tool for early detection of mild cognitive impairment
