Module 2 Part 2 Flashcards
What is the purpose of the Mental Status Exam (MSE)?
To assess a patient’s fundamental mental functioning and guide diagnosis and treatment planning
The MSE offers valuable insights into a patient’s mental health.
What does the General Survey assess in a patient?
Appearance, eye contact, motor activity, and demeanor
Example: Noting if a patient is well-groomed or makes consistent eye contact.
How is a patient’s mood evaluated during the MSE?
By assessing their emotional state, such as happiness, sadness, or anxiety.
What does ‘affect’ refer to in the context of the MSE?
The outward expression of mood and its congruence with the stated mood.
Example: A patient expressing sadness while crying.
What memory functions are tested in the MSE?
Immediate and short-term memory recall
Example: Recalling a list of words after 5 minutes.
What is assessed under attention and orientation in the MSE?
Awareness of time, place, person, and situation.
What aspects of speech are observed in the MSE?
Rate, volume, and coherence patterns.
Example: Patients speaking too fast or incoherently.
What do insight and judgment evaluate in the MSE?
Understanding of situations and decision-making ability.
Example: Acknowledging the consequences of skipping medications.
What does intellect assess in the MSE?
General cognitive abilities through vocabulary use or problem-solving skills.
What is the difference between thought content and thought process?
Thought process analyzes how thoughts are organized; thought content refers to the substance of thoughts.
What is tangentiality in thought process?
Responding with irrelevant answers that never reach the main point.
What is circumstantiality in thought process?
Excessively detailed explanations that eventually reach the intended point.
What are examples of thought content?
Delusions, hallucinations, overvalued ideas, obsessions, compulsions, suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation.
What is the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE)?
A cognitive screening tool designed to measure adult competency status and cognitive impairment.
What cognitive domains does the MMSE evaluate?
- Orientation
- Recognition
- Recall
- Attention/calculation
- Language
- Visual construction
What is the maximum score of the MMSE?
30 points.
What MMSE score range indicates no cognitive impairment?
24-30.
What MMSE score range indicates mild delirium/dementia?
20-23.
What MMSE score range indicates moderate delirium/dementia?
10-19.
What MMSE score range indicates severe delirium/dementia?
0-9.
What mnemonic can help remember the MMSE components?
ORRAL 23 RWD.
What is an example of a question in the MMSE for attention/calculation?
Perform serial sevens or count backward from 100.
What is the definition of a therapeutic relationship in nursing?
A mutual, interactive, interpersonal relationship between patient and nurse focusing on the patient’s needs.
What are the key components of therapeutic relationships?
- Genuineness
- Acceptance
- Nonjudgmental attitude
- Authenticity
- Empathy
- Respect