At times you may need to assess the client's mental status through the observations of others who are close to them. Your clients may not always be able to tell you much about past events or functioning, and you will need to turn to others for that information.

It is a description of clinical observations of a patient's current emotional state and mental functioning. Much of the information is obtained in the course of the interview through informal observation. There are aspects that need formal questioning.

The mental status examination describes the sum total of the examiner’s observations and impressions of the psychiatric patient at the time of the interview. Whereas the patient's history remains stable, the patient's mental status can change from day to day or hour to hour.

• Vigilant, alert, drowsy, lethargic, stuporous, asleep, comatose, confused, fluctuating. • “What is your full name?” • “Where are we at (floor, building, city, county, and state)?” • “What is the full date today (date, month, year, day of the week, and season of the year)?” • “How would you describe the situation we are in?” VI.

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The mental status examination (MSE) is a component of all medical exams and may be viewed as the psychological equivalent of the physical exam. It is especially important in neurologic and psychiatric evaluations. The purpose is to evaluate, quantitatively and qualitatively, a range of mental functions and behaviors at a specific point in time.

How does your patient look? Consider their age, gender, ethnicity, body habitus, outfit, hygiene or evidence of self-harm. How is your patient behaving? Consider their eye movements, body posture and movement, demeanor and co-operation. How is your patient moving? Consider presence of psychomotor agitation or retardation.

The Mental Status Exam (MSE) is a standard part of any psychiatric interview. It is a description of clinical observations of a patient's current emotional state and mental functioning.

Proprietary and open-source clinical examination tools are available, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Mini-Cog. Physician judgment is necessary in selecting the most...

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