Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
23 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Define mental status.
|
Mental status is a person's emotional and cognitive function. (Feeling and Knowing Functions)
|
|
|
What can cause a change in mental status?
|
Traumatic life events.
|
|
|
What do mental status assessments do?
|
They can identify remaining strengths and can help the individual mobilize resources and use coping skills.
|
|
|
What is a mental disorder?
|
a significant behavioral or psychological pattern that is associated with distress (a painful symptom) or disability (impaired functioning) and has a significant risk of pain, disability, or death or a loss of freedom.
|
|
|
Mental disorders are broken down into two types. What is an organic disorder?
|
These are due to brain disease of known specific organic causes, eg; delirium, alcohol and drug intoxication, dementia.
|
|
|
What are psychiatric mental illnesses?
|
Illnesses in which an etiology has not yet been established.
|
|
|
What do mental status assessments do?
|
They document a dysfunction and determines how that dysfunction affects self-care in everyday life.
|
|
|
Since mental status cannot be scrutinized like the characteristics of skin and heart, how do we assess it?
|
It's functioning is inferred through assessment of an individuals behavior.
|
|
|
Define consciousness.
|
An asset of individual behavior that is assessed. This refers to you being aware of your own existence, feelings, thoughts and aware of your environment.
|
|
|
Define Language.
|
As asset of individual behavior that is assessed. This refers to using the voice to communicate one's thoughts and feelings.
|
|
|
Define mood and affect.
|
This is an area of behavior that is assessed of a individual. Both of these elements deal with prevailing feelings.
|
|
|
Define orientation.
|
An area of behavior that is assessed. The awareness of the objective world in relation to oneself.
|
|
|
When will you typically use the mental status examination?
|
Rarely ever in its entirity, but it is useful to integrate the mental health exam into the health history interview.
|
|
|
When should you absolutely perform a full mental status examination?
|
-Patients screening suggest anxiety or depression
-Family members are concerned about patient having memory loss or behavioral changes such as inappropriate social interaction -Brain lesions -Aphasia -Symptoms of psychiatric mental illness, especially with acute onset. |
|
|
What are some factors from the health history that could affect your interpretations of the findings?
|
- Any known illnesses or health problems, such as alcoholism or chronic renal disease
- Current medications -The usual educational and behavioral level -Current stress, social interaction patterns, sleep habits, drug and alcohol abuse |
|
|
What are the four main components of the mental status assessment?
|
Appearance
Behavior Cognition Thought Processes |
|
|
Name the aspects of appearance rated.
|
Posture
Body Movements Dress Grooming and Hygiene |
|
|
Name the aspects of behavior that are rated.
|
Level of Consciousness
Facial Expression Speech Mood and Affect |
|
|
Name the aspects of Cognitive Functions that are rated.
|
Orientation-asking about their address, phone number, date, identity
Attention Span Recent Memory-recalling a 24 hour diet Remote Memory |
|
|
What are some additional tests for a person with aphasia?
|
Word Comprehension
Reading Writing |
|
|
What are some aspects of Thought Processes and Perceptions that are rated?
|
Thought Processes- does the person make sense
Thought Content-Is what theyre saying logical? Perceptions-is the person aware of reality? Screen for Anxiety- Use to GAD Scale Screen for Depression-Ask them in the past two weeks have you felt "down, depressed, or hopeless," Screen for suicidal thoughts-Ask them if they have thoughts or hurting themself |
|
|
What is the MMSE?
|
Mini-Mental-Status-Examination is a simplified scored form of the cognitive functions or the mental status examination.
|
|
|
What are some factors to consider when doing a mental status assessment on older adults?
|
Check sensory status, because those can be misinterpreted as being confused.
For Level of Consciousness- use to Glassglow Coma Scale, it gives numerical value to the person's response in eye-opening, best verbal response, and best motor response. Orientation-you may consider an elderly person oriented if they know generally where they are. New Learning- an age related decline occurs in performance on the four-related words. |
