The Psychiatric Mental Status Examination

Developed from years of teaching psychiatry to medical students and residents, this comprehensive text devoted solely to describing the mental status examination (MSE) fills a void in the teaching literature and will be valuable to both students first learning about the MSE and seasoned clinicians seeking an informative reference. The introductory chapter offers basic advice on interviewing patients and eliciting information. Six major sections of the MSE follow and are thoroughly described with a chapter devoted to each: Appearance, Attitude, Activity; Mood and Affect; Speech and Language; Thought Content, Thought Process, and Perception; Cognition; and Insight and Judgment. Each chapter lists a detailed definition of reference for students describing their findings, and are an insightful review even for experienced practitioners. The clinical relevance of mental status abnormalities is illustrated through frequent examples of disorders that can cause the particular signs and symptoms defined in each chapter. A final chapter describing fictional case histories with hypothetical examples of written mental status reports will be particularly useful for those learning to write such reports. This text is an important addition to the libraries of students and practitioners who work with psychiatric patients and should help to simplify and organize a challenging task.

Psychiatric mental status examinations are part of the job of nurses, physicians, and many others in the field of mental health and addictions. In this highly accessible guide, Cheryl Webster Pollard introduces students and beginning practitioners to the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct a comprehensive examination. Fundamentals of the Psychiatric Mental Status Examination is an interactive workbook containing case studies, activities, and study questions to guide students through the process of administering the examination and documenting the information. Each chapter explores a distinct aspect of the assessment, allowing readers to focus on key areas of interest. Students will learn how to assess for potential psychopathology, psychosis, and suicidal or homicidal ideation, and will examine unique cultural and age considerations that may affect individual experiences. Well-suited to a wide range of disciplines, including health, nursing, social work, and occupational therapy, this workbook’s practical approach and rich pedagogical content make it an ideal resource for new and aspiring practitioners in these fields.

The Neuropsychiatric Mental Status Examination is a guidebook for clinical psychiatric diagnosis. The title introduces the language, technique and concepts of the phenomenology. The first part of the text covers the basic phenomenology principles; the major areas of concern in mental health diagnosis; methodology for effective diagnosis of mental pathology. Part II elaborates the topics in Part I; this part develops and reinforces the techniques, phenomenological principles of diagnosis, diagnostic criteria. The second part also presents data which aid in the delineation of metal disorders. The book will be of great interest to students of behavioral science related degrees. The text will also serve professional psychologists and psychiatrists as a reference.

The ability to effectively assess cognitive and other behavioral functions is an essential skill for neurologists, psychiatrists, geriatricians, nurses, and other clinicians who perform clinic and bedside examinations. Unique in the field, The Mental Status Examination Handbook is a user-friendly, comprehensive resource that provides practical guidance on cognitive assessment, clarifies mental status testing procedures, and assists with decision making for neuropsychological referrals. This detailed manual draws from the full history of behavioral neurology testing, making the complex and challenging area of cognitive assessment accessible for both students and practitioners. Offers guidance on how to choose and perform a large number of mental status tests, with information on selected test materials and normative values. Covers the bedside evaluation of arousal, attention, memory, language, perception, executive abilities, and other cognitive and behavioral areas. Provides an authoritative assessment and compendium of commonly used mental status scales, inventories and questionnaires. Describes relevant correlations with formal neuropsychological testing, neuroimaging, and neuropsychiatric disease. Explains how to weigh, use, and understand mental status scales and neuropsychological instruments. Discusses the meaning of cognitive symptoms and signs, and their neuroanatomical and neuropathological correlations.

Contains case studies.

"Nurses, physicians, occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, and many other professionals who work in the area of mental health and addictions complete mental status examinations as part of their job. Written at an introductory level, this practical and highly accessible workbook assists students and beginning practitioners in gaining the skills and knowledge needed to conduct a comprehensive psychiatric mental status exam. The varied selection of pedagogy--including case studies, activities, chapter glossaries, and study questions--reinforces the terms and concepts related to the key assessment areas. Functioning as a distinct unit, each chapter allows readers to pick and choose relevant material and lays the groundwork to help clinicians effectively assess for potential psychopathology, suicidal or homicidal ideation, and psychosis. This workbook breaks down the psychiatric mental status examination into manageable pieces that are more easily digested by the reader, and discussion questions relate specifically to unique cultural and age considerations."--