Examples of Mental Status example

Examples of observation detail:

General Appearance

• Well groomed or unkempt?
• What is the person wearing?
• Are clothes appropriate for weather and situation?
• Evidence of psychomotor agitation or retardation? Give examples.

Attitude and Behavior

• Is the person cooperative, irritable, belligerent etc.?
• Is there any indication of malingering or factitious behavior? Explain.

Mood and Affect

• How does the person describe his or her mood?
• Is the person’s affect congruent with the stated mood? Explain.

Content of Thought

• Are there any delusions?
• Is the person suicidal? Homicidal? What leads you do this conclusion?

Stream of Mental Activity

• Is speech normal or tangential or circumstantial? Give Examples.

Orientation

• Is the person oriented times three?

Memory

• Remote—can person remember past events?
• Recent—can person remember 3/3 objects after 5 min?
• Immediate—how well can the person do digit span back and forward?

Fund of Knowledge

• Is the person aware of current events? Give examples.
• Does the person know the names of the president and governor?
• Can the person answer simple geography questions, such as naming bordering states?

Concentration

• Serial 7’s or 3’s? Give person’s response.
• Spell WORLD forward and backward?
• Follow a three step command?
• Difficulty following conversation. Give examples.

Abstract Thinking

• Interpret proverbs? Give examples.

Insight and Judgment

• Does the person have insight into his/her condition?