EXAMINATION

Perform the mental status examination throughout the patient interaction. Focus on the individual’s alertness, orientation, mood, and cognition or complex mental processes (learning, perceiving, decision-making, and memory). Interview a family member or friend if you have any concerns about the patient’s responses or behaviors.

Use a mental status screening examination for health visits when no cognitive, emotional, or behavioral problems are apparent. Information is generally observed during the history in the following areas:

Appearance and behavior	Emotional stability
Grooming	Mood and feelings
Emotional status	Thought process and content
Body language
Cognitive abilities	Speech and language
State of consciousness	Voice quality
Memory	Articulation
Attention span	Comprehension
Judgment	Coherence
	Ability to communicate

TECHNIQUE	FINDINGS
MENTAL STATUS AND SPEECH PATTERNS
Observe physical appearance and behavior
Grooming	UNEXPECTED:Poor hygiene; lack of concern with appearance; or inappropriate dress for season, gender, or occasion in previously well-groomed patient.
Emotional status	EXPECTED:Patient expresses concern appropriate for emotional content of topics discussed.
Emotional status	UNEXPECTED:Behavior conveys carelessness, apathy, loss of sympathetic reactions, unusual docility, rage reactions, agitation, or excessive irritability.
Body language	EXPECTED:Erect posture and eye contact (if culturally appropriate).
Body language	UNEXPECTED:Slumped posture, lack of facial expression, excessively energetic movements, or constantly watchful eyes.
State of consciousness	EXPECTED:Oriented to person, place, and time; appropriate responses to questions and environmental stimuli.
State of consciousness	UNEXPECTED:Disoriented to time, place, or person. Verbal response is confused, incoherent, or inappropriate, or there is no verbal response.
Investigate cognitive abilities
Mini-Cog Ask patient to remember and immediately repeat three unrelated words (e.g., red, plate, and milk). Ask patient to draw a clock face with numbers, then to place hands pointing to a specific time requested. Ask the patient to repeat the three words. (Borson et al, 2000)	EXPECTED:All three words are remembered, and the clock face has all numbers in proper position and hands pointing to the requested time; or the clock face is normal and one or two words are recalled.
	UNEXPECTED:Clock face is not normal; words cannot be recalled. May indicate dementia.
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)* Use this examination to quantify cognitive function or document changes.	EXPECTED:Score of 21 to 30. UNEXPECTED:Score of 20 or less.
Set test Use this test to evaluate mental status as a whole (motivation, alertness, concentration, short-term memory, problem solving). Ask patient to name 10 items in each of four groups: fruit, animals, colors, towns or cities. Give each item 1 point for a maximum of 40 points.	EXPECTED:Able to categorize, count, remember items listed. Score of 25 or more points. UNEXPECTED:Score less than 15 points. Check for mental changes or cultural, educational, or social factors when score is 15 to 24.
Analogies Ask patient to describe analogies: first simple, then more complex. • What is similar about peaches and lemons, oceans and lakes, trumpet and flute? • An engine is to an airplane as an oar is to a _____? • What is different about a magazine and a telephone book, or a bush and a tree?	EXPECTED:Correct responses when patient has average intelligence. UNEXPECTED:Unable to describe similarities or differences.
Abstract reasoning Ask patient to explain meaning of fable, proverb, or metaphor. • A stitch in time saves nine. • A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. • A rolling stone gathers no moss.	EXPECTED:Adequate interpretation when patient has average intelligence. UNEXPECTED:Unable to give adequate explanation.
Arithmetic calculations Ask patient to perform simple calculations without paper and pencil. • 50 − 7, − 7, − 7, etc., until answer is 8. • 50 + 8, + 8, + 8, etc., until answer is 98. Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue Share this: Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Like this: Like Loading... Related Related posts: The Healthy Female Evaluation Reporting and Recording Lymphatic System Eyes Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel Tags: Mosby's Physical Examination Handbook Mar 25, 2017 \| Posted by admin in PHYSIOLOGY \| Comments Off on Mental Status Full access? Get Clinical Tree Get Clinical Tree app for offline access Get Clinical Tree app for offline access