Mental State Exam

In terms of a clinical consultation: [blank_start]History[blank_end] = A patient's account of events [blank_start]Mental State Exam[blank_end] = An objective assessment based on observation

Although most of it is done as part of the history, the Mental State Exam does have a recommended structure. What is the normal order in which a Mental State Exam is conducted? [blank_start]Appearance & Behaviour[blank_end] [blank_start]Speech[blank_end] [blank_start]Mood & Affect[blank_end] [blank_start]Thoughts (control & content)[blank_end] [blank_start]Perception[blank_end] [blank_start]Cognition[blank_end] [blank_start]Insight[blank_end]

Of the following options, which 4 could be assessed as part of the 'Behaviour' section of the MSE?

What is the definition of disinhibition?

Difference between mood & affect: [blank_start]Mood[blank_end] = How the patient feels in themselves today - doctors usually quote what they say [blank_start]Affect[blank_end] = Doctor's observation of how patient appears throughout a conversation

Which of the following describes a stable mood, whereby a patient has a normal, tranquil mental state.

From the graph, which colour shows a reactive affect and which shows an unreactive affect? Reactive affect = [blank_start]Black[blank_end] Unreactive affect = [blank_start]Red[blank_end]

Name the different types of affect given below: [blank_start]Blunted[blank_end] affect = A moderate reduction in an individual's emotional response to a stimulus [blank_start]Flattened[blank_end] affect = A severe reduction in an individual's emotional response to a stimulus [blank_start]Labile[blank_end] affect = Extreme fluctuations in an individual's emotional response to a stimulus - highs are very high, lows are very low

Patients with schizophrenia tend to have which type of affect?

What are the three aspects of cognitive function and how are they assessed? [blank_start]Orientation to Time, Place and Person[blank_end] = “What is today’s date?”, “What is the current month?”, “Where are we right now?” among other questions [blank_start]Concentration[blank_end] = “Can you go through the months of the year backwards for me?” [blank_start]Memory[blank_end] = “In which year was the last Olympic games held?”, “What were the dates of the second world war?”

Which part of the mental state exam considers whether the patient recognises that they are unwell? [blank_start]Insight[blank_end]

Which part of the mental state exam concerns hallucinations and illusions (visual, auditory, etc)? [blank_start]Perception[blank_end]