Mental Health Nursing

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT
NAME OF THE STUDENT
NAME OF THE UNIVERSITY
AUTHOR NOTE

1MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Answer 1
As mentioned in the paper of Heilbrun et al. (2014), mental State assessment is the
structured assessment process inclusive of aspects that helps to analyze the cognitive and
behavioral aspects of patients that are suffering from mental health concerns and has been
involved in the assessment methodology. It is useful in understanding any person’s emotional
and cognitive functioning as it helps to develop a cross sectional analysis and through that
analyses the mental state of the patient (Rust and Golombok 2014). To understand the behavioral
functioning, it analyses their general behavior and consciousness, speech, and insightful
activities. For cognitive functioning, analysis of reasoning ability, memory and alertness
determine the cognitive functioning of patients.
Answer 2
In the case scenario of Alison Wells, while meeting the psychiatrist, her appearance and
behavior was observed closely. In this situation of psychiatric interview, the first aspect of
appearance looked timid and untidy. Her hair, her appearance and her clothes were messy, but
she was wearing clean clothes. Secondly, her behavior included nervousness and miserable
attitude and as she was constantly picking her nails. Her extreme nervousness could be identified
from the fact that she did not make eye contact with the psychiatrist in the entire session.
Another aspect of her behavior included constant tearfulness and anxiety (Fonagy 2018).
Answer 3
As mentioned by Schore (2015), mood and affect are the most crucial aspects of Mental
state Assessment and both of these are interconnected with each other. However, while analyzing
their differences, their definitions should be analyzed. As per Schore (2015), mood is a holistic

2MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
and sustainable emotion which effects a person for a longer time, on the other hand, affect, as per
Fonagy (2015), is an immediate and sudden emotion that cumulatively portrays the mood of the
person. Alison’s affect were observed through her tearfulness in few answers, her facial
expressions and her agony portrayed her affect.
Answer 4
While analyzing the speech of Alison Wells, it should be mentioned that her tearful
episodes affected her responses and due to this, she was observed with replying with long
pauses, smaller phrases and fragmented sentences. Further, it was also seen that her emotional
nature, her sorrow and agonies affected her speech due to which psychiatrist was unable to
understand her replies.
Answer 5
In the process of Mental State Assessment method for Alison Wells, multiple series of
symptoms associated with her depression condition was observed. As per Valstar et al. (2014), it
was seen that the first sign and symptom associated with her depression condition was her
affected mood and her tearful nature. She was nervous and was feeling sorry for her behavior
towards her children and her boyfriend, due to which she was constantly feeling tearful. She
mentioned of lack of concentration, her improper and affected thought process. These are the
symptoms that indicated towards her depression condition.
Answer 6
While analyzing the Mental State assessment process conducted with Alison Wells, her
distorted and affected mental health was also observed. In the psychotherapeutic interview