Mental Health: Self and Others

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH
Mental health: Self and others
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1MENTAL HEALTH
Part 1
1.1 The Mental Status Examination:
Level of consciousness:
Although Mary is orientated to time place and person, she is not that alert. She gives brief
response when attempts are being made to engage her.
General appearance:
Mary appears well-dressed and well-groomed evidenced by her brushed hair and
fashionable jeans and t-shirt with sandals.
Behaviour:
She avoids eye contact during the conversation and sits quietly with her hands clasped in
her fingers.
Mood and affect:
The patient is dysphoric and conversation with her reveals that she is depressed. Her
conversation also reveals feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. She described many
moments of despair when she is tearful thus suggesting that she is depressed (Pollard, 2018).
Speech:
Her speech is very slow and monosyllabic. She is not fluent during conversation and
gives brief answer to questions.
Thought content:

2MENTAL HEALTH
Her thought content is considered logical as she has the understanding that she is
physically well. She has also systematically described her treatment history related to diagnosis
of depression three years ago and cessation of the drug one year later. Her description about her
illness suggests that her thought pattern is coherent (Finney, Minagar & Heilman, 2016). There is
no hallucination or false sensory perception.
Perception/insight:
Mary had poor perception about her illness. Although she reports about feeling hopeless
and depressed and lack of motivation to complete simple activities, still she thinks any kind of
treatment is not necessary for her. Hence, her insight about illness is poor.
Judgment:
Her current judgment is poor because she needs to be admitted to the hospital fro treatment
of depression. However, she refuses it as she thinks looking after her children is important and
she is in not in need of any medication (Finney, Minagar & Heilman, 2016).
1.2 Clinical Formulation Table
Presenting
factor
Precipitating
factor
Predisposing
factor
Perpetuating
factor
Protective
factor
Depressed
mood, feelings
of hopelessness
and
worthlessness,
Previous
admission to
hospital for
depression,
medical history
Previous history
of depression is
a predisposing
factor as
evidence shows
Mary has
stopped visiting
the church and
responding to
phone calls from
Mary’s husband
Jim and her
children are
protective
factors that

3MENTAL HEALTH
lack of interest
in daily
activities, poor
personal hygiene
and sleep
difficulty
of depression
and loss of
connection with
friends and
family
that depression
is a lifelong
disease where
recurrent rate is
high. Many
patients who
have half
recovered or
received
treatment
continue
experiencing
one or frequent
episodes of
depression
(Suija et al.,
2010). Hence,
diagnosis of
depression is a
predisposing
factor of current
symptoms for
Mary
friends. She has
also stopped
doing activities
that she enjoyed
such as visiting
church. Hence,
these
perpetuating
factor can
increase the risk
of depression
would help her
recover from
her illness