The use and appreciation of the mental status examination

Running head: MENTAL STATE EVALUATION AND APPRECIATIVE
Mental State Evaluation and Appreciative
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

MENTAL STATE EVALUATION AND APPRECIATIVE
1
Define the mental state assessment, describe when it is to be used and describe why it is
a useful tool for nursing or midwifery practice.
The process of observing and describing a patient’s behaviour and rational function at
a particular point of time in a structural mode is known as mental state evaluation or
assessment (Coaley 2014). It is an essential domain in the field of the medical evaluation
system. It is used in measuring and diagnoses of mental health conditions such as anxiety,
psychotic illness, differentiate between mood and physical problems, post-depression
condition, schizophrenia.
The test is performed to gain comprehensive information and details about a person’s
mental status. The report that is obtained is generally combined with the patient’s history and
physiological aspects, which helps to diagnose and provide a precise treatment. The
observational components by which the test is conducted are easiness in communication
observed in the patient, normality in appreance, the rate of rate, volume of speech, affect and
range of emotional state, logical or illogical thought and insight thought process. The time of
the test depends upon the patient’s condition, generally verbal or communication test last up
to 30 to 90 minutes. It is also used in diagnosis of neurological disorders which is helpful in
identifying motor functions of the body.
The test is useful because it provides complete structural and functional evidence
about the patient, which allows the practitioners to deal with patients as per the circumstance
and necessity. It is helpful in planning of treatment and intervention for the patients
depending upon the severity of the condition.
. Describe Andy’s appearance and behaviour during the initial assessment.
The person during the initial assessment with the psychiatrist was very cooperative
throughout the process. However, he looked distraught and disturbed for his current scenario.

MENTAL STATE EVALUATION AND APPRECIATIVE
2
He also has some unusual physical actions, as well as delusions and hallucinations. The
patient also looked fidgety and bothered about the condition. He also lacked eye contact with
the doctor. The person also had a disoriented and incoherent speech, the language and accent
was much unorganised. The person is seeking help and trying to resolve the trouble faced by
him (University of Nottingham, 2020). He also has a trusting issues and was trying to gain a
trustworthy relationship with the doctor. However, he is not aggressive or angry irrationally
but was calm throughout the process. He was upset and not willing to open up in certain
situations. He totally believed the situation going through in his mind and was trying to
resolve the problem (Oh, Song & Shin 2017).
Differentiate between mood and affect, and then describe affect as it relates to Andy.
The mood is a state of emotional feeling resulting from a stimulus, whereas affect is
an altering state of mind. Mood is difficult to determine but affect is apparent (Chui et al.
2016). Mood is described by using the patient’s own behaviour and way of reaction like
euphoric, anxious, apathetic, neutral and dyshoric. It creates a negative or positive valence
regarding a patient’s behaviour. The period for which a mood can last is considerably high
and stays for a longer period of time (Koutsouleris et al. 2015). Affect is the experience of
feeling that arises from a state of mood. The affect condition arises from an instant stimulus
and is short-lived, as it does not last for longer time period. These conditions can be regarded
as an interaction of stimulus.
Andy showed all the signs of affect along with his emotions. He described his
feelings with different facial expressions and body movements. He stated about his worries
regarding the situation he is going through. The person was afraid as well and was trying to
seek help. He has many symptoms of schizophrenia like voice calling around, tracking device
fixed in mind and many more.