Mental Status Examination

What is the mental status examination often referred to as?

• Physical examination

• Psychiatric evaluation

• Blood test

• Neurological assessment

Which component of the MSE involves exploring the patient's general appearance and demeanor?

• Mood

• Motor activity

• Speech

• Appearance and behavior

What does the term 'tangential' refer to in the context of thought process?

• Perseveration

• Thought blocking

• Flight of ideas

• Thoughts that go off and never return to the matter at hand

Which of the following is an example of a perceptual disturbance?

• Depersonalization

• Flight of ideas

• Illusions

• Perseveration

What does cognition assessment involve in the MSE?

• Assessment of motor activity

• Evaluation of mood

• Assessment of alertness and memory

• Assessment of speech fluency

What is the purpose of assessing abstract reasoning in the MSE?

• To evaluate the ability to shift between general concepts and specifics

• To assess perceptual disturbances

• To assess memory

• To evaluate motor skills

How is insight classified in the context of the MSE?

• Partial or full insight

• Partial insight only

• No insight

• Full insight only

What does the term 'flat affect' refer to?

• Inappropriate affect

• No outward expression of emotion

• Excessive emotional expression

• Rapid speech

Which component of the MSE involves assessing the patient's capacity to make good decisions?

• Thought content

• Perceptual disturbances

• Abstract reasoning

• Judgment

What is the main purpose of the mental status examination?

• To perform blood tests

• To assess physical health

• To explore mental functioning areas for evidence of mental illness

• To conduct neurological assessments