Although there is a lot of literature providing mental status examination information but still people ask this question that what is a mental status examination. Those who are curious to know about mental health are more eager to gain mental status examination information. However, if you have ever experienced visiting a psychiatrist you might know what a mental status examination is. And if not, then this article will provide you basic and essential mental status examination information to answer this frequently asked question that what is a mental status examination. Mental status examination (MSE) is basically an evaluative test to measure your mental capacity. It is more likely than a physical examination that a physician does before treating your physical ailment. It is not so much a method of finding out the type of depression you suffer  from like prepartum depression for example. The difference between both examinations is that mental status examination is a test of your mind and mental state whereas physical examinations are to determine your physical ailments. Mental Status Examination Information The mental status examination is defined as the assessment of your cognitive behavior, general appearance, speech, memory, insight, thinking patterns and emotional imbalances. It is a basic step of the process of psychological treatment to understand the client history and his mental illness. The time required to take MSE usually depends upon the condition of the client. If the client is mentally healthy and responsive to the questions being asked by the psychologist then it ...

The mental status examination is a very important branch of clinical assessment. The mental status examination abbreviated as MSE provides the most basic and significant physiological information of a person. In this assessment, the psychiatrist observes patient’s spheres of consciousness and unconsciousness. Mental status examination is not some random and general question answer session between the interviewer [psychiatrist] and the patient but a structured mode of observing and expressing the mental level of the patient. It involves specific methods, parameters and a defined procedure that helps the interviewer get to the depth of a person’s psyche and maybe the effects of melancholia as well. The reasons for mental test examination conduction are to sort one’s stress and avail the benefits of a mental status examination. Pre-Mental Test Examination Before conducting the main part of MSE, the psychiatrist needs to observe the most basic attitudes of the patient that will help to establish a fair idea about the mental condition of the patient. For example, before having a one-to-one conversation with the patient, the interviewer must observe his behavior with the staff and other people in the surrounding. This shall help the interviewer to know about the communication skills of the patient, and how well he is able to move in society. Secondly, it is worthwhile to notice the physical appearance and grooming of the patient the moment he enters the door. The way patient greets and his body language can reveal a lot about him and indicate towards the reasons ...

The mental status examination is usually denoted as MSE in psychiatric practice. It is the test of mental abilities to measure the level of insanity or abnormality of a person. Hence, the mental functioning of a client is then determined in the process of mental status examination. Psychiatrist takes your mental test same as any physician examines your body to diagnose your physical ailment. There are basically the following areas which are measured in mental status examination: General appearance: it determines the general description of an individual including its clothing, odor, eye contact, movements, attitude etc. Mood: it figures out your attitude, emotions, feelings, and behavior. Thinking patterns: This measures your thought processes that either they are violent, calm, logical, disorganized, or abstract. Memory: disposes your ability to recall past or recent memories. Cognition: determines your ability to evaluate your own self and your abilities to identify your own strength and weaknesses. Insight: refers your realization about the nature of your illness, its complexity, and severity. Speech: it measures the quality of your speech; it is disorganized, clear, low, whispering or yelling. Mental Status Examination Purpose In this context, mental status examination is an important tool of psychiatric practice to diagnose the mental illnesses in patients. The effects of mental status examination are very favorable and helpful to begin further psychological treatment and also post-traumatic stress disorder relief remedies. However, the effects of mental status examination can be clearly seen on client’s mental health. Once the psychiatrist starts taking history ...