Question

Thoroughly explain the tools for assessing mental status, delirium, and depression in the geriatric patient.

Answer 1

TOOLS FOR ASSESING MENTAL STATUS:

Tools which is assesed in mental status is by using mental status examination which includes the appearance of the patient, their behaviour, attitude, orientation, speech and language, their mood, thought process, insight if they are aware that they are suffering from the mental illness, it also asseses their intelligence memories including recent, remote and immediate, Mental status examination also helps us find out the patient's judgement.

DELIRIUM AND DEPRESSION IN GERIATRIC PATIENT:

Delirium and depression in geriatric is very common in which the delirium duration is from hours to week however in depression it can last all their life, In delirium the attention is impaired or fluctuating, in depression the attention is distractible, in delirium recent and immediate memory is impaired, however in depression they remember every single details of the memory, In depression the patients are usually alert and in delirium the patients mood fluctuates between being too lazy to hyperactive, In delirium the thinking is disorganized, and in depression the patient lack self esteem, helplessness, and hopelessness.