Question

1. What are the elements of the Mental Status Exam, discuss one abnormal finding you would question in a young female patient you are examining.
2. What is the difference between substance abuse and drug abuse? Name six drugs that are often abused.
3. Review all the assessment techniques and give the order of assessment for ONE body system.

Answer 1

1. Elements of MSE

• Level of consciousness
• Appearance & Behavior
• Motor activity
• Speech
• Mood & Affect
• Thought process
• Thought content
• Perception
• Cognition
• Insight/Judgment

Discuss one abnormal finding you would question in a young female patient you are examining.

A 20-year-old Hispanic female appeared in the hospital who has put on paper hospital scraps to show the abdomen having a scar, and different tattoos with various names on the palms.

Behavior: hard to divert for interviewing, unseemingly laughing and smiling

Motor Activity: Uniform gait, uniform posture. No tics, tremors present.

Speech: garrulous, fluent, in uniform rhythm and volume, excited tone

Mood: Good

Affect: thrilled, improper, identical

Thought Process: a flight of ideas

Thought Content: no suicide or homicide plans.Having delusion as "spirit for an assignment by God"

Perceptions: No visual hallucinations.auditory hallucinations of God asking to visit Texas. No internal stimulus-response has seen.

Cognition: Oriented to place and person.

Insight &Judgment: poor