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ADVANCED HEALTH TEST – FINAL EXAM
COMPONENTS OF MENTAL STATUS EXAM INCLUDE: -
Solution A-B-C-T
APPEARANCE; posture, body movements, dress, grooming and
hygiene
BEHAVIOR; LOC, Facial expression, speech, mood and affect
COGNITION; address, phone#, etc. date?, attention span, recent and
remote memory, new learning
THOUGHT PROCESS; perceptions, should be logical and consistent
this person make sense?
how do people treat you?, do you feel you are being watched, followed
or controlled? have you heard your name when alone?
___________________ screens for Anxiety - Solution GAD- 7
questions to ask for depression or suicidal ideations: - Solution
Depression:
Over the past two weeks, have you fell down, depressed or hopeless?
Over the past 2 weeks, have you felt little interest or pleasure in doing
things?
Suicidal:
Have you ever felt so blue you thought of hurting yourself?
Do you have a plan to hurt yourself?
How would you do it?
***Must not ignore any talk of suicide***
When is a full mental status exam necessary? - Solution * Patients
whose initial screening suggests an anxiety disorder or depression
* Behavioral changes: such as memory loss, inappropriate social
interaction
* Brain lesions: trauma, tumor, cerebrovascular accident or stroke
