Describe the major objectives and typical procedures of the ...

[frankwu]

Describe the major objectives and typical procedures of the mental status exam. Be sure to include the typical activities of the examiner and the intended outcomes of the process.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Marisa goes to see a psychologist because she has been having some acute distress and seems overwhelmed. Describe the process that Marisa's psychologist will use to reach a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[ErinKing]

Answer to Question 1

Mental status exams cover the following five categories:
-Appearance and behavior. The clinician records the client's dress, appearance, and motor actions.
-Thought processes. The clinician listens to the patient talk in order to assess the rate and content of his/her speech.
-Mood and affect. The clinician observes the patient's emotion and actions regarding his/her feelings.
-Intellectual functioning. The clinician assesses the client's vocabulary, memory, and overall intellectual functioning.
-Sensorium. The client's general awareness of his/her surroundings is assessed.

The mental status exam is done to allow the clinician to make a preliminary determination of the areas of the patient's behavior and condition that should be assessed further.

Answer to Question 2

Marisa will be asked to describe her problem and any symptoms she is experiencing. She will relate all concerns regarding her behavior and thinking to the clinician, who will assess Marisa's behavior and communication during the interview. The clinician will form an initial diagnosis and those areas that need to be ruled out.
The clinician may do various types of psychological assessment to help determine the diagnosis. Where appropriate, certain neuropsychological testing or neuroimaging may be done,
The clinician will evaluate all assessment data and reach a diagnosis that will be presented in a multiaxial format.
Based on the diagnosis and possible theoretical orientation of the clinician, a treatment plan will be developed. The clinician will take into account the research data on the effectiveness of certain treatments for certain disorders.
NOTES: NEW