In the last episode of our Mental Status Exam series, we’ll explore the final two parts of the mental status exam- insight and judgment! In comparison to other parts of the mental status exam, these two domains can sometimes be a little murky for learners. What is insight and judgment exactly? And how do we assess them? We’ll examine the concepts of insight and judgment from all angles, and review several clinical examples to reinforce your learning.

United Nations Photo/MMB. Flickr

Episode Music Credit: Javier Suárez, Tumbling Dishes, Better With Music

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Get ready to take a closer look at the finer aspects of cognition! We’ll review how to formally (and informally) test the three main pillars of cognition- orientation, memory, and attention. We’ll also discuss how to test abstract thinking and general executive functioning.  Whether you’re asking about proverbs or guiding a patient through the clock drawing test, we’ll make sure that you feel comfortable assessing a patient’s cognition during the mental status exam.

Photo credit: Jon Bowen, Flickr

Episode Music Credit: Javier Suárez, Tumbling Dishes, Better With Music

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Get ready for a big, information-packed episode featuring two of the most interesting parts of the mental status-exam: thought process and thought content! This is where we get to explore the weird, wonderful, and wild things the mind can manifest. In this episode, we will first look at thought process by defining and providing examples of different types of pathologic thought processes. We will then move on to thought content, paying close attention to common terminology used in this section.

Photo credit: Geir Tonnessen, Flickr

Episode Music Credit: Javier Suárez, Tumbling Dishes, Better With Music

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this episode, we will continue our series on the mental status exam by reviewing mood and affect. What is the difference between mood and affect? This can be a common area of confusion for learners, and we will spend some time reviewing the key differences. Following this, we will dig more deeply into affect and define terms that can help you to accurately describe a patient’s affect in your mental status exam.

Photo credit: Paul Ebbage, Flickr

Episode Music Credit: Javier Suárez, Tumbling Dishes, Better With Music

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

What is the mental status exam, and why do we use it so much in psychiatry? In the first part of our Mental Status Exam series, we will start by reviewing the purpose of the mental status exam in psychiatric practice. We will then introduce the first three components of the mental status exam- appearance, behavior, and speech. How do we decide what information to include, and what are some terms to help us describe what we’re seeing in these domains? We will discuss all of this and more!

Photo Credit: Henk Sijgers, “f8 and here,” https://www.flickr.com/photos/henk-sijgers/14204446132/

Episode Music Credit: Javier Suárez, Tumbling Dishes, Better With Music

Podcast: Play in new window | Download