Define the mental status exam. Imagine a hypothetical client visiting a clinician. The client is distressed by feelings of anxiety or depression. Highlight some of the things the clinician might note with respect to the first three categories of the mental status exam, as they are described in the textbook. Do not worry about exactly how accurately your descriptions reflect specific DSM-5 disorders—just imagine a client who is either anxious or depressed, and create plausible notes that accurately reflect the first three categories on the exam.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: The mental status exam is a clinical interview organized into standard categories. It is used all over the world.
The first category entails an assessment of appearance and overall behavior. “The client appears neatly dressed and meticulously groomed. Posture is good. Motor behavior seems mostly normal, but the client does seem to fidget and move around in her seat quite a bit.”
The second category is mood and affect. “The client’s affect is mostly positive. The client appears somewhat tense, however. The client describes feeling tense and worried quite often over the past few weeks. She describes being unable to simply relax and enjoy the moment, even during situations usually considered happy or joyous.”
The next category is speech. “Speech is normal—perhaps a little rapid.”
Learning Objective: 4.1 Explain what the mental status exam is and how it is used.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: The Mental Status Exam
Difficulty Level: Medium