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Evaluation of behavioral and cognitive changes: the mental status examination
J Bauer1, M R Roberts, E J Reisdorff
1Macomb Hospital, Warren, Michigan.
Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America
|February 1, 1991
Summary
Emergency Department patients with behavioral or cognitive disorders require organized care. Determining the cause through history, exam, and testing, including a focused mental status exam, is key for diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with behavioral or cognitive disorders require a structured approach.
- Identifying the underlying cause, whether organic or functional, is paramount for effective patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline an organized approach for evaluating patients with behavioral or cognitive disorders in the ED.
- To emphasize the critical role of the mental status examination in diagnosing these conditions.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive evaluation including patient history, physical examination, and laboratory/ancillary testing.
- A focused and brief mental status examination (MSE) assessing seven key areas.
Main Results:
- The MSE, when focused on affect, attention, language, orientation, memory, visual-spatial ability, and conceptualization, allows for a quick and thorough assessment.
- This systematic approach aids in determining the etiology of the patient's disorder.
Conclusions:
- An organized diagnostic strategy is essential for managing ED patients with behavioral or cognitive abnormalities.
- A targeted mental status examination is a critical component of this diagnostic process, facilitating timely and accurate etiological determination.