Mental Status Examination

http://www.cetl.org.uk/learning/mha_case1_ch1/player.html

Case Study

http://aetcnmc.org/studies/index.html

Ricky
Ricky was staying with his father for a few weeks on a visit. At first, things had gone pretty well, but Ricky forgot to take his medication for a few days. His father knew Ricky wasn’t sleeping well at night, and he could hear Ricky talking to himself in the next room.
One day while his father was at work, Ricky began to hear some voices outside the apartment. The voices grew a louder, saying, “You’re no good; you can’t do anything right. You can’t take care of yourself or protect your dad. We’re going to get you both.” Ricky grew more frightened and went to the closet where his dad kept his tools. He grabbed a hammer and ran outside. When his father came home from work early, Ricky wasn’t in the apartment though his coat and wallet were still there. Ricky’s father called a neighbour, and they drove around the apartment complex looking for Ricky. They finally found Ricky crouched behind some bushes. Although it was 7 degrees C, he was wearing only a T-shirt and shorts and no shoes. Ricky’s neighbour called emergency services. Meanwhile Ricky’s father tried to coax Ricky into the car, but Ricky wouldn’t come. The voices had grown louder, and Ricky was convinced that the devil had kidnapped his father and was coming for him, too. He saw someone else in the car with his dad. The voices said they would crash the car if he got in. they were laughing at him! He couldn’t get into the car; it was only a trap. The voices told Ricky to use the hammer and to destroy the car to kill the devil. He began to swing the hammer into the windshield, but someone held him back.
The emergency services staff arrived and spoke quietly and firmly as they removed the hammer from Ricky’s hands. They told Ricky they were taking him to the hospital where he and his father would be safe. They gently put him on a stretcher with restraints, and his father rode in the emergency van with him to hospital
References: (Evans & Brown, 2012, pp. 258)

Critical reflection

http://relationalcontextofteaching.edublogs.org/2011/06/23/why-did-i-choose-to-show-and-not-tell/

Consider the cases you have explored:
•    Consider the symptoms they may be experiencing?
•    What approaches can you use within the assessment process to enhance collaboration and participation?
•    How might the individual feel about you asking questions?

Skills and behaviours – what do I need to do?

http://www.improvizations.com/Portals/42614/images/skills.jpg

•    Formulate a MSE assessment
o    Consider all questions that you would need to ask or explore more of, in order to gather the information
•    What are the key areas identified in the MSE in both cases?
•    From your assessment consider potential risk factors for ongoing assessment and treatment.
o    Can you identify any actual or potential risk factors
o    Can you identify any protective factors