Mental Status Examination
The examination of the mental status of an individual is usually complex based on its nature of determining multiple aspects of health from the patient. During the entire period of examination, the health care provider ought to examine in an unstructured manner until the end of the routine history and physical examination session (Finney, Minagar & Heilman, 2016). Clinical observation is usually geared towards the determination of the presence of pathologic states in the patient. In prevention of loneliness and boredom in geriatric patients, the assessment of patient ought to be directed towards the coping mechanisms of the patient as well as association with other individuals. This determination can be determined significantly via mental health status examination over clinical observation.
This review entails critiquing of an article concerning mental health status examination. Concerning this, Cummings‐Vaughn et al., 2014 conducted a study which compared mental status examination as a tool with Montreal Cognitive assessment as well as Short Test of Mental status tools in the examination of various domains in geriatric conditions. In the long haul, this analysis will provide the ability of this tool which will be in support of the PICOT on the preference of mental status assessment.
The study by Cummings‐Vaughn et al. was done to compare the potentiality of the Veterans Affairs Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) examination in determining cognitive impairment and dementia concerning the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Short Test of Mental Status (STMS). In this comparison, the validation of the mental health status assessment would be validated to be a fit instrument in examining the elderly patients. The study used a sample size of 136 participants who were 60 years and above and with an education of a high school and above (Cummings‐Vaughn et al., 2014).
The study cleared indicated the various variables that were of interests. These variables entailed the cognitive functions as well as makers of dementia who were determined through the administration of the tools by use of a blinded test administrator. The information received was analyzed and compared to the receiver operating characteristic curves that would assess the sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values of the tools in measuring the variables.
The receiver operating characteristics contrasts showed that the tools determined minor cognitive defects with SLUMS at 0.74, MoCA at 0.77 and STMS at 0.77. Rating for the determination of dementia was at 0.98 for SLUMS, 0.96 for MoCA and 0.97 for STMS. In the detection of both dementia and cognitive disorder, the SLUMS examination indicated a value of 0.82, MoCA at 0.83 and ASTMS at 0.84 (Cummings‐Vaughn et al., 2014). There was also a similarity in sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of the tools in the determination of all the variables. These results vividly indicate the competency of the mental health status examination as a tool in the assessment of cognitive abilities that are key for coping and relations in individuals hence fits the clinical question.
The researchers indicated no occurrences of special events during the entire study. The results of the study are reliable as they reflect the situation of patients in the usual care settings. The comparison made by the researchers between the mental status examination and other cognitive assessment tools acts as a pivotal study to spearhead the clinical issues that also compares the same mental status examination and clinical observation. Besides, the study is essential since it is from such comparison that competent tools are determined, developed and modified to meet the standards required in the care of patients (Malmstrom et al., 2015). This move will allow the improvement of care of patients.
References
Cummings‐Vaughn, L. A., Chavakula, N. N., Malmstrom, T. K., Tumosa, N., Morley, J. E., &
Cruz‐Oliver, D. M. (2014). Veterans Affairs Saint Louis University mental status
examination compared with the Montreal cognitive assessment and the short test of
mental status. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 62(7), 1341-1346.
Finney, G. R., Minagar, A., & Heilman, K. M. (2016). Assessment of mental status. Neurologic
clinics, 34(1), 1-16.
Malmstrom, T. K., Voss, V. B., Cruz-Oliver, D. M., Cummings-Vaughn, L. A., Tumosa, N.,
Grossberg, G. T., & Morley, J. E. (2015). The Rapid Cognitive Screen (RCS): A point-
of-care screening for dementia and mild cognitive impairment. The journal of nutrition,
health & aging, 19(7), 741-744.
