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Title: The Mental Status Exam: A Foundation for Differential Diagnosis       Register Now

 

Instructor: Stan Taubman, PhD, LCSW       Click to View Biography

 

Number of CEUs: 4

 

Price: 32.00

 

Course Description:

The Mental Status Examination (MSE) is a guide used in assessing signs and symptoms of psychopathology. It is primarily designed as a tool for developing a differential diagnosis. Every item on the standard Mental Status Examination is either a distinguishing symptom or associated feature of one diagnosis or another. Each diagnosis can be represented by a characteristic pattern of findings on the MSE.

The Mental Status Examination is a tool for both interviewing and observation. Findings represent a person's current mental state during the interview, although the presence of symptoms by history should also be noted.

After becoming familiar with the core concepts and key features of the MSE, the reader will practice applying it with the use a Diagnostic Worksheet (a structured approach to practicing diagnosis using sets of the MSE findings) to assess five clinical vignettes.

Given the length of the course, not all pertinent themes could be addressed such as the issues of culture and aging as related to the Mental Status Exam or the various types of psychometric testing and their legal and ethical implications. The author strongly suggests further reading and study to be able to utilize this or any other tool with proficiency.

Notation: The Mental Status Exam should not be confused with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) or Folstein test, which is a brief 30-point questionnaire that is used to assess cognition. It is commonly used in medicine to screen for dementia.

 

Target Audience: This content was created for practitioners at all levels but is especially appropriate for those studying for clinical exams or beginning clinical practice. It was designed to assist the reader to clarify and deepen current clinical expertise by offering the "Core Concepts" section on the Mental Status Exam and Differential Diagnosis. The "Clinical Vignettes" section is designed to assist the reader better understand, integrate, and apply the Core Concepts to daily practice.

 

Learning Objectives:

The course content is designed to enhance the reader’s knowledge and skill in using the Mental Status Exam as a tool in the formulation of differential diagnoses. Upon completion of this course, the reader will be able to:

  1. Identify, clarify and differentiate core concepts of the Mental Status Exam.


  2. Better distinguish between observed facts and inferences when conducting diagnostic interviews.


  3. Expand the range of relevant options when conducting a differential diagnosis.


  4. Better validate diagnostic impressions by using Mental Status Exam findings as evidence of symptoms.


 

Course Agenda: Click here to view course agenda

 

Copyright: Copyright© 2010. Revised. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing the publisher.
 

Click here to register for this course. Once registered, users can complete this course at their own pace.