NeuroPsych

NeuroPsych
Mental Status Exam

The University of Michigan article provides a nice entrée into the screening of neuropsychological issues. Based on your understanding of neuropsychological screening instruments and core principles they are based upon, you can provide observations and small challenges to the patient to help indicate the need for further formal testing.

See
Mini MSE with gross neuropsych
Tamara Gay, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Psychiatric Mental Status Exam, from Schwartz, Textbook of Physical Diagnosis, 4th Edition, pp 597-600
http://www.med.umich.edu/medstudents/curRes/multiyear/
outlines/docs/MentalStatusExamOutline.pdf
Internal link: Mini MSE

The following was taken from Gay's University of Michigan paper:

Name a pencil, and watch. (2 points).

Repeat the following: “No ifs, ands, or buts.” (1 point)

Follow a three-stage command:
“Take a paper in your right hand, fold it in half, and put it on the floor.” (3 points)

Read and obey the following:
    Close your eyes (1 point)
    Write a sentence. (1 point)
    Copy design. (1 point)

End of quoted material

Note to Students - you are cautioned that calculating points for un-normed assessments is not sound practice in psychology. However, performance on tasks similar to this can be descriptively assessed for the referral and are useful indications for further testing.