Short MSE

Short MSE
Mental Status Exam

The shortest MSE I was able to locate is found within the context of a document that includes specifics of a larger formal assessment that includes specific questions and exercises to perform during an extended interview that explores the mental status of the patient.

See: The Mental Status Examination, developed at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Rochester, NY
http://www.psychiatry.msu.edu/Clerkship/MentalStatusExam.pdf
Internal link: U of R Mental Status Exam

"In instances where no further formal examination may be necessary a number of areas of mental functioning will have been found to be grossly intact in the course of history-taking and other initial contacts with the patient. These might include the formal headings of:

Appearance and Behavior

Speech

Mood

Thought Content

Perception

Orientation as to time space and person

A patient may be too ill to be subjected to a prolonged MSE. Here again, many pertinent data can be obtained during the necessary initial contact with the patient and more formal examination, if deemed indicated, may be postponed."

Further formal assessment may be done in the context of the diagnostic interview or through use of accepted questions and structures elaborated upon in this article:
U of R Mental Status Exam