Mental State Examination: Key Components
The mental state examination (MSE) is required in addition to any relevant physical examination.
What are the key components of the MSE?
The key components of the MSE and the factors to consider for each component are shown below:
| Component | Factors to consider |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Dress unkempt, self-harm, physical disorder, inappropriate dress, previous deliberate self-harm |
| Behaviour | Co-operation, aggression, disinhibition, distress, preoccupations |
| Speech | Amount, spontaneity, volume, flow |
| Mood and affect | Subjective versus objective, posture, facial expression |
| Suicidality | Plans and intent |
| Thought form | Tangentiality, circumstantiality, associations, neologisms, flight |
| Thought content | Worries, obsessions, delusions |
| Abnormal perception | Hallucination and sensory modalities |
| Cognition | Orientation, attention, memory, intelligence |
| Insight | Patient’s understanding and expectations of their condition |