Using the Mental Health State Exam

The Mental Status Exam (MSE) is used to determine the level of functioning and is typically completed in the initial session with a client. Many counselors use this in practice settings to note a client’s general appearance, mood or affect, speech, thoughts, cognition, and judgment. This test can provide a report of the client’s overall mental status.

Review the MSE. Consider and discuss the importance of using this in conjunction with the SBQ-R or other suicide ideation assessment instrument. How might the MSE inform utilizing suicide ideation assessments with a client?

• Osman, A., Bagge, C.L., Gutierrez, P.M., Konick, L.C., Kopper, B.A. & Barrios, F.X. (2001). The suicidal behaviors questionnaire-revised (SBQ-R):Validation with clinical and nonclinical samples. Assessment, 8(4), 443–454.
• Granello, D. H. (2010). The process of suicide risk assessment: Twelve core principles. Journal of Counseling and Development: JCD, 88(3), 363–371.
• Granello, D. H. (2010). A suicide crisis intervention model with 25 practical strategies for implementation. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 32(3), 218–235.

 

Ten Point Guide to Mental State Examination (MSE) in Psychiatry