examinationPneumoniaOverview of antibiotictherapyDiabetes mellitusHypersensitivityreactionsLast updated: February 15, 2022The mental status examination (MSE) is an important diagnostic toolin both neurological and psychiatric practice. MSE is used to describea patient's mental state and behaviors, both quantitatively andqualitatively, at a specific point in time. The main components of anMSE areappearance and behavior,mood and affect,speech,and content,, sensorium andcognition, andinsight andjudgment. The clinician conducting an MSEcollects data by observing the interviewed individual's behavior andasking specific questions. The findings of the MSE summarize theresults of a psychiatric examination on a comprehensive, cross-sectional level. When integrated with the interviewee's biographicalinformation and psychiatric history, MSE findings form the basis fordiagnostic and therapeutic decisions. A thorough MSE also providesessential information for establishing a diagnosis according tocriteria.
