Medicine requires knowledge<\/em>, expertise<\/em> and skills<\/em> to successfully diagnose<\/strong><\/span> and treat<\/strong><\/span> patients. The diagnostic process involves various forms of examination, each with its own systematic structure<\/span>. First and foremost, clear communication<\/strong><\/span> between physician and patient is required to successfully <\/em>complete<\/span> the diagnostic and treatment process according to medical standards.<\/span><\/p>\n The mental functions of a patient form a crucial part in this diagnostic process. <\/span><\/p>\n These mental functions determine:<\/span><\/p>\n For example, a patient suffering from a heart complaint is likely to communicate their complaints fearfully, while a patient suffering from a memory problem may have difficulty properly explaining the course of their complaint. A confused patient will be unable to explain their situation clearly, and a psychotic patient might offer an idiosyncratic explanation of their complaints, and may not be easily persuaded to cooperate in treatment. Moderately gifted patients may not have the words to explain their aches and pains, and those with a rigid mindset may not be open to possible alternative explanations of their complaints.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Mental functions<\/strong><\/span> are the basis of human functioning<\/span> and interaction<\/span> and determine form<\/em> and content<\/em> of personal beliefs<\/em>, emotions<\/em> and behaviour<\/em>. Therefore, physicians cannot ignore mental functioning of their patients. Mental functions affect the patient\u2019s perception of the physical of mental complaints, and define how patients are able to agree with treatment suggestions. This means that all physicians need proper knowledge<\/span>, skills<\/span> and expertise<\/span> in methodically observing<\/strong><\/span> and exploring<\/strong><\/span> psychopathological phenomena in the behaviour<\/em>, feelings<\/em> and experiences<\/em> of their patients. In addition, each physician must have sufficient knowledge<\/span> of the psychiatric diagnostic process to properly establish contact with a patient.<\/span><\/p>\n A dysfunction in one or more of these mental functions does not necessarily imply a psychiatric disorder in the person involved. Disturbances in mental functions lie in a continuum between \u2018normality<\/strong><\/span>\u2019 and \u2018psychiatric disorder<\/strong><\/span>\u2019, and are therefore not uncommon in the general population. In addition, disturbances in mental functions are commonly found in clinical syndromes of a purely somatic nature. When a physician observes mental dysfunctions in a patient, they should take into account the nature of psychiatric symptoms in the planning of future diagnostic consultation<\/em>, examination<\/em> and treatment.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The goal of this program is to serve as a reference text<\/strong><\/span> for medical students<\/span> but also for all physicians<\/span> who want to deepen their knowledge<\/strong><\/span> of the mental state examination. It discusses the position and the key concepts of the mental status examination and shows how it is properly conducted.<\/span><\/p>\n There are videos available which contain a number of interviews with patients. We recommend that you watch the entire interview first in order to understand the context of the video. Then, you can choose to look at the more detailed explication of the mental status examination of the patient. These guided videos include commentary on \u201cwhat<\/strong><\/span>\u201d kind of psychopathology is to be seen and heard, \u201chow<\/strong><\/span>\u201d that psychopathology will be labelled and \u201cwhy<\/strong><\/span>\u201d this clinical judgment has been given.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Medicine requires knowledge, expertise and skills to successfully diagnose and treat patients. The diagnostic process involves various forms of examination, each with its own systematic structure. First and foremost, clear communication between physician and patient is required to successfully complete the diagnostic and treatment process according to medical standards. The mental functions of a patient […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[86],"tags":[150],"class_list":["post-1782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-preface","tag-the-psychiatric-interview"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n