Mini Mental

Status
Examination

Conde, Graciella Marie D.S.

What is Mini Mental

Status Examination or MMSE?

It is a method of organizing and

evaluating clinical observations during
an interview.

It is very common to medical settings.

It usually results in one medium-length

paragraph describing the clients
mental status.

What is Mini Mental

Status Examination or MMSE?

It is an important part of the

clinical assessment process in
the psychiatric practice.

It is commonly used in medicine

to screen for dementia.

What is Mini Mental

Status Examination or MMSE?

It is a structured way of observing

and describing patients current
state of mind under the domains of:

appearance , attitude , behavior ,

mood & affect , speech, thought
process,
thought
content
,
perception , cognition insight and
judgment.

What are the purposes

of MSE?

It is a series of questions and

observations
that
provide
a
snapshot of a clients current
mental, cognitive, and behavioral
condition.

To obtain a comprehensive crosssectional

description
of
the
patients mental state which, when
combined with the biographical

What are the purposes

of MSE?

It also allows the clinician to

make an accurate diagnosis and
formulation, which are required
for coherent treatment planning.

It is important neurological and

psychiatric evaluation.

General Description

It includes the age, height, weight,

manner of dress and grooming.

what the patient is doing?

what the patient is wearing?

how the patient looks?

Appearance

describe the body typeweight,

height
&
age;
posture- if relaxed, rigid tense
etc.
clothes-neat,
untidy,
dirty etc. grooming, hair &
nails.

Appearance

For Example:

dirty clothes might suggest

schizophrenia or depression.

if the patient appears much

older than his age this can
suggest chronic poor self care.

Appearance

body modifications or clothing

not typical of the patients
gender, might give clues to
personality.

Observation
of
physical
appearance might include the
physical features like, alcoholism
or drug abuse, such as signs of

Appearance

Note:
The signs of anxiety
should be noted; moist
hands,
perspiring
forehead, tense posture
and wide eyes.

Behavior or
Psychomotor
Activity

gait describes the manner of

walking or moving on foot.

agitation violent reaction

agility being mentally quick &

resourceful

Behavior or
Psychomotor
Activity

tics-spasmodic it is a loss of muscle

control.

wringing of hands-twitches &

squeezing of hands.

psychomotor retardation slowing

down of body movements should be
noted.

Behavior or
Psychomotor
Activity

Mannerisms it describes a habitual

gesture or way of speaking.

Example:
>Psychomotor retardation might
indicate depression or medical
condition such as Parkinsons
disease.

Behavior or
Psychomotor
Activity

Gesture
Example: She is always smiling
whenever ask questions about herself.

Examiner would also comment on eye

movements
>repeatedly glancing to one side can
suggest that the patient is experiencing
hallucinations.

Behavior or
Psychomotor
Activity

The quality of eye contact which can

provide clues to the patients emotional
state.

Note: Physical manifestations or signs,

any aimless or without direction,
purposely activity or intentionally

(e.g. she had purposely made it difficult)

Attitude toward Examiner

it refers to the patients approach to

the interview process and the
interaction with the examiner.

record the patients facial expression

note whether the patient appeared

interested during interview or
perhaps if the patient appeared
bored.

Attitude toward
Examiner

record whether the patient is

hostile and defensive or friendly
or cooperative.

note whether the patient is

comfortable or uncomfortable
with the interview.

Mood and Affect

Mood of the patient defined as

sustained emotion that the
patient is experiencing.

You can ask question such as

How do you feel most days?

It should also include any other

adjectives to describe

Mood and Affect

Note:
> Labile fluctuates or
alertness rapidly between
extremes
>(e.g. laughing loudly &
expansive one moment, or
tearful and despairing next)

Mood and
Affect

Affect describes the apparent

emotion conveyed by persons
non verbal behavior such as
anxious & sad.

Note:
>Patients difficulty in initiating,
sustaining or terminating an
emotional response.

Speech

Documents information on all

aspects of the patients speech,
including the quality, quantity,
rate, and volume of speech
during the interview.

Paying attention to patients

responses to determine how to
rate their speech is important.

Speech

Some things to keep in mind during

the interview are whether patients
raise their voice when responding,
whether the replies to the questions
are one word answers or elaborative,
and how fast or slow they are
speaking.

Note: Dysprosody unusual rhythms;

also note accent.