TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Mental Status Exam A1 - Bhakta, Savita G. A1 - Bailis, Jessica A2 - Goldberg, Charlie PY - 2025 T2 - Practical Guide to History Taking, Physical Exam, and Functioning in the Hospital and Clinic AB - The mental status examination (MSE) is the quantitative and qualitative assessment of behavior, thought, emotion, and cognition at a specific point in time. It can be viewed as the psychological equivalent of the physical exam. According to the Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry, the MSE is categorized as a core competency for undergraduate medical education and a key component of coursework in clinical psychiatry. While neurologists and psychiatrists primarily conduct a formal MSE as part of their evaluations, statistics reveal that 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience mental illness each year. Moreover, 29% of adults with medical conditions have comorbid mental illness, and 68% of adults with mental illness have comorbid medical conditions. These staggering figures underscore the need for all physicians across specialties to possess the fundamental knowledge and skills to conduct an MSE because they are likely to encounter individuals requiring a nuanced understanding of their mental status. This chapter aims to empower the reader with critical tools for enhanced clinical reasoning and diagnosis by offering practical insights and tips for conducting an MSE. SN - PB - McGraw Hill CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/11/03 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1210321077 ER -