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Mental status tests

Definition:

Mental status tests are used to assess a person's thinking abilities, to see if a disease or condition is affecting them. The tests can tell your provider whether your condition is improving or getting worse.



Alternative Names:
Memory; Word comprehension; Orientation; Attention span; Cognitive tests

How the test is performed:

The following tests may be performed.

ORIENTATION

Your health care provider will ask you questions that may include:

  • The time, date, and season
  • The place where you live, type of building you are in, city and state you are in
  • Your name, age, and occupation

ATTENTION SPAN

Your provider will test your ability to complete a thought. This may be evident through conversation, or you may be asked to follow a series of directions in order to base conclusions on your performance.

RECENT MEMORY

The memory of people, places, and events that have recently been involved in your life is called recent memory. Your provider will ask you questions related to recent events in your life or the world around you.

REMOTE MEMORY

The memory of people, places, and events that occurred earlier in your life is called remote memory. Your provider will ask you about your childhood, school, or historical events that occurred earlier in your life.

WORD COMPREHENSION

Word comprehension tests your knowledge of common items. Your provider will point to everyday items in the room and have you name them.

JUDGMENT

To test your judgment and ability to exercise alternative solutions to a given problem or situation, your provider might ask, "What would you do if a police officer approached from behind in a car with lights flashing?" or "If you found a driver's license on the ground, what would you do?"



How to prepare for the test:

No preparation is necessary for these tests. All responses should be natural, spontaneous, and honest. Preparation, especially by a highly intelligent person, could distort the results of the test by making it appear that cognitive function has not diminished when, in fact, it actually has.



How the test will feel:

There is no physical discomfort.




Review Date: 12/1/2004
Reviewed By: James W. Dilley, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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