Abstract Thought
Judgment
Thought Process
Ability to Concentrate
Content of Thought
Remote Memory
Orientation
Affect
Behavior and Motor
Recent Memory
Mood
Insight
Perceptions
Ask client to recall a set of 3 objects after 5 minutes. May ask client, "What did you have for breakfast?" Or any question that should be significantly recalled about the last 24 hours.
Ask client, "How have you been feeling lately?" Observe mannerisms and behavior to for objective assessment.
What the client thinks. Inferred from observing if client's speech is logical and flows from one idea to the next. Note any dysfunction in this area.
Have the client spell a word backwards or perform serial 7s (counting backward from 100 by 7). May ask them to perform a three part task.
Observe appearance, activity, and movements. Document, noting findings or any irregularities.
Observe the client's emotional expression. Note if it is constant, congruent and appropriate.
Ask client's name, where they are, who is president, the date, and time of year.
Observe client's ability to realistically describe the strengths and weaknesses in his/her behavior.
Does client hear, see, taste, feel or smell something that is not there? {Hallucination} Does the client believe something (a story, idea, belief) that is not based in reality. {Delusion}
Ask client to interpret a proverb, such as, "People in glass houses should not throw stones."
Observe how client responds to being put in a hypothetical situation that requires them to decide what they would do. Ask, "If you found a letter on the ground with a stamp on it, what would you do?
Ask client, "Where did you grow up?" Or any question about a significant time in their early years that would be consistently recalled.
How the client thinks. Infer from observations of client's speech and speech patterns. Should be linear, logical and goal directed. Note any disorganized, or dysfunctional thinking.
