What is mental status examination? Which categories are being covered in it?

The mental status examination involves systematic observation of an individual’s behavior. This type of observation occurs when one individual interacts with another. Mental status examination can be structured and detailed. It covers five categories: o Appearance and behavior o Thought Process o Mood and affect. o Intellectual Function o Perception of person, place and time. The mental status examination tells us how people think, feel and behave and how these actions might contribute to explain their problems. So actually, we are doing behavioral assessment of people. This behavioral assessment is done by using direct observation of an individual’s thought, feelings and behavior in situations or context where the individual is having problems.