title: Integrating the cognitive mental status examination into the medical interview.
abstract: The frequency of cognitive deficits in medical patients makes the cognitive mental status evaluation an important component of the medical interview. This paper helps delineate the clinical situations in which formal cognitive mental status questioning is indicated. We address the critical issues involving the doctor-patient interaction in order to facilitate the evaluation of mental status without alienating the patient or introducing artificial and unnecessary questions. We review more specifically the areas of attention, memory, language, constructional ability, and higher cognitive functions. Finally, we address issues of referral for further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence 02903.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Faust
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Novack
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008568:Memory; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D013850:Thinking