title: Assessing mental status in persons with mental retardation.
abstract: When assessing a client, avoid abstract questions, instead ask concrete, open-ended questions. All clients should be assessed for risk of suicide, elopement, or a danger to self or others. Be aware of underlying causes or confounding variables that may affect a client's mental status.
authors.affiliation: Regional Mental Health Centre, Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Hamer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis; D003144:Communication Barriers; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D019954:Neurobehavioral Manifestations / Q000145:classification; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards