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8

Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter, the

student should be able to

1.Identify the categories used
to assess the client’s
mental health status.

2.Formulate questions to
obtain information in each
category.

3.Describe the client’s func-
tioning in terms of self-
concept, roles, and
relationships.

4.Recognize key physiologic
functions that frequently
are impaired in people with
mental disorders.

5.Obtain and organize
psychosocial assessment
data to use as a basis for
planning nursing care.

6.Examine one’s own feelings
and any discomfort dis-
cussing suicide, homicide,
or self-harm behaviors with
a client.

Key Terms

abstract thinking

affect

automatism

blunted affect

broad affect

circumstantial thinking

concrete thinking

delusion

duty to warn

flat affect

flight of ideas

hallucinations

ideas of reference

inappropriate affect

insight

judgment

Assessment

labile

loose associations

mood

neologisms

psychomotor retardation

restricted affect

self-concept

tangential thinking

thought blocking

thought broadcasting

thought content

thought insertion

thought process

thought withdrawal

waxy flexibility

word salad

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