Mood
Assessment > Mental State Examination > Mood
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Subjective and objective appreciation of mood.
Subjective: the patient’s own view of his current mood should be documented.
Objective: is how he appears to the assessing clinician, e.g. dysthymic, euthymic etc.
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Affect
"If mood is the weather then affect is the climate.” (Description of presentation over longer time frame.)
This may include non-reactive, blunted, inappropriate etc.
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Based on presentation, document further detail on mood symptoms (sustained low mood, variation, sleep, early morning wakening, appetite and weight loss, energy, enjoyment/anhedonia, feelings of guilt, suicidal thoughts or acts, possible mood elevation).