- All patients, particularly the elderly, should have a Mental Status Examination (MSE) to include assessment of the following:
- Appearance and behavior
- Language/speech
- Thought process (loose associations, ruminations, obsessions) and content (delusions, illusions and hallucinations)
- Mood (subjective)
- Affect (to include intensity, range, and appropriateness to situation and ideation)
- Level of Consciousness (LOC)
- Cognitive function
