Bedside Approach to the Mental Status Assessment. Issue 3 (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang-Wai, David F.; Freedman, Morris
• Is Part Of: Continuum. Volume 24:Issue 3(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Study guides -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1212/CON.0000000000000617
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1080-2371

Abstract

ABSTRACT: PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article presents a clinically useful approach to obtaining the history and performing the mental status examination of patients with cognitive, language, or behavioral problems. RECENT FINDINGS: Laboratory and imaging biomarkers are being developed for accurate diagnosis of neurobehavioral disorders, yet few are currently available for clinical use. Moreover, not all centers have access to these potential tools. Practicing clinicians are therefore left primarily with their skills of history taking and examination. Although geared for research, diagnostic criteria have been refined over the past several years and can nevertheless aid the clinician with the diagnosis of disorders such as mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, the primary progressive aphasias, corticobasal syndrome, vascular cognitive impairment, and posterior cortical atrophy. Regularly revised criteria reflect ongoing knowledge gained from in-depth studies of these disorders. SUMMARY: The focused history and mental status examination remain essential tools for the evaluation and diagnosis of neurologic disorders affecting cognition, language, and behavior.