
The Domains Included in the MSE: 14 ExamplesĬommon domains covered in the MSE include: There is significant variability among the forms used by different practitioners to gather this information from a client.Īt the same time, there are core domains that should arguably be covered whenever an MSE is done. The method usually includes a structured interview and systematic behavioral observations. This method has traditionally been used in psychiatry and clinical psychology but has also been adapted for other helping professions like social work and coaching. The MSE is a method used to document an individual’s basic cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning at a given point in time (Martin, 1990). What Is the Mental Status Examination (MSE)?

We also offer several templates, a checklist, and questions that can be added when completing an MSE.īefore you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free. In this article, we describe in detail standard components of the MSE and provide tips on how best to conduct it. The MSE can provide future report readers with a valuable window into how a client presented at a given time, including both negative signs and positive factors. One of the most common types of formal evaluation in psychiatry, psychology, and related fields is the mental status examination (MSE).

Most formal examinations involve questioning clients in depth about their functioning and noting systematically how they behave. There are various ways to gather such information, from brief check-ins to more extended or formal evaluations. As helping professionals, we routinely gather information about our clients’ functioning.
