At times during our student placements, we will be requested to undertake assessments regarding a patient’s mental state, their psychological wellbeing and their physical health.
We will encounter a wide range of formal assessments during our training and throughout our future careers. For example, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) is used to determine the most suitable alcohol intervention option, the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) to establish a person’s cognitive decline towards a dementia diagnosis, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to screen for levels of anxiety and depression.
Thorough assessments are crucial in determining the health of our patients, and an important process in identifying any potential future risks or health problems.