The MSE is part of every psychiatric assessment and many medical ones. It records what you observe and what the patient tells you during the interview, not their history. Because it’s a snapshot, repeating it over time shows whether someone is improving or getting worse.
USA Mental Status Exam: Quick Facts
- MSE type
- Observational, structured description
- MMSE max score
- 30 points
- Common MMSE cutoff
- ≤23 suggests impairment (adjust for education)
- MoCA normal
- 26+ out of 30
- Time (MMSE)
- About 10 minutes
- Used by
- Psychiatry, nursing, primary care, neurology
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