WEEK 5: AT A GLANCE THE MENTAL STATUS EXAM

If you were a surgeon, would you go into an operating room without knowing the condition of your patient? Of course not! The stakes are just as high in the legal system. As a forensic interviewer/evaluator, your observations guide the work of legal and mental health professionals. Your observations can be instrumental in determining the outcome of a legal investigation.

This week, you are introduced to a tool known as a Mental Status Exam (MSE). Forensic professionals perform MSEs to document the cognitive and emotional state of suspects, witnesses, or victims of crime. You consider the positive contributions of the MSE to legal investigations and consider the use of the MSE with certain types of suspects and witnesses. You complete an MSE template designed to capture the mental status of a forensic interviewee. Finally, you develop a report that summarizes and makes recommendations based on the MSE interview that you observed. The observations and recommendations in the MSE report have the potential to guide legal and mental health professionals in their ongoing interviews and interrogation activities.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Students will:

Analyze the use and benefits of the Mental Status Exam with designated interviewee-types Complete a Mental Status Exam template Create a Mental Status Exam report