LAB TEST
Mental status testing
Mental status testing is done to check a person's thinking ability and to determine if any problems are getting better or worse. It is also called neurocognitive testing.
How the Test is Performed
Your health care provider will ask a number of questions. The test can be done in the home, in an office, nursing home, or hospital. Sometimes, a psychologist with special training will do more detailed tests. Common tests used are the: Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) or Folstein test Montréal cognitive…
Normal Results
Most tests are divided into sections, each with its own score. The results help show which part of someone's thinking and memory may be affected.
What Abnormal Results Mean
A number of health conditions can affect mental status. Your provider will discuss these with you. An abnormal mental status test alone does not diagnose the cause. However, doing poorly on such tests can be due to medical illness, brain disease such as dementia, Parkinson disease , or to mental illness. Even when the…
References
Beresin EV, Gordon CD. The psychiatric interview. In: Stern TA, Wilens TE, Fava M, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry . 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 2. Paulsen JS, Gehl C. Neuropsychology. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley's and…
This is a summary. Read the full article at www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org (reviewed 31/12/2023).
This page is general information and is not medical advice. It does not replace a registered doctor, and it is not a prescription or a recommendation to use any medicine or test. Prices are listed prices and may change. Always follow the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.