Question

During a mental status assessment a patient cannot remember the name of a childhood neighborhood. In which aspect of the assessment is the patient demonstrating an alteration?

a. Speech
b. Memory
c. Orientation
d. Mood and affect

Answer 1

A patient not remembering their childhood neighborhood during a mental status assessment reveals a possible alteration in memory, which is one of the cognitive abilities assessed in such exams.

Step-by-step explanation:

During a mental status assessment, when a patient cannot remember the name of a childhood neighborhood, this demonstrates an alteration in memory. Memory is a crucial aspect of the mental status exam that involves the ability to recall past experiences, which is different from orientation, which deals with the patient's awareness of time, place, and personal identity.

In this context, failing to remember details about one's own childhood neighborhood is specifically related to a potential issue with memory rather than speech, orientation, or mood and affect.