**Here's the wisdom in the mental status exam (MSE):**
As a clinician, you will be sitting with a person who needs help, but may not know the name of the problem, or how badly they need help, or they might be trying to convince you they don't need help (even if they do). The MSE is a reminder, "You are the clinician! Don't just take what they say at face value! Look at their nonverbal behavior, gauge their basic functioning, and make sure to adjust your formulation accordingly!"