Mental State and Cognition

CAGE: Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye opener

A mnemonic for the CAGE screening questions and the dependence features.

Understand, retain, weigh and communicate

A memory aid for the four elements of decision-making capacity.

Delirium is acute and fluctuating with inattention; dementia is chronic and progressive

A memory aid for distinguishing delirium from dementia.

Onset, course, attention and consciousness separate them

A memory aid for distinguishing delirium from dementia at the bedside.

SIGECAPS: Sleep, Interest, Guilt, Energy, Concentration, Appetite, Psychomotor, Suicide

A mnemonic for the symptoms of depression.

Appearance, behaviour, speech, mood, thought, perception, cognition, insight

A mnemonic for the components of the mental state examination.

ASEPTIC: Appearance, Speech, Emotion, Perception, Thought, Insight, Cognition

A mnemonic for the components of the mental state examination.

Before, during and after the act, plus static and dynamic risk factors

A memory aid for assessing suicide risk after self-harm.