Regarding psychopathology, the mood of an individual is usually distinguished from their affect by which of the following?
Exam Question Dec 2014
Exam Question Dec 2014
Mental state exam (mood and affect)
A feeling is an active experience of somatic sensation (such as touch, or heat) or a passive subjective experience of an emotion. An emotion is best thought of as a feeling and memory intertwined. A feeling is usually used to describe a reaction (positive or negative) towards an experience. Affect is used to describe a patient's present emotional responsiveness (indicated by facial expression and tone of voice). Mood is a more prolonged prevailing state or disposition. Mood and affect are usually distinguished by duration where affect is momentary and mood is more prolonged. Apathy is the absence of feeling.
Affect
Affect can be described as (in order of degree):
- Within normal range
- Constricted (affect restricted in range and intensity)
- Blunted (same as constricted but a bit more so)
- Flat (virtually no signs of affective expression)
