: Assessment of grooming, posture, facial expressions, and motor behavior (e.g., tremors or agitation).

Paula Trzepacz transformed the MSE from a rote checklist into a sophisticated, hypothesis-driven, neuropsychiatric assessment tool. Her work teaches that the MSE is not a passive observation but an active, structured exploration of the brain’s functional integrity. For any clinician who evaluates patients with psychiatric or neurological symptoms, mastering her approach means mastering the art and science of the mental status examination.

Critical appraisal (evidence & pedagogy)