You are conducting a routine evaluation on a 56-year-old pat…
You are conducting a routine evaluation on a 56-year-old patient who reports feeling “down” for several weeks. During the mental status exam, the patient appears withdrawn, with minimal facial expression, and speaks in a soft, monotone voice. The patient states, “I just don’t feel like doing anything anymore. It feels like nothing will ever get better.” The patient is oriented to person, place, and time and does not display any signs of delusions or hallucinations. Which aspect of the mental status exam would be most important to assess further in this patient, given their presentation?
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