An application of TMSE for evaluation chronic alcholic patients.

Thai minimental state examination (TMSE) was used as a tool to evaluate mental state of 50 – chronic alcoholic patients at Srithanya Hospital. The patients were evaluated by a psychiatric nurse within one week after admission and one week later. It was found that mean of the first total TMSE score was 16; the second was 23. The mean score of orientation subtest was significantly different between clinically delirious and non-delirious groups. Total TMSE score negatively correlated with age. The result indicated that TMSE can be used by psychiatric nurse as an instrument to evaluate and follow up delirium symptoms of alcoholic patients.