What it means
What others can see of a person's feelings. Mood is how the person says they feel; affect is what the nurse observes. Affect is described as appropriate or inappropriate to the situation, and by its range: broad, restricted, blunted or flat (almost no expression), or labile (changing quickly). In everyday English, "affect" is usually a verb meaning to influence, said with the stress on the second syllable.
For the nurse
Describe the affect in a mental status exam, and note whether it matches what the client says. "Says she is fine, affect flat, poor eye contact" is a useful note.
In a chart
"Affect flat; speech slow and soft; reports mood as 'empty.'"
At a glance
| Spanish | afecto |
|---|
Related terms
mental status
A person's state of mind at a given time: how alert they are, what they know and how they think, speak and behave.
depression
A mood disorder of lasting sadness or loss of interest that affects thinking, sleep, appetite and daily life.
psychosocial
Relating to a person's mind and emotions together with their relationships and place in society.