Medical students’ perceptions of the use of feature films to teach the mental state examination

Existing studies have explored the use of feature films to teach undergraduate medical students about psychiatric conditions.1–3 However, there are no existing studies examining medical students’ perceptions of the use of film to teach the mental state examination (MSE)—the clinical tool by which clinicians assess and report a patient's mental state separate from any purported diagnosis. Since students are most likely to undertake an MSE when meeting patients with mental illness for the first time, it seems practically more useful for film to be used to teach this.\ud\udThe MSE is divided into several sections: appearance and behaviour, speech, mood, thoughts, perceptions, cognition and insight. Since portrayals of mental illness on film vary in the veracity of their depictions, focusing students’ observations on these specific areas may help prevent generalisation about how mental illness presents.\ud\ud\udWe explored students’ experience of teaching the MSE using film clips along with their perceptions of which aspects of the MSE such media are best suited to teach