Problem: Clinicians evaluate mood and affect during a Mental Status Examination (MSE) based on the DSM-5 guidelines. Mood refers to the patient's enduring emotional state, whereas affect pertains to the visible expression of that mood (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). How can a mental health provider differentiate between "flat" affect and "blunted" affect in a patient, especially when other symptoms, like decreased facial expressions and limited verbal communication, might look alike? In what ways could identifying these types of affect impact the diagnosis of mood or psychotic disorders? Need Assignment Help?