The medical professions have a physical exam, psychiatry and the psychological professions have a mental status exam, but nowhere to be found is an emotional status exam. Given that mental illnesses are primarily emotional conditions in most people it was important to develop an instrument that sheds light on peoples’ emotional states and patterns. This was the motivation behind the development of the Emotional Status Exam, found below. I find this 50 item screen quite revelatory of a person’s present-time emotional condition and patterning. It has also been very helpful in guiding treatment.