Which of the following is NOT a category of perceptual disturbance in the MSE?

• A. Auditory.
• B. Visual.
• C. Gustatory.
• D. Olfactory.

Answer: (C)

Perceptual disturbances in the Mental Status Exam are described by the sensory modalities in which a person may hallucinate. The standard ones clinicians routinely document are auditory, visual, and olfactory. Gustatory disturbances—taste-related experiences—are not typically listed as a primary category in the usual MSE framework, though a person can occasionally report taste changes in certain medical or neurological conditions. Because gustatory hallucinations are not part of the common MSE categories, they’re considered not a standard category of perceptual disturbance, making it the best choice for NOT being a category. The other options—auditory, visual, and olfactory—are well-established perceptual modalities described in MSE assessments.