For example, patients' appearance can help determine whether they Are unable to care for themselves (eg, they appear undernourished, disheveled, or dressed inappropriately for the weather or have significant body odor) Are unable or unwilling to comply with social norms (eg, they are garbed in socially inappropriate clothing) Have engaged in substance use or attempted self-harm (eg, they have an odor of alcohol, scars suggesting IV drug abuse or self-inflicted injury) Speech can be assessed by noting spontaneity, syntax, rate, and volume.