1. A method of mental status examination, using an automated medical advice or diagnostic system including a computer and input and output devices, the method comprising: a) prestoring, a plurality of questions and corresponding expected answers in a computer memory; b) automatically asking a patient a one of the plurality of prestored questions; c) the computer executes instructions to process the answer so as to automatically receive the answer; d) automatically comparing the answer to a corresponding prestored expected answer; e) automatically ascribing a score to a result of the comparison; f) automatically comparing the score to a predetermined threshold value; and g) continuing an automated process of diagnosing a medical problem if the threshold value is achieved.