Altered Thought Processes Flashcards
Normal Cognitive changes
- increased reaction & response time
- individualized
- mild short term memory loss
- decline in problem solving
- long term memory usually remains intact
Cognition
the ability to think
the ability to process and store information
the ability to solve problems
What does cognition involve?
Cognition involves the mental processing of information. Memory and thought combine to store, retrieve and manipulate this information
A cognitive Disorder
A problem or lack of one or more of the three elements.
Conditions of a Cognitive Disorder
Delirium, Dementia, Amnesia/Amnestic disorder= forgetfullness
Level of consciousness (LOC)
measures alertness
Delirium
An acute change in a person’s level of cognition and level of cognition, LOC that occurs over a short period of time–hours to days
Dementia
A progressive, irreversible decline in mental function. Not a part of normal aging, often not noticed at first. Decline in physical and cognitive function and personality changes.
Progression of Dementia
slowly to very obvious
Confusion
Acute change in mental status from baseline; disorientaion mixed with lucidiy
Changes in LOC
can range from stupor to hyperacivity
Disorganized thought/speech
unable to reason, disjointed, slurred speech
Decreased attention span
have difficulty focusing
imparied memory
cannot form, store, or retrieve information
Fear
apprehensive, bewildered
Anxiety
vague, uneasy feeling of discomfort or dread; source is non-specific or unknown
paranoia
if persists over 1 week could be a symptom of schizophrenia
sleep-wake distrubances
take brief naps day and night
sundowning
sundowners syndrome; oriented during the day, confused at night
illusions
inaccurate perception of sensory stimulation. Stimulus is a real object. Iv line is a snake, garbage can is a dog. Can be explained and clarified
Delusions
a false belief held with conviction despite overwhelming evidence o the contrary. Belief of being poisoned–will not eat; delusion of persecution, delusions of grandeur.
Agitation
increased mental and physical activity. Especially physical–usually non-purposeful activity like pacing
hallucinations
false sensory stimulation. See or feel things (bugs/rats) that others do not see.
what are the three most common forms of dementia
Dementia with lewy bodies, vascular dementia or multi-infarct dementia and alzheimers disease
dementia with lewy bodies
2nd most common late onset dementia
What is dementia with lewy bodies
abnormal protein levels within the nerves, develop cognitive changes and then develop musculoskeletal changes
What are some signs and symptoms of dementia with lewy bodies
fluctuating confusion, impaired alertness and attention, visual hallucinations, increased muscle tone, gait disorders, falling, syncope, LOC. delusions
Vascular Dementia Multi-Infarct or Ischemic Vascular Dementia
Affects 60-75 years old
Affects more men than women
Abrupt onset with multiple remissions
Progressive step-wise decline in person’s mental functioning.
Vascular Dementia Multi-Infarct or Ischemic Vascular Dementia: physical signs/symptoms
Memory problems; forgetfulness; dizziness; leg or arm weakness; lack of concentration; moving with rapid shuffling steps; loss of bladder or bowel control.
Vascular Dementia Multi-Infarct or Ischemic Vascular Dementia: behavioral signs/symptoms
slurred speech; language problems; abnormal behavior; wandering or getting lost in familiar surroundings; laughing or crying inappropriately; difficulty following instructions; problems handling money.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Can be late or early onset
Late onset Alzheimer’s Disease
- 95% of all cases
- over age of 65
- Only diagnosis is an autopsy
- many causative factors
- Disease itself is not fatal but the secondary effects are
Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Believed to be genetically linked
40-50 years of age
5% of all cases
10 Warning Signs of Alzheimers
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- challenges in planning or solving problems
- difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
- confusion with time or place
- trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- new problems with words in speaking or writing
- misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- decreased or poor judgement
- withdrawal from work or social activities
- changes in mood and personality
Anomia
Difficulty finding/remembering words or name of objets
apraxia
inability to use the object appropriately Ex. getting dressed, eating utensils
Agnosia
loss of sensory comprehension/recognize objects that are everyday
Later on in disease: cannot recognize themselves/family
Amnesia
loss of memory, cannot develop new
aphasia
inability to speak/understand or loss of ability to speak
receptive aphasia
unable to process what they hear
expressive aphasia
cant express how they feel
agraphia
inability to express themselves through writing
alexia
inability to understand written language (can read it but cannot comprehend it)
Activities of daily living (ADL’s BATTED)
Bathing, Ambulating, Toileting, Transfer, Eating, Dressing
