Chapter 22 Psychiatric Emergencies Flashcards
What is the most common misconception surrounding mental illness?
Feeling “bad” or “depressed” means that you must be “sick”
Why might EMTs encounter a larger proportion of violent patients than the population at large?
EMTs respond to patients who, by definition, are having an emergency
Everyone exhibits some signs and symptoms of mental illness at some point in life but _____.
That does not mean a person is mentally ill
Which of the following is an example of a psychiatric emergency?
A) A person going on a week-long “bender” after losing a job
B) A person violently attacking family members
C) A person who is depressed and no longer caring for himself
D) A person who is experiencing a panic attack
B) A person violently attacking family members
The two basic categories of diagnosis that a physician will use for behavioral crises or psychiatric emergencies are _____.
Physical and psychological
Which of the following conditions is considered an organic brain syndrome? A) Schizophrenia B) Alzheimer dementia C) Anxiety conditions D) Depression
B) Alzheimer dementia
What is a good guideline for physical examination of any patient?
Avoid touching without permission
A general impression of the patient is formed by an EMT:
At a distance when the patient is first seen
What term applies to a state of delusion in which the patient is out of touch with reality?
Psychosis
A 40-year-old man intentionally cut his wrist out of anger after losing his job. Law enforcement has secured the scene prior to your arrival. As you enter the residence and visualize the patient, you can see that he has a towel around his wrist and a moderate amount of blood has soaked through. You should first:
Calmly identify yourself to the patient
You are assessing a 45-year-old female who is severely depressed. She states that it seems as though her entire world is crashing down around her. She further states that she has had frequent thoughts of suicide, but is not sure if she can actually go through with it. How should you manage this situation?
Ask the patient if she has developed a suicidal plan
What are some signs of excited delirium?
Diaphoresis
Tachycardia
Hallucinations
A 38-year-old male with a history of schizophrenia is reported by neighbors to be screaming and throwing things in his house. You are familiar with the patient and have cared for him in the past for unrelated problems. Law enforcement officers escort you into the residence when you arrive. The patient tells you that he sees vampires and is attempting to ward them off by screaming and throwing things at them. He has several large lacerations to his forearms that are actively bleeding. The most appropriate way to manage this situation is to:
Restrain the patient with appropriate force in order to treat his injuries
You receive a call for a domestic dispute. When you arrive at the scene, you fine a young male standing on the front porch of his house. You notice that an adjacent window is broken. The patient has a large body, is clenching his fists, and is yelling obscenities at you. Which of the following findings is least predictive of this patient’s potential for violence?
His large body size
When caring fora patient experiencing excited delirium, the EMT should remember that:
Sudden death can occur if the patient’s violence is not controlled
From a mental health standpoint, an abnormal or disturbing pattern of behavior is a matter of concern if it lasts more than:
1 month
You are attending to a 32-year-old male patient. The patient’s wife tells you that he returned from Afghanistan last year. While he initially seemed fine, lately he has become withdrawn and distanced himself from his family and friends. He does not talk about it, but she knows that he has been having terrible nightmares that wake him up. The most appropriate question to ask regarding his experience in Afghanistan is:
Were you shot at or under fire?
You are attending to a 27-year-old patient with a history of depression. The patient’s family tells you that she has been openly talking about harming herself and suicide, and they got scared when she tried to overdose on some medications. The patient did not take the pills and is alert and oriented. Despite all of your best efforts to convince her, the patient refuses to go to the hospital for treatment. Based on this information, you should:
Stay with the patient while you arrange for other transport options as a potentially life-threatening emergency exists
Which of the following is a normal reaction to a crisis situation?
A) Monday morning blues that last until Friday
B) Feeling “blue” after the breakup of a long-term relationship
C) Feeling depressed week after week with no discernible cause
D) Thoughts of suicide
B) Feeling “blue” after the breakup of a long-term relationship
Patients may show agitation of violence or become a threat to themselves or others when the experience a(n) _____ emergency.
Psychiatric
When documenting abnormal behavior, it is important to:
Document everything that happened on the call
Dean, a man in 50s, is acting irrationally. His wife states that he thinks he is the dictator of a small country, and he is wearing nothing but a baseball cap and a belt with a small handgun attached to it. What is your best course of action?
Call for police backup
People with _____ may experience symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, a lack of interest in pleasure, and erratic speech.
Schizophrenia
_____ is a behavior that is characterized by restlessness and irregular physical activity.
Agitation
A condition of impairment in cognitive function that can present with disorientation, hallucinations, or delusions is called:
Delirium
What is an illness with psychological or behavioral symptoms that may result in impaired functioning?
A psychiatric disorder
What is a functional disorder?
A psychological disorder that impairs bodily function when the body seems to be structurally normal
What is a behavioral crisis?
Any reaction to events that interferes with activities of daily living or is unacceptable to the patient or others
