Child & Adolescents Flashcards
What is infant mental health?
“Infant mental health” refers to how well a child develops socially and emotionally from birth to three. Understanding infant mental health is the key to preventing and treating the mental health problems of very young children and their families.
What are some Mothering Myths?
A mother immediately wants, knows and loves her baby
Maori and Pasifika mothers bond better with their babies because of more family support
A mother should be able to give her full emotional self to her baby
The birth of a baby bring contentment and happiness to a family
Maternal mental health
The most risky time for women to become mentally unwell is post partum
10-15% of women experience PND
10% pregnant women experience depression
15-20% women experience anxiety while pregnant and/ or post natally
1-2% of women experience BPAD while pregnant and/ or post natally
0.5% of women will experience a post natal psychosis
What are the influences on maternal mental health?
Biology
Psychology, temperament and resilience
Social situation and supports
Previous pregnancy and birth experiences
Trauma
Drug and alcohol use
Cultural perceptions
What is the attachment theory?
John Bowlby’s theory
Children need a primary attachment figure
Detrimental outcomes for children if this does not occur
Children behave in a way that elicits proximity from their primary attachment figure
From this, they develop an internal working model about themselves, the way the world is, and how they are perceived in the world
Secure:55-65% of population. “My primary caregiver is emotionally available and responsive to my needs”.
Avoidant: 20-30% of population. “My primary caregiver is usually emotionally unavailable and my independence is valued”.
Ambivalent: 5-15% of population. “My primary caregiver is inconsistently emotionally available”.
Disorganised: Destructive. “My primary caregiver sometimes soothes me, but also represents danger. I don’t know what to expect from them”.
Child mental health and development
*Problems in more than one setting (at school, at home, with peers)
*Changes in appetite or sleep
*Social withdrawal or fear of things he or she did not used to be not afraid of
*Returning to behaviors more common in younger children, such as bedwetting
*Signs of being upset, such as sadness or tearfulness
*Signs of self-destructive behavior, such as head-banging or suddenly getting hurt often
*Repeated thoughts of death
Examples of childhood mental health issues
ADD and ADHD
Anxiety- PTSD, OCD, GAD, specific phobia, separation anxiety, panic disorder, social phobia
Depression
BPAD
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorder
Pica
Rumination Disorder
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Other specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)
Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder (UFED)
Nursing considerations for working with those with eating disorders
Cardiac complications (including heart failure)
Starvation (re feeding syndrome)
Electrolyte imbalances
Dental hygiene and dental implications
Weight gain/ loss
Amenorrhea
Osteoporosis
Dehydration (with renal implications)
Low body temperature and lanugo
Muscle wasting
Inflammation of the oesophagus and peptic ulcer (which can rupture)
Cognitive impairments
Family impacts and relationships
Mental health
Define prenatal mental health
preconception until the infant is around. 24 months old
this area considers maternal and infant mental health understands that early intervention is important to maximise health outcomes for mother and infant
What are the potential challenges a nurse may face when engaging with and assessing the health of a child
- communication issues due to developmental and/or chronological age
- parental resistance and/or consent
- access
- the restrictions, environmental restrictions, difficulty establishing a therapeutic relationship
Why are maori at a higher risk of suicide than non-maori
- risk associated with the history of colonisation
- higher rates of mental illness and AOD use
- higher rates of family violence
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms- restriction of energy intake with intention of weight reduction. intense fear of gaining weight, body dysmorphia
Impact- low mood, cognitive impairment, increased anxiety, pseudo sense of control, life threatening medical conditions
Bulimia Nervosa
Symptoms- eating an excessive amount of food, larger than most people would eat, over a similar period of time; then purging oneself due to feelings of fear and/or disgust
Impact- low mood, anxiety, oesophageal ulceration, teeth decay, medical complication
Binge eating disorder
Symptoms- recurrent episodes of binge eating, lack of self-control associated with distress after bingeing
Impact- marked psychological distress, significant psychiatric comorbidities
