common mental health conditions pt2

Question 1

Stigma

Answer 1

• Stigma is the social disapproval of personal characteristics perceived to be at odds with social or cultural norms. It distinguishes between ‘normal’ and ‘deviant’ members of society.

Question 2

Impact of stigma

Answer 2

• reduction in employment opportunities
• reduction in self esteem
• affects ability to find safe accommodation
• affects socialising
• reluctance to seek help

Question 3

role of HPs and stigma

Answer 3

• Health professionals have a responsibility to understand the impact of social stigma on a person’s life and educating the community and advocating for the person with mental health issues.
  HPs are not to perpetuate social stereotypes or putting down consumers for their issues, as well as alienating or excluding them from their treatment options

Question 4

psychosis

Answer 4

Psychological symptoms that affect someone’s perception of reality

Question 5

onset of psychosis- age

Answer 5

typically in late adoles- early adulthood

Question 6

causes of psychosis

Answer 6

• Drug use eg. Cannabis, amphetamines, prescriptive medication
• Traumatic events or sig. distress
• Family history

Question 7

psychotic disorders

Answer 7

schizophrenia

bipolar disorder

Question 8

key features of psychotic disorders

Answer 8

• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Disorganised thinking or speech
• Grossly diagnosed or abnormal motor behaviour (including catatonia)
• Negative symptoms

Question 9

schizophrenia

Answer 9

belonging to the schizophrenia spectrum and other disorders DSM-5 category. it affects a persons ability to distinguish reality from fantasy

Question 10

types of schizophrenia

Answer 10

• Paranoid
• Undifferentiated
• Catatonic
• Disorganised

Question 11

prevalence of schizophrenia

Answer 11

• both genders effected equally

- tends to be more severe and develops earlier in makes

Question 12

development of schizophrenia

Answer 12

onset late adolescence to early adulthood
late 20s for females (develop it later than males)
gradual increase in severity
decrease in symptoms over time

Question 13

causes of schizophrenia

Answer 13

• Appears that biochemical, genetic and environmental factors are involved
• People with a close relative who has schizophrenia are more likely to develop it
• Drug use and stress are linked- in particular a link between cannabis and schizophrenia has been formed

Question 14

diagnosis of schizophrenia

Answer 14

• There is no test that can absolutely diagnose it- physical tests can exclude psychotic episodes caused due to physical conditions (eg. Brain tumours)
• Diagnosis is made based upon a pattern of signs and symptoms together with impaired occupational or social functioning.

Question 15

positive symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 15

Seen to be in excess or distortions of common or ordinary experiences- phenomenon is added to the persons usual experiences.

• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Disorganised thinking
• Disorganised/ abnormal motor abilities

Question 16

negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 16

Symptoms that take away from or suggest a deficit in relation to common or ordinary experiences- absence or lack in a person’s ordinary or usual experiences.
Includes:
-Blunted emotions- appears disinterested or withdrawn etc.
-Cognitive deficits- difficulty in communicating, concentrating, slow to sensory input
-Apathy- difficulty performing simple tasks- appear slow, unmotivated

Question 17

define hallucinations

Answer 17

False sensory perceptions, or perceptual phenomena arising without any external stimulus
Types:
- Auditory: hearing things that aren’t there- critical voices etc
- Visual: seeing things that aren’t there- seeing a face in a window etc.
- Tactile: feeling things- presence of a parasite under the skin etc.
- Gustatory- tasting things- tasting salt etc.
- Olfactory- smelling things- burning rubber etc.

Question 18

define delusions

Answer 18

Fixed and false beliefs which the person cannot be dissuaded from despite contradictory evidence.

can be:

• Grandiose delusions- person possesses special powers, talent or abilities- they are royalty, a millionaire etc
• Somatic delusions- believing they have physical illness that is not supported by evidence
• Ideas of references- insignificant events have personal significance- tv has special messages for them
• Religious delusions- false belief with religious or spiritual content- person is Jesus Christ.

Question 19

disorganised thinking-S

Answer 19

Can lead to conversation that lacks structure or remains focused on a certain issue that is distressing for the person.

• word salad
• echolalia (repeating words)
• thought blocking (forgetting what they’re saying)

Question 20

disorganised or abnormal motor behaviour-S

Answer 20

Ranges from childlike actions to unpredictable agitation
Catatonic behaviour- decrease in reactivity to environment- resistance to instructions, ridid inappropriate, bizarre posture, complete lack of verbal and motor responses
Purposeless and excessive motor activity with no cause

Question 21

Bipolar disorder

Answer 21

Cycling of moods that is experienced by a person between two poles of high or elevated mood and low or depressed mood.

Question 22

types of bipolar disorder

Answer 22

Bipolar 1- mania
bipolar 2- hypomania
Rapid cycling bipolar

Question 23

mania

Answer 23

A period of elevated, expansive or irritable mood, high energy levels and inappropriate behaviours that may cause major problems in relationships or work settings

Question 24

symptoms of mania

Answer 24

• Grandiosity
• Decreased need for sleep
• Excessive talkativeness
• Racing thoughts
• Distractibility
• Feeling invincible/bulletproof
• Risky or out of character behaviours

Question 25

hypomania

Answer 25

Similar to mania- however symptoms are less severe and causes less impairment
Usually no psychotic features
Person may not require hospitalisation
Smaller duration- sometimes only a few days

Question 26

treatment of bipolar disorder

Answer 26

Involves 2 parts- treating the current episode of mania or depression and preventing the long- term recurrence of mania and depression

Question 27

self care

Answer 27

• Any activity/ attitude/action intended to improve or maintain health, or to treat or prevent ill health
• Learned, purposeful and continuous
• Requires active engagement

Question 28

things you can do to self care

Answer 28

1. Understand problem
2. Take back control
3. Take breaks
4. Learn to relax
5. Exercise
6. Get enough sleep
7. Eat a healthy diet
8. Cut down on unhealthy behaviours
9. Visit your GP

Question 29

MH promotion

Answer 29

Focus on creating social, physical and economic environments that support MH and also allow people to adopt or maintain healthy lifestyles
Important part is working to
- Support/ increase protective factors that prevent mi and lead to flourishing
- Eliminating/ minimising risk factors that give rise to distress and mi

Question 30

MH risk factors

Answer 30

substance use. Low SES, disability, unsafe env. Dysfunctional family, abuse

Question 31

MH protective factors

Answer 31

support system, stable income, access to education and health services, positive childhood

Question 32

National mental health strategy

Answer 32

Australia is internationally recognised as a leader in the reform of MH services
NMHS originally endorsed by the AUS GOV in 1992
- Guides the dev, planning, implementation and delivery of MH services across Australia
Aims to
- Promote the MH of the aus community
- Where possible, prevent the dev of mental disorders
- Reduce the impact of mental disorders on individuals, families and the community
- Assure the rights of people with mental illness