common mental health conditions pt2 Flashcards
Stigma
- 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.
Impact of stigma
- reduction in employment opportunities
- reduction in self esteem
- affects ability to find safe accommodation
- affects socialising
- reluctance to seek help
role of HPs and stigma
- 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
psychosis
Psychological symptoms that affect someone’s perception of reality
onset of psychosis- age
typically in late adoles- early adulthood
causes of psychosis
- Drug use eg. Cannabis, amphetamines, prescriptive medication
- Traumatic events or sig. distress
- Family history
psychotic disorders
schizophrenia
bipolar disorder
key features of psychotic disorders
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganised thinking or speech
- Grossly diagnosed or abnormal motor behaviour (including catatonia)
- Negative symptoms
schizophrenia
belonging to the schizophrenia spectrum and other disorders DSM-5 category. it affects a persons ability to distinguish reality from fantasy
types of schizophrenia
- Paranoid
- Undifferentiated
- Catatonic
- Disorganised
prevalence of schizophrenia
- both genders effected equally
- tends to be more severe and develops earlier in makes
development of schizophrenia
onset late adolescence to early adulthood
late 20s for females (develop it later than males)
gradual increase in severity
decrease in symptoms over time
causes of schizophrenia
- 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
diagnosis of schizophrenia
- 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.
positive symptoms of schizophrenia
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
negative symptoms of schizophrenia
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
define hallucinations
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.
define delusions
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.
disorganised thinking-S
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)
disorganised or abnormal motor behaviour-S
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
Bipolar disorder
Cycling of moods that is experienced by a person between two poles of high or elevated mood and low or depressed mood.
types of bipolar disorder
Bipolar 1- mania
bipolar 2- hypomania
Rapid cycling bipolar
mania
A period of elevated, expansive or irritable mood, high energy levels and inappropriate behaviours that may cause major problems in relationships or work settings
symptoms of mania
- Grandiosity
- Decreased need for sleep
- Excessive talkativeness
- Racing thoughts
- Distractibility
- Feeling invincible/bulletproof
- Risky or out of character behaviours
hypomania
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
treatment of bipolar disorder
Involves 2 parts- treating the current episode of mania or depression and preventing the long- term recurrence of mania and depression
self care
- Any activity/ attitude/action intended to improve or maintain health, or to treat or prevent ill health
- Learned, purposeful and continuous
- Requires active engagement
things you can do to self care
- Understand problem
- Take back control
- Take breaks
- Learn to relax
- Exercise
- Get enough sleep
- Eat a healthy diet
- Cut down on unhealthy behaviours
- Visit your GP
MH promotion
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
MH risk factors
substance use. Low SES, disability, unsafe env. Dysfunctional family, abuse
MH protective factors
support system, stable income, access to education and health services, positive childhood
National mental health strategy
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
