Exam 2 - mental health & dementia Flashcards

1
Q

what are the physiological changes in the brain of older adults?

A
  • neuron loss
  • brain atrophy
  • dendrites atrophy

everything is lost or shrinking

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2
Q

where is neuron loss more pronounced?

A

cerebral cortex

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3
Q

what are the neurotransmitters that have a big impact on older adults?

A
  • acetylcholine
  • serotonin
  • dopamine
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4
Q

why do nurses need a complete assessment (including lab work) with an older adult that exhibits MCI?

A

to rule out any causes of cognitive impairment

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5
Q

any form of mental health disorders is not normal

A

true

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6
Q

common mental disorders in late life

A
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • mood disorders
  • alcohol abuse
  • alcohol dependence
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7
Q

what type of questions does a nurse ask when conducting a mental health assessment on an older adult?

A
  • history of their ability to cope with stress
  • availability of social support
  • loss of loved ones
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8
Q

what are the components of an evaluation of an older adult’s mental health?

A
  • cognitive function
  • substance abuse
  • suicide risk
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9
Q

what are interventions for older adults with mental illness?

A
  • enhance resilience & resourcefulness
  • enhance functional status & independence
  • promote sense of control
  • foster social supports & relationships
  • educate about available resources
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10
Q

life events & stressors have a strong correlation to development of anxiety disorders

A

true

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11
Q

what situations is anxiety associated with?

A
  • excessive healthcare use
  • decreased physical activity & functional status
  • substance abuse
  • decreased life satisfaction
  • increased mortality rates
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12
Q

anxiety is a common side effect for many drugs that older adults use

A

true

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13
Q

anxiety is hard to diagnose in older adults due to their denial

A

true

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14
Q

it is possible that coexisting medical conditions & certain medications can mimic anxiety & depression

A

true

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15
Q

pharmacological interventions for anxiety

A
  • SSRIs
  • short-acting benzodiazepines
  • non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic agents
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16
Q

non-pharmacological interventions for anxiety

A
  • CBT
  • meditation
  • yoga
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17
Q

how does depression present in older adults?

A
  • low libido
  • somatic complaints
  • decreased energy
  • social withdrawal
  • preoccupation with death
  • memory problems
  • hypochondriasis
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18
Q

what is the most common mental illness among the older population?

A

depression

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19
Q

what are the assessment tools that nurses use for depression in older adults?

A
  • Depression Screening Scale
  • laboratory analysis
  • medication review
  • Geriatric Depression Scale
  • functional assessment
  • cognitive assessment
20
Q

why do men have higher suicide rates than women?

A

they have the means to carry out their suicidal intentions

21
Q

which population is most vulnerable to suicide?

A

old widowers

22
Q

what are the questions to ask to assess suicide risk?

A
  • Have you thought about killing yourself?
  • How often do you have these thoughts?
  • Do you have a plan to carry it out?

direct questions

23
Q

where is substance detoxification best implemented?

A

inpatient setting

24
Q

what is the assessment tool for delirium?

A

Confusion Assessment Method

25
Q

what are the interventions for delirium?

A
  • sensory enhancement
  • ambulate twice a day
  • nutritional & fluid enhancement
  • pain management
26
Q

what are the syndromes of dementia?

A
  • aphasia
  • apraxia
  • agnosia
  • disturbances in executive functioning
27
Q

example of a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic agent

A

Buspar

28
Q

which type of drug is the last resort in treating anxiety?

A

benzodiazepine

29
Q

what is the last resort in treating depression?

A

ECT

30
Q

which population is more likely to abuse alcohol?

A

White men

31
Q

what are the two types of Alzheimer’s disease?

A
  • early onset
  • late onset
32
Q

characteristics of early onset AD

A
  • starts around 30-60 years old
  • genetic mutation of 3 genes
33
Q

what are the stages of Alzheimer’s Disease?

A
  • Preclinical
  • Mild Cognitive Impairment
  • Final Stage
33
Q

characteristics of late onset AD

A
  • starts at 60 years old
  • combination of lifestyle, environmental factors, & genetic mutation
34
Q

characteristics of preclinical stage (AD)

A
  • lumbar puncture is indicated
  • early cognitive decline (onset 5-20 years prior to obvious manifestations)
35
Q

characteristics of mild cognitive impairment stage

A
  • amnesiac
  • no sense of personal space
  • needs full-time assistance
  • communication impaired
  • risk for pneumonia
36
Q

characteristic of final stage

A

Alzheimer’s Dementia fully manifested

37
Q

what is the most common drug for AD?

A

Aricet

38
Q

what is the MOA of Aricet?

A

slows progression of the onset of dementia

39
Q

what is important for the perceptions of reality among patients with AD?

A

a patient’s reality is their own and must not be changed nor discouraged

40
Q

why is reorientation unnecessary among patients with AD?

A

the brain is already deteriorating–it does not need to be corrected

41
Q

what is the most inconvenient problem among patients with AD?

A

wandering

42
Q

how can wandering be avoided?

A
  • doorways must be disguised
  • patients should never be left alone
  • motion detector sensors
43
Q

how many hours can a search team have in looking for someone with AD / dementia?

A

6-12 hours

44
Q

what are the 4 roles of nurses for patients with dementia?

A
  • magician
  • detective
  • carpenter (use of tools to individualize care)
  • jester
45
Q

what are the medications most commonly taken for anxiety?

A
  • Ativan
  • Celexa
  • Xanax
  • Buspar
46
Q

syndrome of dementia includes at least one of these:

A
  • aphasia
  • apraxia
  • agnosia
  • disturbances in executive functioning