MENTAL HEALTH Flashcards
What type of medications are used to treat tremors in AD patients?
Anticholinergic medications: benztropine, trihexyphenidyl
-These meds can precipitate acute glaucoma and urinary retention and are therefore contraindicated in susceptible clients (those with glaucoma oR BPH)
What is agoraphobia?
Characterized by intense anxiety about being in a situation from which there may be difficulty escaping in the event of a panic attack.
-A person with agoraphobia may avoid open spaces, closed spaces, riding in public transportation, going outside, etc.
What is clozapine?
Atypical medication used to treat schizophrenia that hasn’t responded to traditional treatment.
- Associated with risk for agranulocytosis –> must obtain a CBC and a neutrophil count before starting client starts on this med.
- Clients should contact HCP if they have sore throat/fever
List signs of depression in adolescents:
- Hypersomnolence or insomnia; napping during daily activities.
- Low self-esteem; withdrawal from previously enjoyable activities
- Outbursts of angry, aggressive, or delinquent behavior
- Weight gain or loss; increased food intake or lack of interest in eating.
* Adolescents frequently report “vague somatic symptoms (headache,stomachache) and may exhibit an irritable or cranky mood.
If you have a client who is suffering from acute alcohol intoxication, confusion, and a diabetic foot ulcer, what intervention is a priority?
Monitoring blood glucose levels through the night: Alcohol can cause hypoglycemia, especially in clients with DM. –> Difficult to tell if the client is confused due to alcohol or hypoglycemia or both = MONITOR
How long does alcohol withdrawal last?
Alcohol withdrawal generally starts within 8 hours after the last drink and peaks at 24-72 hours.
Social anxiety disorder:
Excessive and persistent fear of social or performance situations in which the client is exposed to strangers and the possibility of scrutiny by others.
Ex: meeting other people, eating/drinking in public, giving a speech/
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia:
- Impaired social interaction
- Inappropriate, flat, or bland affect and apathy
- Emotional ambivalence
- Disheveled appearance
- Inability to establish and move toward goal accomplishment
- Lack of energy, pacing, rocking, odd posturing
- Regressive behavior, inability to experience pleasure
- Seeming lack of interest in the world and people
Positive symptoms of schizo:
Hallucinations, delusions, thought impairment
Displacement:
Occurs when a person shifts uncomfortable feelings or impulses about one situation or person to a substitute situation or person deemed acceptable to receive these uncomfortable feelings or impulses
Projection:
Involves feeling uncomfortable with an impulse or feeling and easing anxiety by assigning it to another person.
Ex: husband with thoughts of infidelity who then accuses his wife of being unfaithful
Reaction formation:
Involves transforming an unacceptable feeling or impulse into its opposite.
Ex: a client with cancer who fears dying but behaves in an overly optimistic and fearless manner about his treatment and prognosis.
A diagnosis of schizo w/ catatonia can be made if the clinical features meet the criteria for schizo and include at least two of the following additional features:
- Immobility: clients remain in a fixed stupor, or position for long periods of time and refuse to move or engage in ADLs
- Remaining mute
- Bizarre postures: client hold the body rigidly in one position
- Extreme negativism: client resists instructions or attempts to be moved
- Waxy flexibility: clients limbs stay in the same position in which they are placed by another person
- Staring
- Stereotyped movements, grimacing
*Clients with catatonia are unable to meet their basic needs for adequate fluid and food intake –> at risk for dehydration/malnutrition
Psychomotor retardation:
Clinical symptom of MDD.
Manifestations include: slowed speech, decreased movement, and impaired cognitive function. The individual may not have the energy or ability to perform ADLs or to interact with others.
Specific clinical findings of psychomotor retardation:
- Movement impairment
- Lack of facial expression
- Downcast gaze
- Speech impairment
- Social interaction reduced
Somatization:
Physical symptoms that cannot be explained by a medical condition or disease
The nurse is aware that an acute manic episode is characterized by the following:
- Excessive psychomotor activity
- Euphoric mood
- Poor impulse control
- Flight of idea, non-stop talking
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Insomnia
- Wearing bizarre or inappropriate clothing, jewelry, and makeup
- Neglected hygiene and inadequate nutritional intake
The care plan for a person experiencing an acute manic episode includes the following:
- Reduction of environmental stimuli: providing a quiet, calm environment, limiting the number of people who come in contact with the client
- One on one interactions, rather than group activities
- Low lighting
- A structured schedule of activities to help the client stay focused
- Physical activities to help relieve excess energy
- Providing high-protein, high-calorie meals and snacks that are easy to eat
- Setting limits on behavior
Amitriptyline:
Tricyclic antidepressant: an overdose of which is extremely dangerous and likely fatal.
When is ECT effective/needed?
Helps treat severe depression or highly suicidal, when the client pose a threat to themselves and it is not safe to wait until medications take effect.
-Also used for patients who can’t tolerate medication SEs
