mental health and cognition Flashcards
describe mental health
- mental health is foundational to a sense of personal well being, physical health, relationships and learning
- it involves successful engagement in activities and relationships and the ability to adapt to and cope with change
describe cognition
cognition refers to the change in thought, intelligence, and language that occurs over time as brain maturation and life experiences interact to mutually influence childrens actions
describe brain development during pregnancy
- the braindevelops early; critical development occurs by the fourth to sixth week of gestation
- many women do not know they are pregnant at this time
- during this time, the brain is not protected by the blood brain barrier and is at risk for injury from the fetal envirnment
- maternal alcohol and drug ingestion, certain medications, and eexposure to environmental toxins can influene the devloping fetus’ brain
describe the development of the brain ad mental health throughout childhood
- most of the brain structure is present at birth; during the first 5 years of life the brain continues to develop and mature as the hild gains fine and gross motor, social, and language skills
- mental health and cognition in children is different from adults because developmental progression and abilities influence perceptions and reactions
- childhood is a crucial period for development of mental health that provides for the social skills, emotional health, developmental progression and cognitive abilities that prepare youth for mental health and achieving maximum potential in adulthood
- during childhood, the necessity for bonding and attchment to significant adults forms the cornerstone of the child’s healthy mental development
- young children rely on adults for establishment of mental health
describe the incidence of mental health issues in children
- one in five children and adolescents have a mental health disorder
- 8 out of 10 lifetime mental disorders begin to manifest during childhood
- less than 25% of children with mental health alterations receive mental health services to treat their impairment
- increased risk for mnetal health disorders with children from low income families; children in the welfare system, and youth in the juvenile justice system
- ages 10-21 years, mental health issues among the top two leading causes of hospitalization
do mental health issues originate from genetic or environmental dysfunctions?
both
- some that are genetic include intellectual disability and childhood schizophrenia
- often family and environmental factors influence characteristics and contribute to dysfunctions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- these factors make prevention, diagnosis, and treatment very challenging
- these issue can escalate to crisis and needs to be assessed frequently
describe assessment guidelines for mental health and cognition in chhildren
- the assessment focuses on history, growth and developemtn, social skills, affect, appearance, behaviors and life events
- kids with mental health issues usually dont meet developmental milestones, may have social skills and may have regression
- important signs of disruption include repetitive actions, behvaioral instability, outbursts, and withdrawal
describe diagnostic testing for alterations in mental health and cognition
- prents or teachers notice behavior changes and child is referred to mental health provider
- evaluation includes observing behvaior, asking fam and teachers to complete behavioral questionnaires and a thorough review of history
describe the role of healthcare providers for alterations in mental health and cognition
- play an important role in collaborating with schools to help a child with learning disorders or other disabilities get the special services they need
- the AAP has created a repot that describes the role that healthcare providers can have in helping children with disabilities
- these roles include identifying kids that may need early intervention, sharing relavent info with school and early intervention specialists, meeting with specialists and fam and school, and working to improve school functioning around kids with special needs
whats th primary treatment goal for alterations in mental health and cognition
assist the child and fam to achieve and maintain optimal level of functioning for child and fam through interventions desgined to reduce impact of stressors
what are the three treatment modes for alterations in mental health and cognition
- individual therapy (child + therapist)
- fam therapy (fam + therapist)
- group therapy (child and children their age)
what are some therapeutic strategies for alterations in mental health and cognition and what do they do
- play therapy: revelas problems through fantasy
- art therapy: provides insight to issues and helps with healing
- cognition therapy: teaches thinking patterns and how to change them and reactions
- behavior modification: stimulus and response conditioning to alter undesirable behavior
- visualization and guided imagery: using kids imagination and positive thinking
- hypnosis
describe the etiology of autism spectrum disorders
unknown
proposed theories:
- genetic transmission, immune responses, environmental exposures and expose to drugs during pregnancy
- interaction of all theories with genetics is being investigated
- neurotransmitters: dopamine and serotonin are abnormal in some children
does the MMR vaccine cause autism?
no
what are some characteristics of ASDs
- socialization impairments
- communication issues
- behvaior may be rigid and obsessive
- difficulty with eye and body contact
- language delay can be an early sign
when is diagnosis of ASD usually confirmed?
age 2 to 3 years
describe the assessment for ASD
- assessment done at each health care visit
- if at risk, administer age-appropriate ASD screening tool
- if not at risk, ASD screening done at 18-24mo
what diagnostics are used for ASD
rule our other causes: CT/MRI, lead screening, meabolic studies, DNA analysis, EEG
diagnosis is based on criteria in DSM-V:
- persistent deficits in social communication and social interactions
- restrictive, repetitive actions or behavior interests
- severity depends on symptoms
- may be seen in early developmental periods
describe clinical therapy for ASD
- early intervention maximizes potential: improves developmental skills and behaviors and establishes parental support
- therapy focuses on behavior management to reward appropriate behavior, foster positive or adaptive coping skills and effective communication
- speech therapy to enhance communication
- occupational therapy for social skills and improving fine motor and sensory integration
- meds to treat associated disorders
describe nursing management for ASD
environmental stimuli:
- sounds may be perceived as louder, frightening, overwhelming
- orient to new environment more extensively
- favorite objects from home
provide supportive care:
- ask about home routine and maintain
- parent participation in ADL
enhance communication:
- chort, direct sentences
- teach to developmental level
- visual cues: picture, computers, and visual aids to enhance communication
maintain safety
family support and education
describe ADHD
- ADHD is characterized by dveelopmentally inappropriate behvaiors involving attention
- ADHD is ADD with impulsivity and hyperactivity
- most common mental health alteration in children
- boys more common then girls
- often continues into adulthood
describe the etiology of ADHD
- causes difficult to identify
- known associations with high lead or mercury levels and prenatal exposure to alcohol or tobacco
- genetic factors: single gene not identified
- genetic predisposition intects with environment: family stress, poverty, poor nutrition may be contributers
- can have low catecholamines, lowering the threshold for stimuli input
- marked by delays in brain regarding self regulation
what are some clinical manifestations of ADHD
- symptoms range from mild to severe
- decreased attention span
- impulsiveness
- increased motor activity
- difficulty completeing tasks
- fidgets constantly
- loud and disruptive
- sleep disturbances common
- may have learning disabilities, motor disorders, and aggressive behaviors