Psychiatric/Mental Health (Exam One) Flashcards
An individuals reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response is known as what?
Stress
Describe healthy adaptations to stress.
- Stabilizing internal biological processes
- Preserving self-esteem
Adaptive responses are behaviors that ______ ____ _______ ___ ____ ________.
Maintain the integrity of the individual
Maladaptive responses by the individual are _________ ____ ___ ________ ___ ________.
Considered to be harmful or unhealthy
List examples of adaptive responses.
- Journal
- Exercise
- Relax
List examples of maladaptive responses.
- Substance abuse
- Social isolation
- Lash out in anger
A biological, psychological, social, or chemical factor that causes physical or emotional tension and may contribute to the development of certain illnesses is known as what?
Stressor
What is the effect on the body if an individual endures stress for a prolonged period of time?
- Compromises the immune system
- Become more susceptible to disease and illness
List the three stages of the general adaptation syndrome.
- Alarm reaction stage
- Stage of resistance
- Stage of exhaustion
Describe the alarm reaction stage.
Physiological responses of fight-or-flight syndrome are initiated
Describe the stage of resistance.
- Uses physiological responses from previous stage as defense mechanism to adapt
- If adaptation occurs the third stage is prevented/delayed
Describe the stage of exhaustion.
- Body responds to prolonged exposure to a stressor
- Adaptive energy is depleted
- Chronic illness/disease may occur
Why types of stressors are not resolved as rapidly as physical stressors and may deplete the bodies adaptive energy more quickly?
- Psychological stressors
- Emotional stressors
The process by which an individual’s response to change results in preservation of individual integrity or timely return to equilibrium is known as what?
Adaptation
Which biological system is responsible for the fight-or-flight response?
Sympathetic nervous system
What effects does epinephrine have on the body?
- Increase respiratory rate
- Increase heart rate
- Increase muscle strength
- Increase blood glucose for energy
- Slows digestion
- Dilates pupils
A 25-year-old man barely avoids a motor vehicle accident. His heart is pounding, his palms are sweaty, and his respirations are increased. This is an example of which stage of the general adaptation syndrome? A. Alarm reaction stage B. Stage of resistance C. Stage of exhaustion D. Stage of biological stress
A
What tool measures stress?
Recent Life Changes Questionnaire (RLCQ)
A ______ score on the RLCQ places in the individual at ______ susceptibility to physical or psychological illness
- High
- Greater
For a time frame of 6-months, what score is indicative of a high level of recent life stress according to the RLCQ?
Equal to or greater than 300 life changing units (LCU)
For a time frame of 1-year, what score is indicative of a high level of recent life stress according to the RLCQ?
Equal to or greater than 500 life changing units (LCU)
Life changes questionnaires have been criticized because they do not consider what factors?
- Individual perception of event
- Cultural variation
- Individual coping strategies
- Available support systems during event
What factors reduce the intensity of stressful life changes and promote a more adaptive response?
- Positive coping mechanisms
- Strong social/familial support
What is cognitive appraisal?
Individual evaluation of the personal significance of an event or occurrence
The cognitive response consists of what two phases?
- Primary appraisal
- Secondary appraisal
List the three types of primary appraisal.
- Irrelevant
- Benign-positive
- Stressful
Describe irrelevant primary appraisal.
Outcome holds no significance to individual
Describe benign-positive primary appraisal.
Perceived as producing pleasure for the individual
Stress appraisals include what three subdivisions?
- Harm/loss
- Threat
- Challenge
Describe harm or loss appraisals.
Damage or loss already experienced by the individual
Describe threat appraisals.
Perceived as an anticipated harms or losses
Describe challenging appraisals.
Individual focuses on potential for gain or growth rather than risks
Challenge appraisals produce _______ even though the emotions associated with it are positive.
Stress
When stress is produced in response to harm or loss, threat or challenge, what is made by the individual?
Secondary appraisal
What is secondary appraisal?
Assessment of skills, resources, and knowledge that a person possesses to deal with a situation
Which questions are asked during the secondary appraisal?
- Which coping strategies are available to me?
- Will the option I choose be effective in this situation?
- Do I have the ability to use the strategy in an effective manner?
A student with an A average is to take an exam. The student is relaxed and says the exam is not of concern because a failing grade would not affect successful completion of the course. What has contributed to this student’s adaptations response to stress?
A. The student judges the event as irrelevant
B. The actual precipitating event
C. The students cognitive appraisal of the situation
D. The event is appraised as challenging
C
_________ ________ strongly influence whether a response to stress is adaptive or maladaptive.
Prediosposing factors
List the types of predisposing factors according to Hobfoll.
- Genetic influences
- Past experiences
- Availability of resources
________ ____________ involves the use of coping strategies in response to stressful situations.
Stress management
Adaptive responses help restore the body to what state?
Homeostasis
What is resilience?
Positive adaptation in response to adversity
Coping strategies are considered adaptive if they do what?
- Protect individual from harm
- Strengthen individuals ability to meet challenging situations
The nurse knows what about a patient who is appearing overly anxious in the moment?
Patient needs to be calmed down before implementing coping strategies
List examples of adaptive coping strategies.
- Awareness
- Relaxation
- Meditation
- Interpersonal communication
- Problem-solving
- Pets
- Music
Which coping strategy has been known to significantly lower blood pressure and stress in individuals, if performed for 20 minutes each day?
Meditation
When are responses considered maladaptive?
When conflict goes unresolved or intensifies
Responses to stress ________ amongst individuals.
Vary
List the process of problem-solving and decision-making in order.
- Assess facts of situation
- Formulate goals for resolution
- Study the alternatives to situation
- Determine the risks and benefits of alternatives
- Select an alternative
- Implement the alternative
- Evaluating the outcome of the alternative
- Select a second alternative if first alternative is ineffective
What is the initial step in managing stress?
Awareness
List the two primary psychological response patterns to stress.
- Anxiety
- Grief
Who was the first person to place mental illness in a physical rather than supernatural context?
Hippocrates
Define self-actualization.
Fulfillment of one’s highest potential
Define mental health.
The successful adaptation to stressors from the internal or external environment
In which level of anxiety is learning enhanced and causes the patient to perform at a higher level?
Mild anxiety
A patient with anxiety begins to have headaches, heart palpitations and difficulty sleeping. What level of anxiety is this patient experiencing?
Severe anxiety
When are defense mechanisms most often deployed by the ego?
When biological or psychological integrity is threatened
Defense mechanisms are deployed to relieve what level of anxiety?
Mild-to-moderate anxiety
Maladaptive use of defense mechanisms promotes __________ of the ego.
Disintegration
In which defense mechanism does a person make excuses or formulate logical reasons to justify unacceptable feelings or behaviors?
Rationalization
Give an example of rationalization.
A patient tells the rehab nurse, “I drink because its the only way I can deal with my bad marriage”
In which defense mechanism does a person attribute feelings or impulses unacceptable to ones self onto another person?
Projection
Give an example of projection.
A man who is addicted to alcohol blames his wife for his excessive drinking
In which defense mechanism does a person retreat to an earlier level of development as a comfort measure?
Regression
Give an example of regression.
An adult throws a temper tantrum in response to an event
In which defense mechanism does a person rechannel drives and impulses that are personally or socially unacceptable into activities that are constructive?
Sublimation
Give an example of sublimation.
A woman’s mother dies from cancer so she channels her anger, grief and energy into becoming an advocate for cancer research
In which defense mechanism does a person refuse to acknowledge the existence of a real situation or the feelings associated with it?
Denial
Give an example of denial.
A woman drinks alcohol every day and cannot stop failing to acknowledge that she has a problem
List common characters of people with neurosis.
- Feel helpless to change their situation
- Aware they are experiencing distress
- Aware their behaviors are maladaptive
- Unaware of any possible psychological causes of distress
- Experience no loss of contact with reality
List common characters of people with psychoses.
- Exhibit minimal distress
- Unaware behaviors are maladaptive
- Unaware of psychological problem
- Exhibit a flight from reality
The absence of mourning is ___________ in relation to grief.
Maladaptive
List the five stages of the grief process in the order of which they occur.
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
What feeling often lengthens the grieving process?
Guilt
What type of grief occurs prematurely and may cause an individual to emotional disengage from the dying person?
Anticipatory grief
Describe bereavement overload.
Person experiences multiple losses in a short amount of time which makes it difficult to overcome mourning entirely
When is grief considered maladaptive?
Individual is unable to satisfactorily progress through stages of grieving
The study of biological foundations of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes is known as?
Psychobiology
The limbic system is sometimes referred to as the what? What is the limbic system responsible for?
- “Emotional brain”
- Regulates emotions
How do neurotransmitters convey information to neighboring target cells?
Synaptic cleft
Which autonomic nervous system is dominant in stressful situations?
Sympathetic nervous system
_______________ are central to the therapeutic action of many psychotropic medications.
Neurotransmitters
Which neurotransmitter affects sleep, arousal, pain perception, and memory acquisition and retention?
Acetylcholine
Decreased amounts of acetylcholine are associated with what disorders?
- Memory deficit disorders (Alzheimers)
- Motor function disorders (Parkinsons)
List the functions of norepinephrine.
Regulate:
- Mood
- Cognition
- Perception
- Sleep
- Arousal
Which neurotransmitter is involved in the fight-or-flight response?
Norepinephrine
Decreased levels of norepinephrine is associated with what mental disorders?
Depression
Increased levels of norepinephrine is associated with what mental disorders?
- Mania
- Anxiety
- Schizophrenia
The functions of which neurotransmitter include regulation of movement, emotions, voluntary decision making, and the release of prolactin?
Dopamine
Decreased levels of dopamine are associated with what mental disorders?
Depression
Increased levels of dopamine are associated with what mental disorders?
- Mania
- Schizophrenia
Abnormal secretion of growth hormone is shown to have a relationship with what disorder
Anorexia nervosa
Elevated levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone may cause what signs or symptoms in a person?
- Depression
- Fatigue
Increased levels of prolactin are associated with what mental disorders?
- Depression
- Anxiety
Decreased levels of prolactin are associated with what mental disorders?
Schizophrenia
What stage of sleep-wakefulness cycle is associated with deep and restful sleep?
Stage 3 - Delta Rhythm
What stage of sleep-wakefulness cycle is considered the deepest stage of sleep?
Stage 4 - Delta Rhythm
People with sleep disorders never reach which stage of sleep?
Stage 4
The process by which neurotransmitters return to the presynaptic cleft is known as what?
Reuptake
When are serotonin and norepinephrine most active?
During non-REM sleep
Which amino acid affects sleep?
L-tryptophan
Twins who suffer from the same psychiatric disorder are referred to as what?
Concordant
Individuals with mental illness were often feared because of common beliefs associating them with what?
- Demons
- Supernatural
Which drug class blocks dopamine receptors?
Antipsychotics
List the two types of antipsychotics.
- Atypicals
- Typicals
When combined with alcohol, the effects of anxiolytics are __________.
Increased
When combined with caffeine or cigarette smoking, the effects of anxiolytics are __________.
Decreased
Which drug class blocks the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine?
Antidepressants
The nurse knows a patient receiving an SSRI and MAOI concurrently is at an increased risk for what adverse reaction?
Hypertensive crisis
Circadian rhythms influence a variety of regulatory functions, such as what?
- Sleep-wake cycle
- Regulation of body temperature
- Activity patterns
Which branch of medicine studies the effects of social and psychological factors on the immune system?
Psychoimmunology
Which type of antipsychotic produces fewer extrapyramidal effects?
Atypicals
What substance should be avoided when taking benzodiazepines?
Alcohol
