Mental Health and Nursing Fundamentals

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering vocabulary related to mental health, theories, therapies, neurobiology, pharmacotherapy, ethical and legal issues, and nursing processes.

Mental Health

A state of well-being in which an individual can realize their abilities, cope with normal life stressors, work productively, and contribute to the community.

Mental Illness

Refers to psychiatric disorders with definable diagnoses that may involve developmental dysfunction, biological dysfunction, psychological disturbances, impaired thinking, emotional disruption, and behavioral changes.

Risk Factors

Biological, psychological, and environmental influences that increase vulnerability to mental illness.

Protective Factors

Elements that promote resilience and recovery, such as social support, coping skills, and access to care.

Stigma

The belief that a person with mental illness is flawed, leading to shame, social exclusion, and discrimination.

Diathesis-Stress Model

The theory that mental illness results from a combination of biological vulnerability and environmental stressors.

DSM-5

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition provides standardized diagnostic criteria for psychiatric disorders.

Psychoanalytic Theory

Freud's theory that unresolved childhood conflicts and unconscious processes influence behavior.

Interpersonal Theory

Sullivan's theory emphasizing interpersonal relationships and anxiety reduction.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A therapeutic approach that targets distorted thinking patterns and automatic thoughts.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers in the brain involved in mood, sleep, learning, and various functions.

Pharmacokinetics

What the body does to a drug, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

Pharmacodynamics

What a drug does to the body, including its effects and mechanisms of action.

Serotonin Syndrome

A condition caused by too much serotonin, characterized by symptoms like rapid onset overactivity and twitchiness.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

A serious condition caused by dopamine blockade, characterized by rigidity and slow onset of symptoms.

Lithium

A mood stabilizer used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, with a therapeutic range of 0.6–1.2 mEq/L.

Therapeutic Milieu

A structured and supportive environment designed to promote patient healing and psychological growth.

Cultural Competence

Understanding and integrating patients' diverse cultural backgrounds into care to improve outcomes.

Patient Rights

Rights concerning treatment, informed consent, and the ability to refuse treatment.

Confidentiality

The ethical responsibility to protect patient information from being disclosed without consent.

Suicidal Ideation

Thinking about death or wanting to die, including formulating plans for suicide.

Covert Statement

Indirect or vague expressions suggesting hopelessness or desire to die.

Overt Statement

Direct and clear expressions of suicidal thoughts or wishes.

De-escalation Techniques

Methods used to maintain calm and reduce tension in potentially violent situations.

Boundary Violations

When a nurse's needs are met at the expense of the patient's needs, leading to unethical care.

Transference

When a patient unconsciously projects feelings and behaviors related to significant figures in their past onto the nurse.

Countertransference

When a nurse projects their personal feelings related to significant figures in their past onto the patient.