Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Practice Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering anxiety levels, psychiatric disorders (GAD, PTSD, Personality Disorders, Depression, Bipolar), and essential psychopharmacology based on nursing lecture notes.

Fear

A reaction to a specific, identifiable threat.

Anxiety

A reaction to a vague, unknown threat.

Mild Anxiety

A level of anxiety characterized by heightened awareness and motivation where the patient is still able to learn.

Moderate Anxiety

A level of anxiety involving a narrowed focus, muscle tension, and a faster heartbeat; learning is possible with help.

Severe Anxiety

A level of anxiety with very limited focus and difficulty thinking or problem-solving, accompanied by an increase in physical symptoms.

Panic (Level of Anxiety)

A state where the individual cannot function, experiences terror and a loss of reality, and is unable to learn.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Excessive worry about numerous things for a duration of at least $6$ months.

Agoraphobia

A fear of being in places where escape might be difficult.

Social Anxiety Disorder

The fear of embarrassment, public speaking, eating in public, or being judged.

Obsessions

Intrusive and persistent thoughts characteristic of OCD.

Compulsions

Repeated behaviors or actions performed in response to obsessions.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

The best therapy used for treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Benzodiazepines

Fast-acting, short-term medications like Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium that carry a risk of dependence and should not be stopped abruptly.

Buspirone (Buspar)

An anxiety medication that takes $2$–$4$ weeks to work, has no dependence or abuse potential, and is used for GAD.

Serotonin Syndrome

A serious adverse effect of SSRIs characterized by fever, sweating, agitation, hyperreflexia, and tachycardia.

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

A condition occurring after trauma where symptoms such as flashbacks and nightmares last for more than $1$ month.

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)

A condition with similar symptoms to PTSD, but the symptoms last for less than $1$ month.

Compassion Fatigue

A state of exhaustion, irritability, and withdrawal commonly affecting high-risk nurses in areas like hospice, ER, pediatrics, oncology, and forensics.

Cluster A Personality Disorders

A group of disorders described as "weird," including Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

A disorder characterized by being a loner with no desire for relationships.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

A disorder characterized by odd beliefs and magical thinking.

Cluster B Personality Disorders

A group of disorders described as "wild," including Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic.

Borderline Personality Disorder

A high-yield disorder involving fear of abandonment, self-harm, impulsivity, and splitting.

Splitting

A defense mechanism commonly seen in Borderline Personality Disorder where things are viewed as all good or all bad.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

The treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder focusing on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Cluster C Personality Disorders

A group of disorders described as "worried," including Avoidant, Dependent, and OCPD.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

A disorder where the individual wants relationships but fears rejection.

OCPD (Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder)

A disorder characterized by perfectionism and rigidity; distinct from OCD.

Anhedonia

The loss of interest or pleasure, which is a key diagnostic criterion for Major Depressive Disorder.

SIGECAPS

An acronym for depression symptoms: Sleep, Interest, Guilt, Energy, Concentration, Appetite, Psychomotor, and Suicidal thoughts.

Bipolar I Disorder

A bipolar diagnosis that requires at least one manic episode and may involve psychosis or hospitalization.

DIG FAST

An acronym for mania symptoms: Distractibility, Indiscretion, Grandiosity, Flight of ideas, Activity increase, Sleep decrease, and Talkative.

Clang associations

The stringing together of words because of their rhyming sounds, sometimes seen in Bipolar Disorder.

Lithium Therapeutic Level

The blood concentration range that must be maintained for Lithium treatment, which is $0.6$–$1.2\,mEq/L$.

Severe Lithium Toxicity

A condition indicated by a coarse tremor, ataxia, confusion, seizures, and coma.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

Antidepressants like Amitriptyline that cause anticholinergic effects (can't see, pee, spit, or poop) and should be given at bedtime.

MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)

Antidepressants such as Phenelzine (Nardil) that require a strict no-tyramine diet.

Hypertensive Crisis

A serious complication of MAOIs caused by tyramine ingestion, resulting in severe headache, high blood pressure, and chest pain.

Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS)

Side effects primarily associated with first-generation antipsychotics like Haloperidol, including acute dystonia, akathisia, and pseudoparkinsonism.

Clozapine

A second-generation antipsychotic with a major risk for agranulocytosis, necessitating WBC and ANC monitoring.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)

A medical emergency caused by antipsychotics characterized by high fever, severe rigidity, and autonomic instability.