Mental Health Practice: Delirium, Dementia, and Schizophrenia

A set of flashcards covering delirium, dementia, psychosis, schizophrenia symptoms, and catatonia management based on lecture notes.

What is the difference in onset and reversibility between Delirium and Dementia?

Delirium involves a sudden altered mental status and is reversible, whereas Dementia involves a gradual altered mental status that happens over months and years and is irreversible.

What mnemonic is used to identify underlying causes of Delirium?

ASK GRAPH

List the underlying causes associated with the Delirium mnemonic ASK GRAPH.

Infection (UTI), Hemorrhage, Rx interaction, drug abuse, withdrawal, metabolic (DKA), and electrolyte / vitamin imbalance ($B1, Mg$).

What is a specific characteristic of Dementia mentioned regarding navigation?

The patient may get “Lost in familiar places”.

How does the treatment goal for Delirium differ from Dementia?

For Delirium, the goal is to treat the underlying cause; for Dementia, the goal is to try to slow it down, as it cannot be treated.

What defines Psychosis in a patient?

An altered or distorted perception of reality and disorganized thoughts.

True or False: Psychosis should always be assumed to be Schizophrenia.

False. One should rule out medical illness and substance abuse first; it can be caused by medical or psychiatric illnesses.

What is the difference between a Delusion and a Hallucination?

A Delusion is a false idea, belief, or thought that does not have a sensory component, while a Hallucination is a false sensory experience (auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory, or gustatory).

What are the positive symptoms of Schizophrenia?

Active hallucinations (sensory perception), delusions (false belief), and disorganized speech.

What are the negative symptoms of Schizophrenia?

Flat affect, asocial behavior, unresponsiveness, and catatonia.

What is the priority for a nurse when a patient is in a state of Catatonia?

Ensuring the patient eats and drinks, as they are inactive and unresponsive.

What is the recommended management steps when a patient describes a hallucination?

Ask them to elaborate on what they see or hear, acknowledge their statement, and then bring them back to reality (e.g., "I understand you see $20$ dinosaurs over there, however they are not there").

What action should a nurse take if they observe a Schizophrenia patient pacing?

Ask them why they are pacing to ensure they are not a danger, and never turn your back on the patient.

What is Catatonia?

A neuropsychiatric condition where the patient is inactive, unresponsive, and lacks movement, often staying stagnant in one position.

Why is Catatonia described as life-threatening?

Because the patient will not have proper hygiene, nutrition, or self-care, as they are unable to care for themselves at all.

What are the medical treatments for Catatonia?

Benzodiazepine or ECT.

What three factors do researchers believe contribute to the development of Schizophrenia?

Genetics, brain chemistry, and environment.