Mental Health, Substance Use & ADHD Pharmacology Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering basic mental health concepts, psychiatric disorders, chemical dependency, and ADHD pharmacological treatments based on the lecture notes.

Mental health continuum

A spectrum of behavior ranging from adaptive (constructive) to maladaptive (destructive) rather than separate boxes; approximately $60\%$ of people will develop a mental illness in their lifetime.

Mentally healthy

The state of being able to cope with and adjust to the recurrent stresses of everyday living.

Mentally ill

Behavior that is conspicuous, threatening, disruptive to relationships, or that deviates from acceptable norms, resulting from an inability to cope with overwhelming situations.

Id

The primitive level of personality that is pleasure-seeking, avoids pain, and demands constant gratification.

Ego

The 'reality factor' of personality that integrates and mediates between the self and the rest of the environment through practical decision-making.

Superego

A moralistic, censoring force that strives for perfection and judges the ego's thoughts against conscious values and ideals.

Self-concept

The frame of reference a person uses for everything they experience, composed of self-esteem, personal identity, body image, and role.

Adaptation

The ability to adjust to ever-changing situations by doing the best one can, using boundaries and valid feelings.

Defense mechanisms

Unconscious responses used to protect a patient from real or perceived threats; these become maladaptive when overused.

Stress

A nonspecific response of the body to any demand made on it, which is often a learned or conditioned behavior.

Stages of illness behavior

The sequential reactions a patient may have to illness: Denial, Anxiety, Shock, Anger, and Withdrawal.

Affect

The component of a mental-health assessment regarding appearance, such as whether a patient is smiling or looking sad.

5 Phases of Crisis

A sequence mirroring the stages of grief: 1. Confusion/disbelief/high anxiety, 2. Denial, 3. Reality/anger/remorse, 4. Sadness/crying, 5. Reconciliation/adaptation.

OBRA 1981

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, signed by President Reagan, which changed federal mental-health funding and is linked to deinstitutionalization.

Neurosis

A milder mental disturbance where reality testing is generally intact but the individual experience chronic emotional distress.

Psychosis

A major mental disturbance where the individual is out of touch with reality, characterized by delusions and hallucinations.

Delirium

An acute medical condition with sudden onset, memory loss, and impaired attention.

Dementia

A chronic and progressive condition characterized by gradual memory loss.

Schizophrenia

A disorder marked by gross distortion of reality linked to excess dopamine in the brain, affecting about $1\%$ of the population.

Positive signs (Schizophrenia)

Symptoms of active psychosis, including delusions, hallucinations, and disordered thinking.

Negative signs (Schizophrenia)

Symptoms characterized by being socially withdrawn.

Cyclothymic disorder

A chronic mood disorder characterized by extreme highs (mania) and extreme lows.

Free-floating anxiety

Vague feelings of dread that are not linked to a specific cause.

Signal anxiety

A learned anxiety response to a specific perceived threat, such as test-taking.

Cluster A Personality Disorders

A group of disorders characterized by odd or eccentric behavior, including schizoid, paranoid, and schizotypal.

Cluster B Personality Disorders

A group of disorders characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior, including antisocial, borderline, and narcissistic.

Cluster C Personality Disorders

A group of disorders characterized by anxious or fearful behavior, including avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive.

Multiaxial system

The U.S. classification system used to categorize mental health disorders to ensure providers remain consistent.

St. John's Wort

An herbal therapy used for depression and anxiety that has several drug interactions and is not FDA-regulated.

Addictive personality

A pattern of compulsive, habitual use of a substance to cope with psychic pain from conflict and anxiety.

Early stage of dependence

The first phase of addiction characterized by increased drug tolerance.

Middle stage of dependence

The phase of addiction characterized by strong denial and withdrawal signs during periods of abstinence.

Late stage of dependence

The final phase of addiction characterized by impairment in all areas of life and the inability to function without the substance.

Detoxification

The controlled removal of the poisonous effects of a substance, involving safety measures like seizure precautions and cardiac monitoring.

Rehabilitation

The phase of recovery intended to help a patient abstain from substance abuse long-term through methods like group therapy or Alcoholics Anonymous.

ANA 1982 Policy

The American Nurses Association policy recommending treatment and rehabilitation for chemically impaired nurses before taking disciplinary action.

ADHD Primary Symptoms

The three core manifestations of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Atomoxetine (Strattera)

A nonstimulant SNRI used for ADHD that carries a unique serious adverse effect of hepatotoxicity.

Alpha-2a agonists

ADHD medications like clonidine and guanfacine (Intuniv) that improve prefrontal cortex function but can cause bradycardia and hypotension.

Stimulant (ADHD) mechanism

Agents that block the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine; long-term use in children requires monitoring height and weight for decreased growth velocity.