Nursing Module: Psychiatric Nursing Foundations

Flashcards covering nursing foundations, therapies, communication techniques, and psychiatric disorders based on the TopRank Review Academy Nursing Module.

Mental Health

A state of emotional, psychological, and social wellness evidenced by satisfying personal relationships, effective behavior and coping, a positive self-concept, and emotional stability.

Mental Disorder

A clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern associated with present distress, disability, or significantly increased risk of suffering, death, pain, or loss of freedom.

Aristotle's Humors Theory

A theory suggesting that amounts of blood, water, and yellow and black bile correspond with happiness, calmness, anger, and sadness; imbalances cause mental disorders.

Philippe Pinel and William Tuke

Formulated the concept of asylum (safe refuge) during the Period of Enlightenment.

Dorothea Dix

Advocated for adequate shelter, nutritious food, and warm clothing for the mentally ill.

Emil Kraepelin

Classified mental disorders according to their symptoms.

Eugene Bleuler

The individual who coined the term schizophrenia.

Therapeutic Use of Self

The process where nurses use themselves as a therapeutic tool to establish a relationship, a concept introduced by Hildegard Peplau (1952).

Self-awareness

The process by which the nurse gains recognition of his or her own feelings, beliefs, and attitudes.

Johari's Window Quadrant I (Arena/Open)

Qualities known to oneself and others.

Johari's Window Quadrant II (Blind/Unaware)

Qualities known only to others, not to self.

Johari's Window Quadrant III (Façade/Hidden)

Qualities known only to oneself.

Johari's Window Quadrant IV (Unknown)

An empty quadrant symbolizing qualities as yet undiscovered by oneself or others.

Therapeutic Communication

Interpersonal interaction where the nurse focuses on the client's specific needs to promote effective exchange of information.

Broad Openings

A technique allowing the client to take the initiative in introducing the topic (e.g., "Is there something you'd like to talk about?").

Consensual Validation

Searching for mutual understanding and accord in the meaning of words.

Focusing

Concentrating on a single point to prevent a multitude of problems from overwhelming the client.

Giving Recognition

Acknowledging or indicating awareness of the client as an individual (e.g., "I noticed that you've combed your hair.").

Presenting Reality

Offering for consideration that which is real when a client is misinterpreting reality.

Reflecting

Directing client actions, thoughts, and feelings back to the client to encourage recognition of their own feelings.

Voicing Doubt

Expressing uncertainty about the reality of the client's perceptions.

Belittling feelings expressed

A non-therapeutic technique misjudging the degree of the client’s discomfort (e.g., "Everybody gets down in the dumps").

Circumstantial Thinking

A disturbance where a client gives excessive unnecessary details but eventually gets to the point.

Tangential Thinking

A disturbance where a client gives excessive unnecessary details and never gets to the point.

Word salad

A combination of jumbled words and phrases that are disconnected or incoherent and make no sense.

Verbigeration

Stereotyped repetition of words or phrases that may or may not have meaning.

Echolalia

The client's imitation or repetition of what the nurse says.

Flight of Ideas

Excessive amount and rate of speech composed of fragmented or unrelated ideas.

Neologisms

Words invented by the client.

Blunted Affect

Severe reduction in emotional reaction.

Flat Affect

Absence or near absence of emotional/facial reaction.

Ambivalence

Holding seemingly contradictory beliefs or feelings about the same person, event, or situation.

Echopraxia

The pathological imitation of posture or action of others.

Waxy Flexibility

Maintaining a desired position for long periods of time even when it is awkward or uncomfortable.

Confabulation

Filling a memory gap with detailed fantasy believed by the teller to maintain self-esteem.

Pre-orientation Phase

Begins when the nurse is assigned to a patient; major task is developing self-awareness.

Orientation Phase

Begins when nurse and client meet; ends when identifying problems; major task is developing a mutually acceptable contract.

Working Phase

The longest and most productive phase, involves problem identification and exploitation.

Transference

When a client unconsciously transfers his feelings to the nurse.

Countertransference

When a therapist displaces onto the client attitudes or feelings from his or her past.

Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS)

Major side effects of antipsychotic agents including acute dystonia, pseudoparkinsonism, akathisia, and tardive dyskinesia.

Tardive Dyskinesia

Permanent, irreversible involuntary movements (sucking, smacking, vermiform tongue) appearing after at least 8 months of antipsychotic therapy.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)

A potentially fatal, idiosyncratic reaction to antipsychotics characterized by rigidity, high fever, and autonomic instability.

Agranulocytosis

A dangerous side effect associated with Clozapine requiring weekly WBC count monitoring.

Lithium Therapeutic Level

The therapeutic range for lithium is $0.6 - 1.2\,mEq/L$.

Id

The component of personality that seeks instant gratification and causes impulsive behavior.

Superego

Reflects values and parental/social expectations; in direct opposition to the id.

Ego

The balancing or mediating force representing mature and adaptive behavior.

Reaction Formation

Acting opposite of what one thinks or feels (e.g., a person who despises their boss tells everyone they are great).

Milieu Therapy

Treatment using controlled modification of the patient's environment to facilitate positive behavioral change.

Psychoanalysis

Focuses on exploration of the unconscious, utilizing dream analysis and free association.

Maturational (Developmental) Crisis

Expected, predictable events in the normal course of life (e.g., getting married, beginning a career).

Situational (Accidental) Crisis

Unanticipated, sudden events that threaten integrity (e.g., loss of a job, death of a loved one).

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Disorder characterized by impairment in communication skills, social interactions, and stereotyped behaviors, identified by age 3.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Characterized by inattentiveness, overactivity, and impulsiveness; diagnosed usually before age 7.

Mental Retardation IQ: Profound

Characterized by an IQ of less than $25$, requiring custodial care.

Agoraphobia

Anxiety about places or situations from which escape might be difficult or help unavailable.

Acute Stress Disorder

Anxiety and dissociative symptoms occurring within 1 month of a traumatic stressor, lasting 2 days to 4 weeks.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Re-experiencing a traumatic event through flashbacks and nightmares, with persistent increased arousal.

Positive Reframing

Turning negative messages into positive ones.

Decatastrophizing

Using questions to realistically appraise a situation (e.g., "What is the worst thing that could happen?").

Cluster A Personality Disorders

Odd and eccentric behaviors, including paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personalities.

Cluster B Personality Disorders

Dramatic, emotional, or erratic behaviors, including antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personalities.

Cluster C Personality Disorders

Anxious or fearful behaviors, including avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personalities.

Anorexia Nervosa

Life-threatening disorder where body weight is $85\%$ less than expected, with an intense fear of gaining weight.

Bulimia Nervosa

Eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like purging at least twice a week for 3 months.

Fetishism

Sexual arousal elicited by inanimate objects or specific body parts.

Voyeurism

Secret observation of an unsuspecting person engaged in private acts.

Al-Anon

A support group for spouses, partners, and friends of alcoholics.