Mental Health-Psychosocial Conditions & Interventions-Mental Health Diagnoses

"Anxiety Symptoms"

"Tension, nervousness, panic attacks, increased heart rate, worry, trouble sleeping, sweating, and gastrointestinal issues. A patient may feel an overwhelming sense of dread, an intense fear of death, injury, or “bad things happening”. Apprehension about change. Fear of the unknown."

"Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms"

"Destructive, dangerous, hostile, or harmful behaviors. Suicidal thoughts and depression. An overstated focus on self, self- absorption and conceit. Difficulty building and maintaining relationships. General emotional instability. Mood swing"

"Dementia Symptoms"

"Changes in memory, personality and habits, decreased social capabilities, disorientation, confusion, aggression. Patients may exhibit physical and psychological symptoms. Physical symptoms include changes in balance, walk, and posture"

"Denial Symptoms"

"Believing something to be untrue or unreal. Refusal to face facts. Part of the process of grieving."

"Depression (Mood Disorder) Symptoms"

"Continual and long-term sense of sadness, emptiness, despair, isolation, or hopelessness. Feeling trapped. Suicidal thoughts or behaviors."

"Eating Disorders Symptoms"

"Abnormal eating habits. Most commonly Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge-Eating. Symptoms include distorted body image, fear of gaining weight, unhealthy relationship with food, excessive exercise, fasting, and induced vomiting. All of these behaviors lead to malnutrition and serious physical complications."

"Episodic Memory Symptoms"

"_______ refers to memories of specific events or episodes. Many types of neurological disorders or trauma can have an effect on a patient’s episodic memory"

"Intellectual Disability Symptoms"

"A distinct difficulty in reasoning, thinking, processing and understanding. Risky behaviors, being impulsive, poor social skills. Difficulty living alone or practicing good self-care. Also known as____________."

"Mania (Mood Disorder) Symptoms"

"Thinking, talking, and making decisions very quickly. No sense of risk or danger. Recklessness or a feeling of invincibility. Sleeping very little or not at all. Easily distractible. A feeling of being “high” or “on top of the world” without any rational reason."

"Mood Disorders Symptoms"

"Several types of mental illness fall into this category including depression, mania, manic depressive, and bipolar disorders. There are two main categories within _______: Dysthymic and Cyclothymic. In general, a _______ is less severe than the full diagnosis of depression or bipolar."

"Obsessive Compulsive Disorder(Anxiety Disorder)"

"Unbalanced thoughts that lead to unbalanced behaviors. Fear, irrational worry, extreme need to do or avoid doing something. Feeling anxious or panicking if something is done out of order or in the wrong way. Hoarding, cleaning, organizing, and picky eating can all be signs of _______."

"Panic Attack (Anxiety Disorder) Symptoms"

"An episode of extreme anxiety. Fast breathing, not being able to catch your breath, pain in chest or stomach, shaking, sweating, irregular heartbeat, nausea or gastrointestinal issues."

"Personality Disorder Symptoms"

"This is a large and varied group of disorders, and they each have their own symptoms and characteristics. However, there are some traits that are common to all of the disorders. They are: deep need for praise or honor, very high view of self, poor social skills, little or no concern for others or their feelings, aggression, entitlement, pride, and inability to build and maintain relationships"

"Schizophrenia Symptoms"

"has a long list of symptoms but fall under the category of abnormal social behavior. Some patients also hear or see things that are not real – delusions or hallucinations. Patients may also harm themselves or others have significant cognitive impairment."

"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Anxiety Disorder) Symptoms"

"Anxiety, loneliness, inability to sleep, inability to feel joy, anger, aggression, nightmares (night terrors), feeling guilty, risky behaviors, self-harm, suicidal thoughts."

"Substance Abuse Symptoms"

"A dependance on any substance, usually drugs or alcohol. This is not occasional use, but persistent, compulsive need for the substance. Withdrawals when trying to quit."

"Anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) Support and Treatment"

"Talk therapy is commonly used. Often if a patient is able to get to the root cause of their they are able to overcome it. Medication to manage can also be prescribed."

"Borderline Personality Disorder Support and Treatment"

"Talk therapy, anger management techniques and medication are all common treatments"

"Dementia Support and Treatment"

"While there are therapies and medications that may slow the onset some symptoms are not treatable. Creating a friendly environment is crucial for patients. Changes may need to be made to their home, their routine, and their family or caregiver may need education and support as well."

"Denial Support and Treatment"

"can be overcome by continually pointing the patient back to the reality of the situation, while encouraging the patient to be hopeful. Sometimes it simply takes time to overcome. Often is it helpful to educate the patient on other, more effective coping mechanisms like a new activity or talk therapy."

"Depression (Mood Disorder) Support and Treatment"

"Lifestyle change is considered a crucial part of treatment. A healthier life leads to a healthier mind.

-Appropriate physical activity, changes in diet, and alternative therapies have been proven to help.

-Talk therapy, support groups and medications are also helpful and often necessary."

"Episodic Memory Support and Treatment"

"There are no known cures impairment. However, may be improved in the short term through a variety of memory-building, or brain-training activities"

"Eating Disorders Support and Treatment"

"Many types of therapy can be helpful for patients.

-These include individual therapy, group sessions, and family therapy.

-Sometimes anti- depressants can also be helpful for these patients. Medical and nutritional care is also very important to the long-term health of these patients."

"Intellectual Disability Support and Treatment"

"Special education, life kills training and developmental and behavioral therapies are all helpful for this diagnosis.

- Routine and physical exercise are also encouraged.

-Animal-assisted therapies and sensory based therapies have also proved very effective."

"Mania (Mood Disorder)Support and Treatment"

"The specific causes are still being studied, but some therapies and medications do exist to help patients with these diagnoses.

-Treatments include mood-stabilizing drugs, antidepressants, antipsychotics, psychotherapy, and in many cases, hospitalization.

-As well organized routine is usually very helpful"

"Mood Disorders Support and Treatment"

"Treatments may include medications (antidepressants, mood stabilizers and antipsychotics) and psychotherapy.

An active and healthy lifestyle can also help to manage the symptoms."

"Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Anxiety Disorder) Support and Treatment"

"Cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure/aversion therapy are commonly used to treat.

-Support groups are also helpful.

Some prescriptions are also available to help manage anxiety and obsessive thoughts."

"Panic Attack (Anxiety Disorder) Support and Treatment"

"Treatment include therapy to address the underlying issues and lifestyle changes to help prevent ____.

A patient can stop their own______s by avoiding stimulants like nicotine and caffeine, by learning breathing and relaxation techniques and by recognizing and managing stressful situations."

"Personality Disorder Support and Treatment"

"Talk therapies are common treatments.

These may include a combination of support groups, counseling and family sessions.

Patients with these disorders need to be monitored for changes and increases in symptoms."

"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Anxiety Disorder) Support and Treatment"

"often accompanied by anxiety and depression, medication to treat those two conditions are often prescribed for those with this disorder.

-Therapy is essential for patients and should focus on helping the patient understand and overcome that initial trauma.

Support groups can also be helpful."

"Schizophrenia Support and Treatment"

"The main treatment is medication and there are many different pills and injections available. This diagnosis often requires hospitalization. Group and individual therapy can also be helpful in rehabilitating the patient and increasing their social skills."

"Substance Abuse Support and Treatment"

"Psychotherapy is the leading form of treatment. This treatment can take many different forms and take place in many settings. Some prescriptions are also available to help balance withdrawals or create an aversion to the substance. Alternative therapies are also becoming more popular."

"Anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) Examples"

"can have serious physical impacts on a patient and should not be ignored or overlooked. An OT should be on the lookout for increased symptoms and take the necessary steps to provide support."

"Borderline Personality Disorder Examples"

"The OT should make all attempts to help the patient to feel connected and included. Patients suffer from feelings of abandonment and isolation so any changes in care or setting may be unsettling. Moods can change quickly so be alert and know the signs and symptoms"

"Dementia Examples"

"can lead to hopelessness, loneliness and depression in many patients. A caring, supportive, hopeful approach is key. This support may need to extend to other caregivers and family members as well. Patience is an important skill to develop when working with patients."

"Denial Examples"

"can be a brick wall on the road to a patient’s recovery. OTs should be prepared to address it in a supportive yet direct manner. Caregivers and family members may also experience may need information and education to move forward."

"can have direct and serious impacts on a patient’s health. Beyond the obvious risk of suicide, can also lead to weight-loss or gain, malnutrition, gastrointestinal issue, and an overall decline in physical strength. Be alert for signs and symptoms and do not be afraid to address these symptoms quickly."

"Depression (Mood Disorder) Examples"

"Eating Disorders Examples"

"s may show up along with a number of other illnesses, like depression and anxiety. A patient may develop an ______ as a way to control their environment or a way to punish themselves for something they feel they did wrong.

- Patience and empathy are crucial for OTs working with such patients."

"Episodic Memory Examples"

"are often associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s but can also develop after brain trauma or because of certain medical conditions. When working with elderly patients it is common to observe lapses in memory but testing and assessment is needed to confirm the specific type and cause of such symptoms."

"An OT’s main goal should be to improve the quality of life. This includes teaching job skills, cooking, cleaning, self-care, and social skills."

"Intellectual Disability Examples"

"Mania (Mood Disorder) Examples"

"An OT may encounter symptoms in a wide variety of patients. Symptoms may be harder to spot since they can appear positive, like an increase in energy, or a more optimistic outlook. OTs need to be alert for risky behaviors and restlessness that can signal a manic episode."

"Mood Disorders examples"

"An OT should be prepared to handle these symptoms and challenges on a daily basis with a wide range of patients."

"Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Anxiety Disorder) examples"

"behaviors often begin slowly and with something minor, like needing to have food cooked a certain way, or having to clean the kitchen in a certain way every night. But if this develops unchecked it can consume the patient very quickly and have huge consequences for their mental health."

"Panic Attack (Anxiety Disorder) examples"

"An OT should educate a patient on deep-breathing, relaxation, meditation and other calming activities. This way, a patient can learn to avoid or manage a even when they are alone."

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"Personality Disorder examples"

"An OT should work with the patient to keep their mind on reality and to help them develop social and interpersonal skills while managing other symptoms."

"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Anxiety Disorder) example"

"The first goal of an OT should be to determine how much has impacted the patient’s performance and work to discover the specific triggers for the patient. Triggers should be understood and addressed while providing training to the patient and their caregivers to avoid triggers and create healthy routines."

"Schizophrenia example"

"OTs should focus on quality of life. Some symptoms of this disorder may be reduced through psychoeducation and training in self-care and social interactions."

"Substance Abuse example"

"Overcoming addiction is a tiring and overwhelming process for both the patient and their family. There is often a great deal of distrust from the family of an addict. They’ve seen many things fail in the past. An OT will need to support and educate both the patient and the caregiver in order for a positive outcome to be maintained."