Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing Review

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering mental health concepts, brain anatomy, neurotransmitters, pharmacology, psychiatric disorders, and personality traits based on the lecture transcript.

Mental Health

The ability to cope with stress, maintain relationships, and contribute to society.

Mental Illness

Disorders with significant disturbances in cognition, emotion, or behavior influenced by biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

Cerebrum

Part of the brain responsible for reasoning, emotions, and movement.

Diencephalon

Consists of the thalamus and hypothalamus which regulate emotions and homeostasis.

Brainstem

Controls vital functions such as breathing and heart rate.

Cerebellum

Responsible for coordination and balance.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in movement, pleasure, and motivation.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep, and appetite.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter involved in alertness and the stress response.

GABA

An inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces anxiety.

Glutamate

An excitatory neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory.

HIPAA

The law governing confidentiality and compliance in healthcare.

Informed Consent

The patient's legal right to accept or refuse treatment.

Least Restrictive Environment

A mandated legal requirement for the setting of mental health treatment.

Deinstitutionalization

The shift from long-term hospitalization to community care.

Active Listening

The act of giving full attention to the patient during therapeutic communication.

Empathy

Understanding the patient's feelings as an element of therapeutic communication.

Crisis Intervention

Short-term, focused therapy aimed at stabilizing the patient and restoring functioning.

SSRIs

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors used for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and OCD; examples include Fluoxetine, Sertraline, and Escitalopram.

SNRIs

Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors used for depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and neuropathic pain; examples include Venlafaxine and Duloxetine.

DSRIs

Dopamine-Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors like Bupropion (Zyban) used for MDD and smoking cessation; carries a risk of seizures.

Mood Stabilizers

Medications like Lithium, Valproic acid, and Carbamazepine used to prevent mania and depression in Bipolar Disorder.

TCAs

Tricyclic Antidepressants such as Amitriptyline and Nortriptyline; effective but high risk for overdose toxicity and anticholinergic effects.

Typical Antipsychotics

First-Generation medications like Haloperidol and Chlorpromazine; strong $D2$ receptor antagonists that treat positive symptoms but have high $EPS$ risk.

Atypical Antipsychotics

Second-Generation medications like Risperidone and Olanzapine; weaker $D2$ antagonism and serotonin ($5-HT_{2A}$) antagonism with metabolic syndrome risks.

$$GAD-7$$

Generalized Anxiety Disorder $7$-item scale used for screening and diagnosis.

$$PHQ-9$$

Patient Health Questionnaire used for screening Major Depressive Disorder.

PANSS

Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale used for assessing Schizophrenia.

Anhedonia

The loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, commonly seen in Major Depression and Schizophrenia.

Delusions

False beliefs not based in reality.

Hallucinations

Seeing, hearing, or sensing things that are not present.

Flight of Ideas

Rapid shifting of thoughts with superficial connections, commonly seen in the manic phase of Bipolar Disorder.

Psychomotor Retardation

Slowed movement and speech, commonly seen in Major Depressive Disorder.

Catatonia

Motor immobility or extreme negativism seen in Schizophrenia, severe mood disorders, or Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome.

Avolition

Lack of motivation to do purposeful activities.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Characterized by distrust, suspicion, and hypersensitivity to setbacks.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Characterized by emotional detachment and a preference for solitude.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Characterized by disregard for others, deceit, and impulsivity; management requires firm boundaries.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Characterized by emotional instability, fear of abandonment, and impulsivity; often treated with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Characterized by attention-seeking, emotional exaggeration, and suggestibility.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Characterized by social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and fear of rejection.

Dependent Personality Disorder

Characterized by submissiveness, clinginess, and difficulty making decisions.

OCPD

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder; characterized by perfectionism, control, and rigidity.

Conscientiousness

A healthy personality trait involving responsibility, organization, and dependability.

Emotional Stability

A healthy personality trait involving resilience, calmness, and self-control that reduces the risk for anxiety.