Mental Health Nursing: Mood Disorders, Psychosis, Substance Use, and Crisis Intervention

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering major mental health topics including mood disorders, suicide assessment, bipolar management, psychosis, substance use, and crisis/abuse protocols.

Anhedonia

The loss of interest or pleasure in activities previously enjoyed; a core diagnostic feature of depression.

Hopelessness

A strong predictor of suicide and a major risk factor assessed during the psychosocial evaluation of depressed clients.

Serotonin Syndrome (SHIVERS)

A potentially fatal condition caused by serotonin excess; symptoms include $\text{Shivering}$, $\text{Hyperreflexia}$, $\text{Increased temperature}$, $\text{Vital sign instability}$, $\text{Encephalopathy}$, $\text{Restlessness}$, and $\text{Sweating}$.

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)

First-line antidepressant treatments, such as Paroxetine and Sertraline, that block serotonin reuptake to increase its availability in the brain.

SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors)

Antidepressants like Venlafaxine and Duloxetine that increase both serotonin and norepinephrine; monitoring blood pressure is essential.

TCAs (Tricycle Antidepressants)

Medications like Amitriptyline that are lethal in overdose and cause anticholinergic effects described as "can't see, pee, spit, or poop."

MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)

Antidepressants like Phenelzine that require a tyramine-free diet (avoiding aged cheese, wine, and cured meats) to prevent hypertensive crisis.

Lithium Therapeutic Range

The standard therapeutic window for this mood stabilizer is between $0.6\,mEq/L$ and 1.2\,mEq/L$Values above 1.5\,mEq/L$$ indicate toxicity.

Valproate (Depakote)

An anticonvulsant mood stabilizer with a therapeutic level of $50\text{--}120\,mcg/mL$; requires monitoring of liver function and CBC.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

A life-threatening rash that is a known risk associated with the anticonvulsant medication Lamotrigine.

Bipolar I Disorder

A diagnosis characterized by at least one full manic episode lasting at least $1$ week, often accompanied by depressive episodes.

Bipolar II Disorder

A diagnosis characterized by hypomania (lasting at least $4$ days) and major depression, without full manic episodes or psychosis.

Succinylcholine

A muscle relaxant commonly administered during Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) to prevent injury during the induced seizure.

Positive Symptoms

Added experiences in psychosis, including hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, and bizarre behavior.

Negative Symptoms

Qualities "taken away" by psychosis, such as flat affect, social withdrawal, lack of motivation, and reduced speech.

Command Hallucinations

Voices that instruct a person to perform specific actions; they represent a high safety risk and require direct assessment.

Clozapine

A second-generation antipsychotic used for treatment-resistant psychosis that requires weekly WBC/ANC labs due to the risk of agranulocytosis.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)

A medical emergency caused by antipsychotics, characterized by high fever, muscle rigidity, confusion, and unstable vital signs.

Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS)

Movement-related side effects of antipsychotics including dystonia, akathisia, parkinsonism, and tardive dyskinesia.

Tolerance

A feature of substance use disorders where increased amounts of a substance are needed to achieve the same effect.

Delirium Tremens (DTs)

A severe form of alcohol withdrawal occurring $2\text{--}3$ days after cessation, involving disorientation, psychosis, and severe hypertension.

Naloxone

The emergency antidote used to reverse respiratory depression during an opioid overdose.

Disulfiram

A recovery medication that causes an unpleasant physical reaction if any alcohol is consumed; clients must avoid alcohol-containing products for $2$ weeks after stopping.

Cycle of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

A three-phase pattern of abuse consisting of the tension-building phase, the acute battering phase, and the honeymoon phase.

Shaken Baby Syndrome

A form of physical abuse in infants characterized by respiratory distress, bulging fontanels, and retinal hemorrhage.

Mandatory Reporting

The legal obligation for nurses to report suspected abuse of children, elderly adults, and vulnerable adults based on reasonable suspicion.

Frotteuristic Disorder

A paraphilic disorder involving sexual arousal from touching or rubbing against a non-consenting person.

Bupropion

An atypical antidepressant used for depression and smoking cessation that lowers the seizure threshold.