Psychiatric Nursing Review

Quiz 1 Review

  • Teaching about Benzodiazepines
      - Key Characteristics:
        - Benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia.
        - They are known to cause sedation, which can impair coordination.
        - Special caution should be given when prescribing these medications to older adults due to heightened sensitivity and risk of falls.

  • Neurotransmitters and Their Functions
      - Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses in the brain.
      - Key Neurotransmitters:
        - Dopamine: Involved in mood regulation and reward pathways.
        - Serotonin: Affects mood, social behavior, appetite, and digestion.
        - Norepinephrine: Plays a role in arousal and alertness.
        - GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid): Major inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in reducing neuronal excitability.
        - Glutamate: Major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in cognitive functions like learning and memory.

  • Symptoms of NMS (Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome) and EPS (Extrapyramidal Symptoms)
      - NMS Symptoms:
        - Severe muscle rigidity
        - High fever
        - Autonomic dysfunction (e.g., unstable blood pressure, tachycardia)
        - Altered mental status (e.g., confusion, agitation)
      - EPS Symptoms:
        - Dystonia: Sustained muscle contractions
        - Akathisia: Restlessness
        - Parkinsonism: Tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia
        - Tardive Dyskinesia: Involuntary movements, often of the face.

  • Influences of Mental Health Treatment Brought Upon by War
      - War introduces unique psychological challenges including PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
      - Treatment should address trauma, societal reintegration, and available support systems post-war.

  • High-Risk Populations for Mental Health Issues
      - Populations at higher risk include:
        - Veterans
        - Individuals in low socioeconomic conditions
        - Anyone with a history of trauma or abuse

  • Role of Amygdala
      - The amygdala is a critical region in the brain responsible for the regulation of emotions, particularly fear and anxiety.
      - Its reactions inform survival responses and emotional processing.

  • Role of Frontal Lobe
      - The frontal lobe is involved in decision-making, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and impulse control.
      - Damage or dysfunction in this area can lead to changes in personality and behavior.

  • Legal and Ethical Terms
      - Fidelity: The obligation to be loyal and faithful to the commitments of a profession.
      - Veracity: The adherence to the truth, ensuring honesty in communication.

  • Applying Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
      - This theory postulates that human needs are arranged in a hierarchy, often depicted as a pyramid:
        1. Physiological Needs: Basic survival needs such as food, water.
        2. Safety Needs: Security and protection.
        3. Love/Belonging Needs: Relationships, family, and connection.
        4. Esteem Needs: Respect, self-esteem, recognition.
        5. Self-Actualization Needs: Personal growth and reaching potential.

  • Role of Brain Stem
      - The brain stem controls automatic functions vital for survival such as heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure regulation.

Quiz 2 Review

  • Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety
      - Symptoms do not include low mood, which is typically associated with depression.
      - Characterized by excessive worry, restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances.

  • Benzodiazepine Teaching
      - Emphasis on usage, potential for dependence, withdrawal symptoms, continuity of care, and safe practices especially in older adults.

  • Defense Mechanisms
      - Regression: Returning to earlier developmental behaviors (e.g., thumb sucking).
      - Undoing: Attempting to reverse a previous action or thought (e.g., a partner buying flowers after a fight).
      - Projection: Attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to someone else (e.g., accusing partner of being angry when one is angry).
      - Additional mechanisms include: Denial, rationalization, displacement, etc.

  • Panic vs Agoraphobia Symptoms
      - Panic: Sudden onset of intense fear or discomfort with symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, feeling of choking, and fear of losing control.
      - Agoraphobia: Fear or avoidance of places or situations where escape might be difficult; often occurs as a result of experiencing panic attacks.

  • Medication Classification
      - Understanding of how medications are grouped based on their pharmacological action (e.g., antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics).

  • Kubler-Ross's Stages of Grief
      - The five stages are:
        1. Denial
        2. Anger
        3. Bargaining
        4. Depression
        5. Acceptance

  • Stages of General Adaptation Syndrome
      - Stage 1: Alarm Reaction: Body's initial response involving the fight-or-flight response.
      - Stage 2: Resistance: Body tries to adapt to the stressor, maintaining a level of physiological arousal.
      - Stage 3: Exhaustion: Long-term exposure to stress leads to depleted energy and mental resources, risking health.

  • Speech Patterns on MSE (Mental Status Examination)
      - Patterns include:
        - Circumstantial: Excessive detail with delay in getting to the point.
        - Flight of Ideas: Rapidly switching between topics, often disorganized.

  • Dosage
      - Understanding correct dosing of medications, including considerations for age, weight, and therapeutic windows.

Quiz 3 Review

  • Medication Classifications
      - Reinforcement of understanding about various medication classifications to ensure clarity on pharmacotherapy management.

  • Myths/Truths of Suicide
      - Addressing common misconceptions surrounding suicide, understanding that talking about it does not encourage it, and recognizing the signs and importance of mental health interventions.

  • Suicide and the Lifespan
      - Examination of how suicide rates can vary across different age groups and life stages, with particular focus on vulnerable populations such as adolescents and the elderly.

  • Lithium Teaching
      - Key considerations regarding the use of lithium in mood stabilization, including how it works, monitoring levels, and potential side effects such as weight gain, tremors, and thyroid function disruption.