Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Disorders Notes

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

• Characterized by:
  • Inappropriate degree of gross motor activity.
  • Impulsivity.
  • Inattention in school or home.
• Onset: Before age seven.
• Duration: Lasts more than six months.
• Etiology: May be genetic, but not a central nervous system illness.
• Key Symptoms:
  • Inattention.
  • Hyperactivity.
  • Impulsivity.
  • Distractibility.
• Impact:
  • Difficulty staying on task.
  • Difficulty sitting still in school.
  • Difficulty completing homework.

Medication for ADHD

• Mentioned medications:
  • Adderall.

Anorexia Nervosa

• Definition: Self-starvation.
• Prevalence: Mostly happens to females.
• Characteristics:
  • Failure to maintain normal weight.
  • Intense fear of gaining weight (abnormal fear).
  • Excessive influence of body weight on self-evaluation.
  • Constant focus on weight and weight loss.
  • Amenorrhea (cessation of menstruation) due to poor nutrition.
• Treatment:
  • Often requires hospitalization.
  • Use of electronic balance to monitor weight.
  • Restoration of nutrients (minimum).
  • Weight gain and stabilization.
  • Therapy (individual and family):
    • Addresses deep-seated emotional disorder.
    • Ongoing for many years.
• Severity: Can be fatal.

Bulimia

• Description: Binge eating followed by purging.
• Purging Methods:
  • Self-induced vomiting.
  • Laxative abuse.
• Physical Consequences:
  • Erosion of tooth enamel due to persistent vomiting.
  • Severe electrolyte imbalances.
• Psychological Aspects:
  • Coping mechanism for guilt, depression, and low self-esteem.

Depression in Young Children

• Symptoms:
  • Headbanging.
  • Truancy.
  • Lying.
  • Stealing.
  • Substance abuse.
  • Possible suicide.

Depression in School-Aged Children

• Symptoms:
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Sleep problems.
  • Lethargy.
  • Social withdrawal.
  • Sudden drop in grades (warning sign for parents).
  • Desire to isolate (staying in room, avoiding social events).

Suicide

• Leading cause of death in adolescence (after accidents and homicide).
• Statistics:
  • Completed suicides: More common among boys.
  • Attempted suicides: More common among girls.
• Risk Factors for Successful Suicide:
  • Plan of action.
  • Means to carry out the plan.
  • Absence of resources or help.
  • Low self-esteem.
  • Frustrations turned inward.
• Nature of Completed Suicides: Often involve a detailed plan.
• Attempted Suicides: More likely to be spur-of-the-moment actions.

Substance Abuse

• Stages:
  • Experimentation.
  • Controlled use.
  • Abuse.
  • Dependence (psychological and physical).
• Experimentation: Trying a substance (e.g., marijuana at a party).
• Controlled Use: Using a substance as prescribed for a specific reason (e.g., Percocet for car accident pain).
• Abuse: Using a substance for the high, not for a legitimate reason.
• Dependence:
  • Physical: Body craves the substance.
  • Psychological: Inability to function without the substance.
• Substances commonly used/abused:
  • Alcohol.
  • Cocaine (can cause life-threatening overdose).
• Alcohol: Occasional use may not be serious, but daily use can be dangerous.
• Gateway Substances: Often involve inhalants accessible to middle schoolers.
  • Cleaning fluids.
  • Glue.
  • Lighter fluid.
  • Paints.
  • Shoe polish.
  • Inhaling fumes can cause a high.
• Prevention and Nursing Goals:
  • Teaching and learning skills expected with parents.
  • Developing positive self-image and self-worth.
  • Providing positive role models.
  • Developing coping skills for substance abuse.

Children of Alcoholics

• Issues:
  • Reluctance to talk about family life.
  • Poor grades or overachieving tendencies.
  • Unusual need to please (belief that their behavior can influence the alcoholic parent).
  • Fatigue and passivity.
  • Acting out.
  • Maturity beyond their age (taking on responsibilities).
  • Example: A six-year-old cooking dinner for younger siblings due to an alcoholic mother.
• Long-Term Ramifications: Impacts children into adulthood.