Depression & Safety
A patient stops enjoying hobbies, avoids friends, and has little interest in normal activities.
What is loss of interest/anhedonia associated with depression?
I cause an intense and unreasonable fear of a particular object, animal, activity, or situation.
What is a phobia?
A patient becomes tearful while talking about a traumatic experience.
The nurse should use this type of communication.
What is therapeutic communication/support?
This form of treatment involves talking with a trained mental-health professional to improve emotional and behavioral functioning.
What is psychotherapy?
This term describes how people manage, respond to, and adapt to stress.
What is coping?
Give two physical or behavioral changes the nurse might notice in a patient experiencing depression.
What are sleep changes, appetite/weight changes, poor hygiene, fatigue, withdrawal, or decreased activity?
My symptoms can include intrusive memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, and avoidance following trauma.
What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
A patient is extremely anxious and cannot concentrate on lengthy explanations.
Should the nurse use long detailed instructions or short, simple communication?
What is short, simple communication?
This psychiatric treatment is performed under anesthesia and produces a controlled therapeutic seizure.
What is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?
After saying something hurtful to a friend, a person feels guilty and does something kind to make up for the behavior.
What is restitution?
A severely depressed patient tells the nurse, “Everyone would be better off without me.” The nurse's first concern should be this.
What is suicide/self-harm risk?
I may cause unwanted recurring thoughts and repetitive behaviors that temporarily reduce anxiety.
What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
A patient with an eating disorder has just finished eating.
The nurse should pay special attention to this period of time.
What is the post-meal period?
Bonus: Why?
A patient temporarily cannot remember where they are after ECT.
What nursing intervention is appropriate?
What is calmly reorient and reassure the patient?
A patient learns healthier ways to communicate and interact with other people before returning to community life.
What is resocialization?
TRUE OR FALSE:
Directly asking a patient whether they are thinking about suicide may cause the patient to become suicidal.
What is FALSE?
Teaching Point: Asking directly about suicide does not cause suicidal thoughts and is an important safety assessment.
I can cause sudden episodes of overwhelming fear accompanied by symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, or chest discomfort.
What is panic disorder/panic attack?
A patient repeatedly performs an anxiety-reducing ritual.
The nurse should NOT suddenly do this without a therapeutic plan.
What is abruptly stop or prevent the ritual?
Teaching Point: Abruptly stopping compulsive behavior may significantly increase anxiety.
Name three goals that may be associated with psychotherapy.
Possible answers:
During this relaxation technique, a person deliberately tightens and then releases different groups of muscles.
What is progressive muscle relaxation?
A patient who has been severely depressed suddenly appears unusually calm after several days of expressing hopelessness. What important possibility should the nurse consider?
What is possible increased suicide risk or that the patient has developed a suicide plan?
A patient has hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and difficulty distinguishing reality from internal experiences.
Is this primarily an anxiety disorder or psychotic disorder?
What is a psychotic disorder?
Bonus: Name a disorder commonly associated with these symptoms.
Four patients need assistance. Who should the nurse assess first?
A. A patient requesting information about psychotherapy
B. A patient with OCD requesting skin lotion
C. A depressed patient who says there is no reason to continue living
D. A patient asking when group therapy begins
Who is Patient C?
Why?
This treatment approach uses reinforcement and consequences to increase desired behaviors and decrease unwanted behaviors.
What is behavior modification?
A student says:
"Progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery are basically the same technique."
Correct the student.
What is FALSE?
Progressive muscle relaxation uses tensing and relaxing muscle groups, while guided imagery involves mentally visualizing calming or pleasant scenes.