Medications and Side Effects
What medication class is considered first line treatment for GAD?
SSIs (smith and pacitti pg 409)
What is diagnosis criteria for Generalized anxiety disorder?
Excessive worry about everyday problems for at least 6 months (Pearson 2073)
What time in the lifecycle are patients at highest risk for developing GAD
Early adulthood, between child and middle aged (Pearson 2072)
Nursing Interventions for severe anxiety
Clear and direct communication, close ended questions, medications (Pearson 2081)
Which medication is just as effective at treating anxiety as benzodiazepines, without the risk of dependance?
Buspirone (anxiety medication slides)
What are symptoms of severe anxiety?
Perceptual field greatly reduced, difficulty following directions, palpitations, tachycardia, hyperventilating, GI distress (Pearson 2075)
What are three risk factors for Anxiety across the lifespan?
ACEs, trauma, family History, Social Factors, Serious or chronic Illness Trauma, Personality Factors, Presence of multiple stressors, Cutting out alcohol, drugs, smoking or caffeine, Environmental factors (Pearson 2072)
Nursing Interventions for moderate anxiety
Identify stressors, don’t escalate, consider giving ordered PRN meds, encourage participation in diversional activities (Pearson 2081)
What is the minimum time between stopping an SSI and starting an MAOI to prevent serotonin syndrome?
5 weeks (smith & pacitti pg. 407)
What are somatic symptoms of GAD
Fatigue, headache, muscle tension and aches, digestive issues, irritability, feeling out of breath, hot flashes (Pearson 2073)
Why do older adults have lower rates of GAD
Because GAD is commonly misdiagnosed in this population (Pearson 2079)
Nursing interventions for mild anxiety
Recognition/education, coping, “if you’ve had this before, what helped?”, meds not commonly given (Pearson 2080-2081)
What food should a person taking a MAOI absolutely avoid eating?
1) cured meat 2) apples 3) carrots 4) sourdough bread
1) cured meat (smith and pacitti pg 407)
Which is a life threatening sign/symptom of serotonin syndrome?
1) shivering 2) hyperthermia 3) hyperreflexia
2) Hyperthermia (smith and pacitti 405)
What is the most common anxiety in children
Separation anxiety (Pearson 2078) Children with SAD may fear being lost from their family
Nursing interventions for panic
Promote safety, set limits, reduce stimuli, talk slower, nurse can breathe slowly and exaggerate breathing, give ordered meds (Pearson 2081)