Nursing Tips: Disorders

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KEY points about Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

Key Principle from Alcoholics Anonymous

Disorders Psychiatric Mental Health
KEY points about Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
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Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) has 3 phases: Acute, Continuation, Maintenance. Patient is at greatest risk for suicide during the Acute phase of MDD.

Major Depressive Disorder Phases

Disorders Psychiatric Mental Health
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) has 3 phases: Acute, Continuation, Maintenance. Patient is at greatest risk for suicide during the Acute phase of MDD.
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Key nursing interventions for patients with Alzheimer's Disease: Provide frequent reorientation; Provide consistency with caretakers; Keep communication short, simple, and clear.

Alzheimer's Disease Key Interventions

Disorders Psychiatric Mental Health
Key nursing interventions for Alzheimer's Disease: Provide frequent reorientation, consistency with caretakers; Keep communication short, simple, and clear.
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For patients with eating disorders, the nurse should stay with them during meals and for at least an hour following.

Eating Disorders

Disorders Psychiatric Mental Health

Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by compensatory measures to avoid weight gain (e.g., vomiting, laxative use, extreme exercise).

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by restriction of caloric intake.

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Word Salad is a type of disorganized speech seen in schizophrenia (e.g., "happy green friendly running monkeys").

Word Salad

Disorders Psychiatric Mental Health
Word Salad is a type of disorganized speech seen in schizophrenia (e.g., "happy green friendly running monkeys").
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Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is useful for individuals with severe and persistent schizophrenia or major depressive disorder with psychosis.

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

Disorders Psychiatric Mental Health
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is useful for individuals with severe and persistent schizophrenia or major depressive disorder with psychosis.
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Alcohol withdrawal occurs within 4 to 12 hours of cessation of heavy, prolonged alcohol abuse. Symptoms peak ~24 to 72 hours after the patient’s last drink. Be sure to ask the patient when they had their last drink!

Alcohol Withdrawal

Disorders Psychiatric Mental Health
Alcohol withdrawal starts 4-12 hours after last drink and peaks at 24-48 hours. Be sure to ask the patient when they had their last drink!
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Bipolar patients & mania

Bipolar patients & mania

Disorders Psychiatric Mental Health
For bipolar patients experiencing mania: be sure to provide high-calorie portable snacks (finger foods).
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Criteria for hospitalization of patients with Anorexia Nervosa: Body weight < 75% of ideal body weight; Body fat < 10%; Heart rate < 45/min; SBP < 90mmHg; Body temp < 96 degrees F; EKG abnormalities

Criteria for hospitalization of patients with anorexia

Disorders Psychiatric Mental Health
Criteria for hospitalization of patients with Anorexia Nervosa.
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    Key S&S of bulemia nervosa: normal (or slightly higher) body weight, calluses on knuckles, parotid gland enlargement, tooth erosion.

    Bulimia Nervosa

    Disorders Psychiatric Mental Health
    Key S&S of bulimia nervosa: normal (or slightly higher) body weight, calluses on knuckles, parotid gland enlargement, tooth erosion.
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    POSITIVE symptoms in schizophrenia include the presence of things that are NOT normally present. This includes: Hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, speech alterations, abnormal body movements

    Positive Schizophrenia Symptoms

    Disorders Psychiatric Mental Health
    POSITIVE symptoms in schizophrenia include the presence of things that are NOT normally present.
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    A patient with borderline personality disorder: Exhibits SPLITTING behavior (i.e. characterizes people/things as ALL good or ALL bad). Engages in impulsive behavior. Is at high risk for self-harm! Provide for patient safety.

    Splitting Behavior

    Disorders Psychiatric Mental Health

    A patient with borderline personality disorder exhibits SPLITTING behavior, engages in impulsive behavior, and is at high risk for self-harm.

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    Antisocial personality

    Antisocial personality

    Disorders Psychiatric Mental Health
    An antisocial personality disorder does NOT mean an individual doesn't like to be around people. 
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