C180 Mental Health Packet: Therapeutic Communication & Disorders Overview

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Western Governors University

C180 Introduction to Psychology

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C180 Mental Health Packet: Therapeutic Communication & Disorders Overview

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders refer to a group of mental health conditions characterized by persistent and excessive feelings of fear, worry, or tension. These feelings become classified as anxiety disorders when they last for six months or longer and significantly interfere with a person’s daily life. While occasional mild anxiety is a normal response to stress, chronic or intense anxiety typically requires treatment, either through therapy or medication, to effectively manage symptoms.

The symptoms of anxiety disorders are both physical and psychological. Common manifestations include increased heart rate, muscle tightness, disturbances in sleep, and difficulty concentrating. If left untreated, these symptoms can seriously diminish an individual’s quality of life.

What are common types of anxiety disorders?

Type	Description
Monophobia	An overwhelming fear of being alone, causing distress or panic when separated from others.
Zoophobia	A persistent fear of animals, which can be specific (e.g., dogs, snakes) or generalized.
Acrophobia	An intense fear of heights that may provoke panic attacks or avoidance behaviors.
Separation Anxiety Disorder	Excessive fear or anxiety related to being separated from attachment figures; common in children but considered maladaptive if persistent in adults.

Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders (OCRDs)

OCRDs are defined by repetitive thoughts, urges, or behaviors that an individual feels compelled to perform. These compulsions are generally attempts to relieve distress or prevent feared events, although the affected person often recognizes these actions as irrational.

What are examples of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders?

Disorder	Description
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)	Characterized by persistent intrusive obsessions accompanied by compulsions that aim to reduce anxiety but disrupt daily functioning.
Hoarding Disorder	The uncontrollable urge to collect and keep items regardless of their value, sometimes resulting in hazardous living conditions.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)	Excessive preoccupation with imagined or minor physical defects, causing significant distress and impairment.

Definitions:

Obsession: Recurrent, intrusive thoughts, urges, or images that cause anxiety or distress.
Compulsion: Repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce anxiety or prevent feared outcomes.

Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders (Somatoform Disorders)

Somatic symptom disorders occur when psychological distress is expressed through physical symptoms without a clear medical cause. These disorders often result in substantial impairment and frequent medical visits.

What types of somatoform disorders exist?

Disorder	Description
Somatic Symptom Disorder	Excessive focus on physical symptoms causing significant distress or disruption in daily functioning.
Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder)	Sudden onset of neurological symptoms like paralysis or seizures without an identifiable medical cause, often linked to psychological conflicts.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)	Develops after trauma exposure, with symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and emotional numbness lasting more than one month.

What are common manifestations of somatic symptom disorders?

Disorder	Common Symptoms
Somatic Symptom Disorder	Excessive concern over physical symptoms, frequent medical consultations, medication overuse, and symptoms fluctuating with stress.
Conversion Disorder	Motor or sensory dysfunctions such as paralysis, pseudoseizures, blindness, or speech loss without neurological explanation.
PTSD	Persistent anxiety, intrusive memories, nightmares, emotional numbness, and avoidance of trauma reminders.

How are somatic symptom disorders assessed and managed?

Assessment Tool: PHQ-15 (Patient Health Questionnaire-15), used for screening common somatic symptoms.
Nursing Considerations:
- Prioritize patient safety and build trust.
- Validate the patient’s symptoms without dismissing them.
- Encourage emotional expression but avoid excessive focus on physical complaints.
- Teach relaxation techniques and stress management strategies.
- Promote participation in individual or group therapy.

What medications are used?

Medications such as antidepressants, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and anxiolytics are often prescribed to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms associated with these disorders.

Neurocognitive Disorders

Neurocognitive disorders involve a decline in cognitive functions such as memory, attention, reasoning, and communication. These can be either reversible or irreversible, depending on their underlying causes.

What is delirium?

Delirium is characterized by a rapid onset of severe confusion, disorientation, and impaired attention, usually developing over hours to days. It is often secondary to medical issues like infections, withdrawal from substances, or electrolyte imbalances.

Feature	Description
Onset	Rapid, occurring within hours to days.
Causation	Medical conditions such as infections, surgery, or withdrawal.
Symptoms	Confusion, disorganized thinking, memory loss, agitation, hallucinations, with symptoms often worsening at night.
Treatment	Focus on identifying and treating the underlying cause, maintaining hydration and nutrition, ensuring safety, and avoiding restraints.

Prompt treatment can often reverse delirium; however, delayed intervention may increase the risk of complications.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting memory, cognition, and behavior. It is the most common cause of dementia and develops gradually over months or years.

What are the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease?

Category	Examples
Genetic	Family history, especially first-degree relatives.
Neurological	History of traumatic brain injury or head trauma.
Age	Risk rises significantly after age 65.
Cardiovascular & Lifestyle	Sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diabetes, poor diet, high cholesterol.

What are the stages of Alzheimer’s disease?

Stage	Description
Mild (Early Stage)	Memory lapses, misplaced items, difficulty focusing, but independence in daily activities remains.
Moderate (Middle Stage)	Noticeable cognitive decline, confusion, personality changes, difficulty with activities of daily living, wandering, and frustration.
Severe (Late Stage)	Complete dependence on care, loss of communication, mobility, swallowing ability, potentially leading to coma or death.

What nursing interventions support Alzheimer’s patients?

Establish a calm and structured environment to minimize agitation.
Use clear and simple communication, providing one instruction at a time.
Offer support and education to caregivers, assisting with long-term care planning.
Monitor and support nutrition, hydration, and sleep hygiene.

What medications are commonly prescribed?

Generic Name	Trade Name	Use
Donepezil	Aricept	Treatment of early and moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
Galantamine	Razadyne	Used for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s-related dementia.
Rivastigmine	Exelon	Treatment for Alzheimer’s and dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease.

These medications may improve cognitive function and quality of life but do not cure Alzheimer’s disease.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., text rev.). APA Publishing.

Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Somatic symptom disorder and related conditions. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org

Mayo Clinic. (2024). Anxiety disorders: Symptoms and causes. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org

National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov

World Health Organization. (2023). Dementia fact sheet. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia