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Mental Health #2
Mental Health #2 Yr3
9
Nursing
Undergraduate 3
06/23/2013

Additional Nursing Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
causes of the most prevalent cognitive disorders?
Definition
Cognitive impairment disorders (also known as organic mental disorders)
are disturbances to mental status which have a physiological cause.
Common causes include;
- Central nervous disease, including;
o Encephalitis
o Epilepsy
o Neoplasms
- Drugs and poisons, either intoxication or withdrawal
- Endocrine dysfunction
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Infections
- Post-operative state
- Psychosocial stressors
Term
Describe the assessment of a patient with a cognitive disorder.
Definition
− The Folstein Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE)
− Psychogeriatric assessment scales
− Mental Status Examination (MSE)
− Clifton Assessment Procedures for the Elderly
− Suicide and self-harm risk assessment
− Physical assessment
Term
Dementia mnemonic?
Definition
D – rug interactions. If prescribed more than 3 drugs, check the
interactions.
E – motional disturbance/crisis/loss.
M – etabolic dysfunction, such as diabetes or thyroid disturbance.
E – yes and ears (sensory impairment).
N – utritional deficiencies.
T – umour or trauma.
I – nfection or brain abscess.
A – rteriosclerosis.
Term
Characteristic features of delirium?
Definition

− Disturbance of consciousness (major sign)

  o Reduced clarity of awareness

  o Difficulty maintaining, or a shift in, attention span

  o Reduced focus

  o Confusion

− Cognitive changes

  o Memory deficit

  o Disorientation

  o Language disturbance

− Psychotic symptoms, particularly visual hallucinations and paranoid delusions

− Abnormalities in motor activity

− Emotional changes, including fear

− Agnosia (inability to name objects) and dysgraphia (inability to write)

− Usually experience Sundowning.

Term
Characteristic features of dementia?
Definition
− Alzheimer’s Disease (50% - 60% of cases)
o Memory loss, usually short-term
o Language impairment
o Decline in fine motor skills
o Disorientation
o Loss of recognition skills
o Onset between 40 – 90 years of age
o 10% of patients experience epileptic seizures in the later
stages.
Term
Differentiate between reversible and irreversible cognitive disorders
Definition

Reversible:

Delirium

Secondary dementia

 

Irreversible: 

Alzheimer’s disease

Vascular dementia

Parkinson’s disease

Creutfeldt-Jakob disease

Term
Discuss the management of a patient with a dementia.
Definition
− Maintain a safe environment
− Identify general medical needs of the patient
− Provide supportive psychological care
− Maintain activities of daily living
− Educate the patient, family and carers
− Maintain consistency in daily care
Term
Discuss pharmacological interventions for the management of cognitive disorders.
Definition
− Benzodiazepines, for insomnia and anxiety
− Anti-depressants (mostly SSRIs)
− Anti-psychotics, for delusions and hallucinations.
− Cholinesterase inhibitors, which can decrease cognitive
defects. However, it carries the risk of severe liver and gastric
side-effects.
− Vitamin E, which decreases functional decline.
− Selegiline (a MAOI), may delay cognitive deterioration.
Term

Define...

o Abulia

o Acalculia

o Alzheimer’s disease (AD)

o Amnesia

o Anomia

o Aphasia

o Apraxia

Definition

o Abulia

Loss of ability to make decisions.

o Acalculia

Difficulty in performing simple arithmetic.

o Alzheimer’s disease (AD)

The most common form of irreversible dementia, characterized by impairment in memory, thinking and reasoning without affecting conscious status.

o Amnesia

Partial or total memory loss.

o Anomia

Difficulty recalling names or words.

Patient has babbling speech.

o Aphasia

Inability to speak.

o Apraxia

Loss of motor activity.

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