Define a psychiatric disorder?
An abnormal mental condition that severely impacts one’s thoughts, moods, perceptions, orientation, or memory and that impairs judgement, behavior, recognition of reality, or the ability to perform daily activities.
*psychiatric disorder and mental illness are terms used interchangeably
What is a known factor that contributes to the etiology of a psychiatric disorder?
A mental illness often involves either an excess or deficiency of chemicals in the brain (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine) which is why these neurotransmitters are the targets of psychiatric medication
What is a psychiatric emergency?
Also called an behavioral emergency is a situation in which the patient presents with abnormal behaviors
*The abnormal behavior can be due to a psychiatric disorder, to extremes of emotions, or even to a physical condition (low GBL)
What are some common specific reasons why behavior can change?
-Low BGL
-Hypoxia (lack of O2)
-Inadequate blood flow to brain
-Head trauma
-Mind-altering substances
-psychogenic substances
-excessive cold or heat
-seizure disorder
-toxic ingestion
-withdrawal
(situational stress, medical issues, psychiatric problems, alcohol, or drugs)
*MEND A MIND a common acronym for medical reasons for a psychiatric presentation
and make sure you are dealing with a psychiatric emergency and not a physical one. they could present with similar S/S like an psychiatric patient not making sense, could be due to head injury and not truly a psychiatric reason
What are panic attacks?
A common presentation of anxiety where there is a period of intense fear or discomfort
*Often a sudden onset that rapidly peaks within a few minutes due to the body’s flooding of epinephrine
What are the S/S of a panic attack?
-heart palpations
-chest tightness
-sweating
-trembling
-sensation of choking
-SoB
-dizzyness
-light-headedness
-nausea
-derealization or depersonalization
-fear of losing control
-fear of dying
-chills
-hot flashes
how would we treat a panic attack?
conscious breathing, deep breaths. couple seconds in, hold a few seconds, and exhale a few seconds
*panic attacks typically do not lead to physical issues but in rare cases, if there is a predisposing factor, cardiac arrest can occur from a severe panic attack
What are the four most common methods of sucide?
- Guns
- Hanging
- Poisoning (drugs/overdose)
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
