CEN Exam Review- Mental Health
Emergencies
What are the 3 types of Psychosis? - Answer-1. Schizophrenia
2. Delirium
3. Depression/Mania
Define Schizophrenia - Answer-A long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the
relation between thought, emotion and behavior, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions
and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships, fantasy and delusions, and a sense of
mental fragmentation.
Define Psychosis - Answer-a mental disorder in which thought, and emotions are so impaired that
external reality is lost.
Define Positive symptoms of Schizophrenia. - Answer-Symptoms that a patient with Schizophrenia will
have but are not exhibited by those without the disorder.
What are some examples of Positive Symptoms of Schitzophrenia. - Answer-Hallucinations/delusions,
thought disorders, bizarre dress/behavior, preservation (persistent adherence to a single idea or topic),
ideas of reference (false belief that external events have special meaning), Ambivalence.
Define Negative symptoms of Schizophrenia. - Answer-Behaviors that are likely to exist in the patient
without schizophrenia but may be absent in the patient with the disorder.
What are some examples of Negative symptoms of Schizophrenia. - Answer-Apathy, Alogia (speaking
with min. content), Flat affect, Anhedonia (feeling no joy/pleasure), Avolition (lack of will, ambition or
drive to accomplish a task).
,Define Delirium - Answer-A form of psychosis related to a physiological cause.
What is the mnemonic used to remember the causes of Delirium? - Answer-I WATCH DEATH
What does I WATCH DEATH mean? - Answer-I-infection
W-withdrawal
A-acute metabolic
T-trauma
C-CNS disease
H-hypoxia
D-deficiencies
E-environmental
A-acute vascular
T-toxins/drugs
H-heavy metals
How do Delirium and Psych Disorders vary in the following fields:
1. Onset
2. Course over 24hrs
3. Consciousness
4. Attention/Cognition
5. Hallucinations
6. Delusions
7. Movements - Answer-DELIRIUM vs PSYCH
, 1. over days sudden
2.fluctuating stable
3.reduced/hyperalert alert
4. disordered may be disordered
5. VISUAL and or auditory nearly always auditory
6. Transient/poorly organized sustained
7. tremulous, asterixis absent
How does one interact with a psychotic patient? - Answer--project confidently and in a non-threatening
manner.
-keep sentences brief
-talk about things grounded in reality.
-do not deny delusional behavior but do not enforce it.
-avoid figures of speech
-explain actions in advance
What are the 3 extrapyramidal symptoms associated with antipsychotic medications? - Answer-1. Acute
Dystonia
2. Akathisia
3. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)
Define Acute Dystonia - Answer-Intermittent, uncoordated, involuntary contractions of muscles of the
face, neck, trunk, and extremities.
Define Akathisia - Answer-subjective sensation of motor restlessness (may mimic increased agitation).
Emergencies
What are the 3 types of Psychosis? - Answer-1. Schizophrenia
2. Delirium
3. Depression/Mania
Define Schizophrenia - Answer-A long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the
relation between thought, emotion and behavior, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions
and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships, fantasy and delusions, and a sense of
mental fragmentation.
Define Psychosis - Answer-a mental disorder in which thought, and emotions are so impaired that
external reality is lost.
Define Positive symptoms of Schizophrenia. - Answer-Symptoms that a patient with Schizophrenia will
have but are not exhibited by those without the disorder.
What are some examples of Positive Symptoms of Schitzophrenia. - Answer-Hallucinations/delusions,
thought disorders, bizarre dress/behavior, preservation (persistent adherence to a single idea or topic),
ideas of reference (false belief that external events have special meaning), Ambivalence.
Define Negative symptoms of Schizophrenia. - Answer-Behaviors that are likely to exist in the patient
without schizophrenia but may be absent in the patient with the disorder.
What are some examples of Negative symptoms of Schizophrenia. - Answer-Apathy, Alogia (speaking
with min. content), Flat affect, Anhedonia (feeling no joy/pleasure), Avolition (lack of will, ambition or
drive to accomplish a task).
,Define Delirium - Answer-A form of psychosis related to a physiological cause.
What is the mnemonic used to remember the causes of Delirium? - Answer-I WATCH DEATH
What does I WATCH DEATH mean? - Answer-I-infection
W-withdrawal
A-acute metabolic
T-trauma
C-CNS disease
H-hypoxia
D-deficiencies
E-environmental
A-acute vascular
T-toxins/drugs
H-heavy metals
How do Delirium and Psych Disorders vary in the following fields:
1. Onset
2. Course over 24hrs
3. Consciousness
4. Attention/Cognition
5. Hallucinations
6. Delusions
7. Movements - Answer-DELIRIUM vs PSYCH
, 1. over days sudden
2.fluctuating stable
3.reduced/hyperalert alert
4. disordered may be disordered
5. VISUAL and or auditory nearly always auditory
6. Transient/poorly organized sustained
7. tremulous, asterixis absent
How does one interact with a psychotic patient? - Answer--project confidently and in a non-threatening
manner.
-keep sentences brief
-talk about things grounded in reality.
-do not deny delusional behavior but do not enforce it.
-avoid figures of speech
-explain actions in advance
What are the 3 extrapyramidal symptoms associated with antipsychotic medications? - Answer-1. Acute
Dystonia
2. Akathisia
3. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)
Define Acute Dystonia - Answer-Intermittent, uncoordated, involuntary contractions of muscles of the
face, neck, trunk, and extremities.
Define Akathisia - Answer-subjective sensation of motor restlessness (may mimic increased agitation).
