Psychiatric Nursing
Aromatherapy - uses essential oils and scented candles to soothe the senses and make people
aware of the here and now of the pleasant environment
Benzodiazepines - Can cause birth defects when used during the first trimester of pregnancy
Benzodiazepines - when given orally, act within 30 minutes of administration
Benzodiazepines vs SSRI - Benzodiazepines have stronger side effects than SSRIs and are more
likely to cause dependence in a patient who uses them for an extended period of time
bipolar disorder - A mood disorder in which the person alternates between the hopelessness
and lethargy of depression and the overexcited state of mania; can cause the patient to
experience a sudden shift in emotion from one extreme to the other
Catatonic schizophrenia - Characterized by a rigid pose for long periods of time
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) - Can cause tardive dyskinesia; can also cause orthostatic
hypotension
Citalopram - increases the amount of serotonin in the brain by inhibiting reuptake
Clonazepam (Klonopin) - Can cause potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms
Clozapine (Clozaril) - Antipsychotic, s/e constipation
, Common anxiety disorders - panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, phobic disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder
Adjunctive therapies - to increase self-esteem, promote positive interaction, and enhance
reality orientation
Aggressive behaviors - Safety of the client and other clients is the priority; client should be
placed in a room near the nurses' station
Agoraphobia - Anxiety attack for individuals who avoid other people, places, or events
Amitriptyline - a tricyclic antidepressant that can cause unstable ventricular dysrhythmias
Amitriptyline (Elavil) - A tricyclic antidepressant
Anorexia nervosa - A severe form of self-starvation
antianxiety drugs - suppress central nervous system function to some degree and result in
sedation;
antidepressant drugs - cause some degree of drowsiness - don't administer with alcohol; use
with caution in depressed children and adolescents because the risk for suicidal thoughts or
actions may increase while taking these drugs
antipsychotic drugs (neuroleptics) - drugs that treat the symptoms of schizophrenia and related
psychotic disorders; tend to block dopamine receptors in the dopamine pathways in the brain
causing decreased transmission of impulses which in turn decreases the symptoms of
hallucinations, illusions, and delusions.
Aromatherapy - uses essential oils and scented candles to soothe the senses and make people
aware of the here and now of the pleasant environment
Benzodiazepines - Can cause birth defects when used during the first trimester of pregnancy
Benzodiazepines - when given orally, act within 30 minutes of administration
Benzodiazepines vs SSRI - Benzodiazepines have stronger side effects than SSRIs and are more
likely to cause dependence in a patient who uses them for an extended period of time
bipolar disorder - A mood disorder in which the person alternates between the hopelessness
and lethargy of depression and the overexcited state of mania; can cause the patient to
experience a sudden shift in emotion from one extreme to the other
Catatonic schizophrenia - Characterized by a rigid pose for long periods of time
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) - Can cause tardive dyskinesia; can also cause orthostatic
hypotension
Citalopram - increases the amount of serotonin in the brain by inhibiting reuptake
Clonazepam (Klonopin) - Can cause potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms
Clozapine (Clozaril) - Antipsychotic, s/e constipation
, Common anxiety disorders - panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, phobic disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder
Adjunctive therapies - to increase self-esteem, promote positive interaction, and enhance
reality orientation
Aggressive behaviors - Safety of the client and other clients is the priority; client should be
placed in a room near the nurses' station
Agoraphobia - Anxiety attack for individuals who avoid other people, places, or events
Amitriptyline - a tricyclic antidepressant that can cause unstable ventricular dysrhythmias
Amitriptyline (Elavil) - A tricyclic antidepressant
Anorexia nervosa - A severe form of self-starvation
antianxiety drugs - suppress central nervous system function to some degree and result in
sedation;
antidepressant drugs - cause some degree of drowsiness - don't administer with alcohol; use
with caution in depressed children and adolescents because the risk for suicidal thoughts or
actions may increase while taking these drugs
antipsychotic drugs (neuroleptics) - drugs that treat the symptoms of schizophrenia and related
psychotic disorders; tend to block dopamine receptors in the dopamine pathways in the brain
causing decreased transmission of impulses which in turn decreases the symptoms of
hallucinations, illusions, and delusions.
