NURS 307 Integrating Mental Health and Addiction
What are the side effects of benzodiazepines?
(Ans-
Sedation and CNS depression, drowsiness, cognitive impairment
- developing tolerance and dependency
- withdrawal symptoms
- not for long-term use
- alcohol increases all these symptoms and potentiates CNS depression
- avoid benzodiazepines in the elderly
- Canadian guideline for treating anxiety; using SSRIs instead of Benzos
What class of drugs are stimulants and what is it used in?
(Ans-
Amphetamines:
- dextroamphetamine (dexedrine) (half-life 6-7 hours)
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin) (half-life 2-4 hours)
- Pemoline (Cylert) (half-life 12 hours)
- Used in narcolepsy, ADHD, and obesity (unresponsive to other
treatments)
,- Exact mechanism is unknown, but the medications target
neurotransmitters such as dopamine, NE, serotonin, and
catecholamine. What is the etiology and neurobiology of ADHD remain
unclear.
What is the off-label use of stimulants and side effects?
(Ans-
- adjunction with other antidepressants to treat depression, relieve
lethargy, and reduced cognitive deficits
- insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, tachycardia, heart problems, and
risk for growth suppression
What is some patient education when non-adherence to medication
occurs?
(Ans-
Importance of medication adherence: relapse
- attitude toward medication
- insight
- side effects (SE)
Patient teaching;
-identify the reasons,
- importance of medication regimen
- if due to SE:
,review dose or change medication class, drug interaction, loss weight
strategies
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
(Ans-
- initative generalized seizures by an electrical current
- short-acting anesthetic and muscle relaxant given
- repeat the procedure two to three times per week
- produces rapid relief of depressive symptoms (most for out-patient
depressive disorder)
Side effects of ECT
(Ans- memory loss (short/long), hypo- or hypertension, bradycardia or
tachycardia, and minor arrhythmias immediately after
Miscellaneous treatments for psychological illnesses
(Ans-
- Light therapy
- Nutritional therapies
- New somatic therapies
What is Light therapy?
, (Ans- Also known as phototherapy, it resets circadian rhythyms and is
used for seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
What are Nutritional Therapies?
(Ans- Neurotransmitters necessary for normal healthy functioning are
produced from amino acids taken in with the food
What are New Somatic Therapies?
(Ans- Repititve transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and VNS (vagus
nerve stimulation) are two emerging somatic treatments for psychiatric
disorders
What is Vagus Nerve Stimulation?
(Ans- Involves the use of a device to stimulate the vagus nerve with
electrical impulses-an implantable vagus nerve stimulator to treat
epilepsy and depression
Social Change
(Ans- The structural and cultural evolution of society; is constant but
often erratic. Psychiatric and mental health care has evolved within a
historical context of social, economic, and political influences and
cannot be separated from such realities.
What are the side effects of benzodiazepines?
(Ans-
Sedation and CNS depression, drowsiness, cognitive impairment
- developing tolerance and dependency
- withdrawal symptoms
- not for long-term use
- alcohol increases all these symptoms and potentiates CNS depression
- avoid benzodiazepines in the elderly
- Canadian guideline for treating anxiety; using SSRIs instead of Benzos
What class of drugs are stimulants and what is it used in?
(Ans-
Amphetamines:
- dextroamphetamine (dexedrine) (half-life 6-7 hours)
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin) (half-life 2-4 hours)
- Pemoline (Cylert) (half-life 12 hours)
- Used in narcolepsy, ADHD, and obesity (unresponsive to other
treatments)
,- Exact mechanism is unknown, but the medications target
neurotransmitters such as dopamine, NE, serotonin, and
catecholamine. What is the etiology and neurobiology of ADHD remain
unclear.
What is the off-label use of stimulants and side effects?
(Ans-
- adjunction with other antidepressants to treat depression, relieve
lethargy, and reduced cognitive deficits
- insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, tachycardia, heart problems, and
risk for growth suppression
What is some patient education when non-adherence to medication
occurs?
(Ans-
Importance of medication adherence: relapse
- attitude toward medication
- insight
- side effects (SE)
Patient teaching;
-identify the reasons,
- importance of medication regimen
- if due to SE:
,review dose or change medication class, drug interaction, loss weight
strategies
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
(Ans-
- initative generalized seizures by an electrical current
- short-acting anesthetic and muscle relaxant given
- repeat the procedure two to three times per week
- produces rapid relief of depressive symptoms (most for out-patient
depressive disorder)
Side effects of ECT
(Ans- memory loss (short/long), hypo- or hypertension, bradycardia or
tachycardia, and minor arrhythmias immediately after
Miscellaneous treatments for psychological illnesses
(Ans-
- Light therapy
- Nutritional therapies
- New somatic therapies
What is Light therapy?
, (Ans- Also known as phototherapy, it resets circadian rhythyms and is
used for seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
What are Nutritional Therapies?
(Ans- Neurotransmitters necessary for normal healthy functioning are
produced from amino acids taken in with the food
What are New Somatic Therapies?
(Ans- Repititve transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and VNS (vagus
nerve stimulation) are two emerging somatic treatments for psychiatric
disorders
What is Vagus Nerve Stimulation?
(Ans- Involves the use of a device to stimulate the vagus nerve with
electrical impulses-an implantable vagus nerve stimulator to treat
epilepsy and depression
Social Change
(Ans- The structural and cultural evolution of society; is constant but
often erratic. Psychiatric and mental health care has evolved within a
historical context of social, economic, and political influences and
cannot be separated from such realities.
