C180 Mental Health Packet: Therapeutic Communication & Disorders Overview

Grace J.
November 9, 2025November 9, 2025
BSN, C180, Western Governors University

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Western Governors University

C180 Introduction to Psychology

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Date

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders encompass a range of mental health conditions characterized by persistent and excessive feelings of fear, worry, or tension. When these feelings last for six months or more and begin to significantly disrupt daily functioning, they are typically classified as anxiety disorders. While experiencing mild anxiety in response to stress is normal, chronic or intense anxiety often necessitates therapeutic or pharmacological treatment to manage symptoms effectively.

Anxiety disorders manifest through both physical and psychological symptoms, including increased heart rate, muscle tension, sleep disturbances, and difficulty concentrating. These disorders can profoundly affect an individual’s quality of life if left unaddressed.

What are common types of anxiety disorders?

Type	Description
Monophobia	An intense fear of being alone, which causes distress or panic when separated from others.
Zoophobia	A persistent fear of animals, either specific (e.g., dogs, snakes) or generalized across animals.
Acrophobia	Extreme fear of heights that may trigger panic attacks or avoidance behaviors.
Separation Anxiety Disorder	Excessive fear or anxiety related to separation from attachment figures. Normal in childhood, but maladaptive in adults.

Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders (OCRDs)

OCRDs are characterized by repetitive thoughts, impulses, or behaviors that individuals feel compelled to perform. These compulsions are usually attempts to alleviate distress or prevent perceived harm, though the actions are often recognized as irrational by the person experiencing them.

What are examples of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders?

Disorder	Description
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)	Persistent, intrusive obsessions paired with repetitive compulsions aimed at reducing anxiety, often disrupting daily life.
Hoarding Disorder	The uncontrollable urge to collect and retain items, regardless of their value, sometimes leading to hazardous living conditions.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)	Excessive concern over imagined or minor physical flaws causing distress and functional impairment.

Definitions:

Obsession: Recurrent, intrusive thoughts, urges, or images causing anxiety or distress.
Compulsion: Repetitive behaviors or mental acts intended to reduce anxiety or prevent feared outcomes.

Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders (Somatoform Disorders)

Somatic symptom disorders arise when psychological distress is expressed as physical symptoms that lack a clear medical cause. Individuals often experience significant functional impairment and may repeatedly seek medical care.

What types of somatoform disorders exist?

Disorder	Description
Somatic Symptom Disorder	Excessive focus on physical symptoms causing distress or disruption in daily life.
Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder)	Sudden neurological symptoms such as paralysis or seizures without medical explanation, often linked to psychological conflicts.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)	Develops after exposure to trauma, presenting with flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and emotional numbness lasting over a month.

What are common manifestations of somatic symptom disorders?

Disorder	Common Symptoms
Somatic Symptom Disorder	Excessive physical symptom concern, frequent doctor visits, medication overuse, symptom fluctuation linked to stress.
Conversion Disorder	Motor or sensory dysfunctions like paralysis, pseudoseizures, blindness, or speech loss without neurological basis.
PTSD	Persistent anxiety, intrusive memories, nightmares, emotional numbing, and avoidance of trauma reminders.

How are somatic symptom disorders assessed and managed?

Assessment Tool: PHQ-15 (Patient Health Questionnaire-15) screens for common somatic symptoms.
Nursing Considerations:
- Prioritize safety and build trust.
- Validate the reality of the client’s symptoms.
- Encourage emotional expression but limit focus on physical complaints.
- Teach relaxation and stress management.
- Promote involvement in individual or group therapy.

What medications are used?

Antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, and anxiolytics may be prescribed to alleviate anxiety and depressive symptoms related to these disorders.

Neurocognitive Disorders

Neurocognitive disorders involve a decline in cognitive abilities, including memory, attention, reasoning, and communication. These disorders can be reversible or irreversible, depending on the cause.

What is delirium?

Delirium is a sudden and severe change in mental status marked by confusion, disorientation, and impaired attention, developing over hours to days. It is often caused by underlying medical conditions like infections, substance withdrawal, or electrolyte imbalances.

Feature	Description
Onset	Rapid, occurring within hours to days.
Causation	Secondary to medical issues such as infections, surgery, or withdrawal.
Symptoms	Confusion, disorganized thinking, memory loss, agitation, hallucinations; symptoms worsen at night.
Treatment	Identify and treat underlying cause, ensure hydration/nutrition, maintain safety, avoid restraints.

Prompt treatment can reverse delirium; however, delayed intervention increases risks of complications.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, irreversible neurodegenerative condition primarily impacting memory, cognition, and behavior. It represents the most common form of dementia and develops gradually over months or years.

What are the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease?

Category	Examples
Genetic	Family history, especially in first-degree relatives.
Neurological	Traumatic brain injury or head trauma.
Age	Risk increases significantly after age 65.
Cardiovascular & Lifestyle	Sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diabetes, poor diet, high cholesterol.

What are the stages of Alzheimer’s disease?

Stage	Description
Mild (Early Stage)	Memory lapses, misplaced items, focus difficulties, but daily activities largely independent.
Moderate (Middle Stage)	Noticeable cognitive decline, confusion, personality shifts, decreased ability to perform ADLs, wandering, frustration.
Severe (Late Stage)	Total care required, loss of communication, mobility, swallowing, may progress to coma or death.

What nursing interventions support Alzheimer’s patients?

Create a calm, structured environment to reduce agitation.
Use simple, clear communication; give one instruction at a time.
Support caregivers and assist with long-term care planning.
Monitor nutrition, hydration, and sleep patterns.

What medications are commonly prescribed?

Generic Name	Trade Name	Use
Donepezil	Aricept	Early and moderate Alzheimer’s disease
Galantamine	Razadyne	Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s-related dementia
Rivastigmine	Exelon	Alzheimer’s and dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease

These medications may improve quality of life but do not cure the disease.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., text rev.). APA Publishing.

Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Somatic symptom disorder and related conditions. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org