NUR 330 Exam 3
1. mental health
Answer
the successful adaptation to stressors from the internal or external environment, evidenced by
thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are age-appropriate and congruent with local and cultural
norms
2. six indicators of mental health
Answer
1. Positive attitude toward self
-This refers to an objective view of self, including knowledge and acceptance of strengths and
limitations. The individual feels a strong sense of personal identity and security within his or her
environment.
3. Maslow's hierarchy of needs
Answer
4. Erikson's stages of development
Answer
page 551 pocket guide, chp 41 online
5. influence of culture and history on mental health
Answer
1. Primitive beliefs regarding mental disturbances
,-Some cultures thought that evil spirits or supernatural or magical powers had entered the body
-Still others considered that an individual with mental illness may have sinned against another
individual or God
-During the Middle Ages, the association of mental illness with witchcraft and the supernatural
continued to prevail in Europe
-*This was brought over to New England during the colonial time*
6. mental illness
Answer
maladaptive responses to stressors from the internal or external environment, evidenced by
thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are incongruent with the local and cultural norms and that
interfere with the individual's social, occupational, and/or physical functioning
7. influence of culture and history on mental illness
Answer
1. Incomprehensibility
-The inability of the general population to understand the motivation behind the behavior
2. Cultural relativity
-The "normality" of behavior is determined by the culture
3. cultural norms
- the standards we live by
8. social stigma (pg. 472)
Answer
1. whatever group someone puts a label on, making them "less worthy"
-not acceptable to our cultural norm
-may result in social isolation
9. deinstitutionalization
Answer
1. The institutions became overcrowded and under- staffed, and conditions deteriorated
2. residents in hospitals for years; pushed back out into community
10. responses to stress
,Answer
1. anxiety
-A diffuse, vague apprehension that is associated with feelings of uncertainty and helplessness
-Low levels of anxiety are adaptive and can provide the motivation required for survival.
-Anxiety becomes problematic when the individual is unable to prevent their response from
escalating to a level that interferes with the ability to meet basic needs.
2. grief
11. peplau's four levels of anxiety (pg. 18) (handout)
Answer
1. mild anxiety
-seldom a problem
-Prepares people for action. It sharpens the senses, increases motivation for productivity,
increases the perceptual field, and results in a heightened awareness of the environment.
Learning is enhanced, and the individual is able to function at his or her optimal level.
2. moderate anxiety
-perceptual field begins to diminish
- Extent of the perceptual field diminishes. Individual becomes less alert to events occurring
within the environment. Attention span and ability to concentrate decrease and assistance with
problem-solving may be required. Increased muscular tension and restlessness.
3. severe anxiety
-perceptual field diminishes greatly
-concentration centers on one particular detail only or on many extraneous details. Attention
span is extremely limited; the individual has much difficulty completing even the simplest task.
Physical symptoms may include headaches, palpitations, and insomnia. Emotional symptoms
may include confusion, dread, and horror.
Virtually all overt behavior is aimed at relieving the anxiety.
4. panic anxiety
-the most intense state
-Individual is unable to focus on even one detail within the environment. Mispercep- tions are
common, and a loss of contact with reality may occur. Hallucinations or delusions may be
present. Behavior may be characterized by wild and desperate actions or extreme withdrawal.
Human functioning and communication with others are ineffective. Individuals may be
convinced that they have a life-threatening illness or fear that they are "going crazy," are losing
control, or are emotionally weak.
Prolonged panic anxiety can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion and can be life
threatening.
12. behavioral adaptation responses for each level of anxiety (pg. 19, 22, slides 14-23 wk 1 pt 1)
, Answer
1. Mild anxiety
-Individuals employ any of a number of coping behaviors that satisfy their needs for comfort.
2. Mild-to-moderate anxiety
-Sigmund Freud identified the EGO as the reality component of the personality, governing
problem solving and rational thinking.
-As the level of anxiety increases, the strength of the ego is tested, and energy is mobilized to
confront the threat.
-Anna Freud identified a number of DEFENSE MECHANISMS employed by the ego in the face
of a perceived THREAT to biological or psychological integrity
-MALADAPTIVE use of defense mechanisms promotes disintegration of the ego.
3. Moderate-to-severe anxiety
-Anxiety at this level that remains unresolved over an extended period of time can contribute to
a number of physiological disorders.
-Measurable pathophysiology can be demonstrated.
4. Severe anxiety
-Extended periods of severe anxiety can result in psychoneurotic behavior patterns.
-Psychiatric disturbances characterized by excessive anxiety that is expressed directly or altered
through defense mechanisms. Appears as a symptom, such as an obsession, compulsion, phobia,
or sexual dysfunction.
-Aware they are experiencing distress
-Aware their behaviors are maladaptive
-Feel helpless to change their situation
-Experience NO loss of contact with reality
-Neurosis is no longer considered a separate category of mental disorder. However, the term is
still used in the literature to further describe the symptomatology of certain disorders and to
differentiate from behaviors that occur at the more serious level of certain disorders and to
differentiate from behaviors that occur at the more serious level of psychosis.
-Neuroses are psychiatric disturbances characterized by excessive anxiety that is expressed
directly or altered through defense mechanisms, not involving hallucina- tions. Psychosis
involves a loss of touch with reality.
5. Panic anxiety
-At this extreme level, an individual is not capable of processing what is happening in the
environment and may lose contact with reality.
-PSYCHOSIS is defined as a significant thought disturbance in which reality testing is impaired,
resulting in delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, or catatonic behavior.
-May exhibit minimal distress
-Unaware their behavior is maladaptive
-Unaware of any psychological problems
-Exhibiting a flight from reality into a less stressful world or one in which they are attempting to
adapt
-Examples of psychotic disorders include schizophrenia, schizoaffective, and delu- sional