Assess Your Knowledge
Mental Health Exam 1
Discuss prominent theories and therapeutic models
o Behavioral Therapy: attempts to correct or eliminate
maladaptive (bad) behaviors/responses by rewarding &
reinforcing adaptive (good) behavior. Use of Desensitization,
Aversion Therapy (becoming not afraid of spiders), Biofeedback
and Modeling as well as the below 3 items.
Pavlov, Watson & Skinner
Pavlov: Classical Conditioning (Ex: baby cries and
mom has milk “let-down” reflex).
Watson: Personality traits & responses were learned
(conscious) behavior.
Skinner: Operant Conditioning. Behaviors are
learned through Positive/Negative Reinforcement (Ex:
studying hard results in good grades).
o Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: combines both behavioral and
cognitive theory and seeks to modify negative thoughts that lead
to dysfunctional emotions & actions. This is useful for those
patients who feel incompetent, abandoned, evil or vulnerable.
It is NOT the stimulus (situation/person/place/thing) that
causes the response; it is the person’s evaluation & self-
thoughts about the situation that causes the negative
feelings/reaction. Therapy aims to remove these
negative/repetitive thoughts and replace them with
rational interpretations of situations.
Ex: “Matt had a car accident. He now refuses to drive and
says, “I shouldn’t be allowed on the road”. (This is
distorted thinking and rationalization of his car accident).
o Milieu Therapy: Creating a SAFE, structured
inpatient/outpatient setting where the mentally ill can test new
behaviors and coping mechanisms with others.
Creating a SAFE, structured inpatient/outpatient setting
where patients with mental illness can test new behaviors
and interactions.
Climate is essential to healing: paint color, relaxed
environments are conducive to the healing process.
Florence Nightingale believed that the environment helps
heal
o Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Basic needs on the bottom of
the pyramid have to be met before the top (self-actualization)
can be attained.
1. Physiological Needs – most basic needs that a human
needs (food, water, O2, sleep, sex, body temperature,
elimination, voiding). This level takes priority over all
others.
, Assess Your Knowledge
Mental Health Exam 1
2. Safety Needs – security, protection, and freedom from
fear/anxiousness/chaos, law, order and limitations.
3. Belonging & Love Needs – The need for love, affection,
intimate relationships and belonging will see to overcome
feelings of loneliness and alienation. (Having a Family and
a Home is very important).
4. Esteem Needs – If this need is met, we feel confident,
valued and valuable. If this need is NOT met, we feel
inferior, worthless and helpless.
5. Self-Actualization – What we strive to become as humans.
Fulfillment of this need brings inner piece and contentment
with ones self.
Describe the role of neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and
norepinephrine, GABA
Dopamine: controls emotional responses, the brain’s reward
and pleasure centers, stimulates heart and increases blood flow
to organs. (Haloperidol = dopamine blocker). Cocaine allows
more of dopamine to stay active for longer = increased HR, etc.
o EPS is the result of Dopamine blockers (Dopamine
needs to get through for proper brain functioning!)
o Disorders with HIGH levels: Schizophrenia, Mania
o Disorders with LOW levels: Depression, Parkinson’s Disease
Serotonin: Regulates mood, arousal, attention, behavior, and
body temperature. Most anti-depressants increase Serotonin
production. Muscle Relaxants block serotonin production.
Serotonin release by platelets play important role in
homeostasis.
o High levels of Serotonin S/Sx: causes restlessness,
shivering, diarrhea, muscle rigidity, fever and seizures.
o Disorders with HIGH levels: Anxiety
o Disorders with LOW levels: Depression
Norepinephrine: Regulate mood. A deficiency can cause
Depression and excess can cause Mania.
o Disorders with HIGH levels: Mania, Anxiety, Schizophrenia
o Disorders with LOW levels: Depression
GABA: inhibitory neurotransmitter that regulates excitability and
helps treat anxiety by helping you “chill out”. Anti-Anxiety Meds
help increase the effectiveness of GABA by making the receptors
more responsive.
o Disorders with HIGH levels: Reduction of Anxiety
o Disorders with LOW levels: Mania, Anxiety, Schizophrenia
Describe the phases of the nurse-client relationship, and what
occurs during each phase (Hildegard Peplau)
1. Orientation Phase: first time the nurse & patient meet, interact
according to their own backgrounds/standards/values/beliefs,
Mental Health Exam 1
Discuss prominent theories and therapeutic models
o Behavioral Therapy: attempts to correct or eliminate
maladaptive (bad) behaviors/responses by rewarding &
reinforcing adaptive (good) behavior. Use of Desensitization,
Aversion Therapy (becoming not afraid of spiders), Biofeedback
and Modeling as well as the below 3 items.
Pavlov, Watson & Skinner
Pavlov: Classical Conditioning (Ex: baby cries and
mom has milk “let-down” reflex).
Watson: Personality traits & responses were learned
(conscious) behavior.
Skinner: Operant Conditioning. Behaviors are
learned through Positive/Negative Reinforcement (Ex:
studying hard results in good grades).
o Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: combines both behavioral and
cognitive theory and seeks to modify negative thoughts that lead
to dysfunctional emotions & actions. This is useful for those
patients who feel incompetent, abandoned, evil or vulnerable.
It is NOT the stimulus (situation/person/place/thing) that
causes the response; it is the person’s evaluation & self-
thoughts about the situation that causes the negative
feelings/reaction. Therapy aims to remove these
negative/repetitive thoughts and replace them with
rational interpretations of situations.
Ex: “Matt had a car accident. He now refuses to drive and
says, “I shouldn’t be allowed on the road”. (This is
distorted thinking and rationalization of his car accident).
o Milieu Therapy: Creating a SAFE, structured
inpatient/outpatient setting where the mentally ill can test new
behaviors and coping mechanisms with others.
Creating a SAFE, structured inpatient/outpatient setting
where patients with mental illness can test new behaviors
and interactions.
Climate is essential to healing: paint color, relaxed
environments are conducive to the healing process.
Florence Nightingale believed that the environment helps
heal
o Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Basic needs on the bottom of
the pyramid have to be met before the top (self-actualization)
can be attained.
1. Physiological Needs – most basic needs that a human
needs (food, water, O2, sleep, sex, body temperature,
elimination, voiding). This level takes priority over all
others.
, Assess Your Knowledge
Mental Health Exam 1
2. Safety Needs – security, protection, and freedom from
fear/anxiousness/chaos, law, order and limitations.
3. Belonging & Love Needs – The need for love, affection,
intimate relationships and belonging will see to overcome
feelings of loneliness and alienation. (Having a Family and
a Home is very important).
4. Esteem Needs – If this need is met, we feel confident,
valued and valuable. If this need is NOT met, we feel
inferior, worthless and helpless.
5. Self-Actualization – What we strive to become as humans.
Fulfillment of this need brings inner piece and contentment
with ones self.
Describe the role of neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and
norepinephrine, GABA
Dopamine: controls emotional responses, the brain’s reward
and pleasure centers, stimulates heart and increases blood flow
to organs. (Haloperidol = dopamine blocker). Cocaine allows
more of dopamine to stay active for longer = increased HR, etc.
o EPS is the result of Dopamine blockers (Dopamine
needs to get through for proper brain functioning!)
o Disorders with HIGH levels: Schizophrenia, Mania
o Disorders with LOW levels: Depression, Parkinson’s Disease
Serotonin: Regulates mood, arousal, attention, behavior, and
body temperature. Most anti-depressants increase Serotonin
production. Muscle Relaxants block serotonin production.
Serotonin release by platelets play important role in
homeostasis.
o High levels of Serotonin S/Sx: causes restlessness,
shivering, diarrhea, muscle rigidity, fever and seizures.
o Disorders with HIGH levels: Anxiety
o Disorders with LOW levels: Depression
Norepinephrine: Regulate mood. A deficiency can cause
Depression and excess can cause Mania.
o Disorders with HIGH levels: Mania, Anxiety, Schizophrenia
o Disorders with LOW levels: Depression
GABA: inhibitory neurotransmitter that regulates excitability and
helps treat anxiety by helping you “chill out”. Anti-Anxiety Meds
help increase the effectiveness of GABA by making the receptors
more responsive.
o Disorders with HIGH levels: Reduction of Anxiety
o Disorders with LOW levels: Mania, Anxiety, Schizophrenia
Describe the phases of the nurse-client relationship, and what
occurs during each phase (Hildegard Peplau)
1. Orientation Phase: first time the nurse & patient meet, interact
according to their own backgrounds/standards/values/beliefs,
