Nursing Mental Health & Developmental
Theories: Key Concepts, Stages, and Clinical
Insights Guide
What is the introduction phase of the nurse-client relationship? - ✔✔Creates a trusting environment,
establishing professional boundaries, establishing length of anticipated interaction, providing diagnostic
evaluation, and setting mutually agreed-upon treatment objectives
What is the working phase of the nurse-client relationship? - ✔✔Clarifying client objectives and
mutually set goals, implementing a treatment plan, monitoring health, undertaking preventative health
care, measuring and evaluating outcomes of care, and reprioritizing plan and objectives as indicated
What is the termination/resolution phase of the nurse-client relationship? - ✔✔Reviewing the client's
progress toward objectives, establishing a long-term plan of care, focusing on self-management
strategies, disengaging from the relationship, and referring the client to other services as needed
Erik Erikson's Stage of Trust vs. Mistrust - ✔✔Birth- 1 year. Ability to form meaningful relationships,
hope about the future, trust in others
Erik Erikson's Stage of Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt - ✔✔1-3 years. Includes self control, self esteem,
and will power.
Erik Erikson's Stage of Initiative vs. Guilt - ✔✔3-6 years. Self-directed behavior, goal formation, sense of
purpose.
Erik Erikson's Stage of Industry vs. Inferiority - ✔✔6-12 years. Ability to work, sense of competency and
achievement.
Erik Erikson's Stage of Identity vs. Role Confusion - ✔✔12-20 years. Personal sense of identity.
Erik Erikson's Stage of Intimacy vs. Isolation - ✔✔20-35 years. Committed relationships, capacity to love.
, Erik Erikson's Stage of Generativity vs. Stagnation - ✔✔35-65 years. Ability to give time and talents to
others, ability to care for others.
Erik Erikson's Stage of Integrity vs. Despair - ✔✔>65 years. Fulfillment and comfort with life, willingness
to face death, insight and balanced perspective on life's events.
Age of onset for Intellectual Disability - ✔✔Infancy- usually evident at birth
Age of onset for ADHD - ✔✔Early childhood, per DSM by age 12
Age of onset for Schizophrenia - ✔✔18 to 25 years for men
25 to 35 years for women
Age of onset for Major Depression - ✔✔Late adolescence to young adulthood
Age of onset for Dementia - ✔✔Most common after age 85
Interpersonal Theory by Henry Stack Sullivan - ✔✔Behavior occurs because of interpersonal dynamics,
interpersonal relationships and experiences influence one's personality, two drives for behavior include:
the drive for satisfaction and the drive for security. When these needs are interfered with by the self-
system, mental illness occurs. Sullivan also described stages of interpersonal development.
Health Belief Model by Marshall Becker - ✔✔Explains that healthy people do not always take advantage
of screenings or preventative programs because of the following variables: Perception of susceptibility,
Seriousness of illness, Perceived benefits of treatment, Perceived barriers to change, and Expectations
of efficacy
Transtheoretical Model of Change - ✔✔States that change such as in health behaviors occurs in six
predictable stages:
1. Precontemplation: Person has no intention to change.
Theories: Key Concepts, Stages, and Clinical
Insights Guide
What is the introduction phase of the nurse-client relationship? - ✔✔Creates a trusting environment,
establishing professional boundaries, establishing length of anticipated interaction, providing diagnostic
evaluation, and setting mutually agreed-upon treatment objectives
What is the working phase of the nurse-client relationship? - ✔✔Clarifying client objectives and
mutually set goals, implementing a treatment plan, monitoring health, undertaking preventative health
care, measuring and evaluating outcomes of care, and reprioritizing plan and objectives as indicated
What is the termination/resolution phase of the nurse-client relationship? - ✔✔Reviewing the client's
progress toward objectives, establishing a long-term plan of care, focusing on self-management
strategies, disengaging from the relationship, and referring the client to other services as needed
Erik Erikson's Stage of Trust vs. Mistrust - ✔✔Birth- 1 year. Ability to form meaningful relationships,
hope about the future, trust in others
Erik Erikson's Stage of Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt - ✔✔1-3 years. Includes self control, self esteem,
and will power.
Erik Erikson's Stage of Initiative vs. Guilt - ✔✔3-6 years. Self-directed behavior, goal formation, sense of
purpose.
Erik Erikson's Stage of Industry vs. Inferiority - ✔✔6-12 years. Ability to work, sense of competency and
achievement.
Erik Erikson's Stage of Identity vs. Role Confusion - ✔✔12-20 years. Personal sense of identity.
Erik Erikson's Stage of Intimacy vs. Isolation - ✔✔20-35 years. Committed relationships, capacity to love.
, Erik Erikson's Stage of Generativity vs. Stagnation - ✔✔35-65 years. Ability to give time and talents to
others, ability to care for others.
Erik Erikson's Stage of Integrity vs. Despair - ✔✔>65 years. Fulfillment and comfort with life, willingness
to face death, insight and balanced perspective on life's events.
Age of onset for Intellectual Disability - ✔✔Infancy- usually evident at birth
Age of onset for ADHD - ✔✔Early childhood, per DSM by age 12
Age of onset for Schizophrenia - ✔✔18 to 25 years for men
25 to 35 years for women
Age of onset for Major Depression - ✔✔Late adolescence to young adulthood
Age of onset for Dementia - ✔✔Most common after age 85
Interpersonal Theory by Henry Stack Sullivan - ✔✔Behavior occurs because of interpersonal dynamics,
interpersonal relationships and experiences influence one's personality, two drives for behavior include:
the drive for satisfaction and the drive for security. When these needs are interfered with by the self-
system, mental illness occurs. Sullivan also described stages of interpersonal development.
Health Belief Model by Marshall Becker - ✔✔Explains that healthy people do not always take advantage
of screenings or preventative programs because of the following variables: Perception of susceptibility,
Seriousness of illness, Perceived benefits of treatment, Perceived barriers to change, and Expectations
of efficacy
Transtheoretical Model of Change - ✔✔States that change such as in health behaviors occurs in six
predictable stages:
1. Precontemplation: Person has no intention to change.
