Mental Health Argumentative Essay Example

in her sensory perception. Specifically, she experiences disturbances in auditory perception, as evident from her auditory hallucinations where she hears voices talking to her. She also perceives commands from these voices, which she communicates to others, as seen when she asks the nurse if they can hear what the voices are saying during an examination.

Annabel’s perception is distorted in multiple ways. Notably, she comments on seeing injured children, indicating visual hallucinations. This is further supported by her extreme reaction of slumping to the floor and sobbing out of distress. Additionally, her altered vision is evident through her fixation on the ceiling.
Furthermore, Annabel's sense of touch is affected, leading to tactile hallucinations, where she feels sensations crawling on her skin. This is exemplified by her intense focus on her arms and constant picking at the sores that cover them. The patient also mentions the presence of these sensations under her skin and insists they are pervasive, affecting everyone eventually.

Question 3

The term "affect" refers to an emotion expressed by an individual and observable by others. It is characterized by the person's demeanor or tone of voice (Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010). Examples of affect include feelings of euphoria, sadness, or anger. A patient can demonstrate various types of affect, such as broad, restricted, blunt, or flat. On the other hand, "mood" refers to a pervasive and sustained emotion that can impact an individual's perception of life (Schultz ; Videbeck, 2013).

During patient evaluations, nurses assess their mood and determine if it is congruent. The nurse can interpret Annabelle's mood and the intensity of her emotions based on their interactions. It can be observed

that the patient's mood is dysregulated as she displays extreme emotional states. Additionally, there are signs of substance-induced depression as she isolates herself and avoids social interactions. Furthermore, the patient exhibits anxiety, fearing that someone will discover her actions and harm her. She even apologizes without having done anything wrong.

Similarly, Annabel’s affect can be described as labile. She exhibits unstable emotions, as evidenced by moments of screaming, staring at the ceiling, and sobbing. This labile affect is also demonstrated in the variability and intensity of her emotions. For example, she smiles when the nurse enters the room but then suddenly becomes terrified while staring at the ceiling.

Question 4

Annabel's behavior includes akathisia, characterized by increased restlessness and a compulsive need to stay in motion (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

The patient exhibits signs of being highly anxious and restless, continuously walking back and forth in the ED hallway. The patient also displays hyperactivity, reacting immediately to any noise or movement within the ED. Additionally, the patient shows chorea, characterized by irregular and semi-directed movement in one hand (Tasman, Kay, & Ursano, 2013). According to the report, Annabel repeatedly squeezed her hand while pacing in the ED corridors, and continued doing so when she was taken to her assigned area. At times, the patient avoided making eye contact with the staff and instead chose to stare at the ceiling.

Failing to maintain eye contact with the staff may indicate depression. The description of appearance in the Mental Status Examination (MSE) can be applied to Annabel's appearance. The client is wearing dirty clothes and does not have shoes, suggesting a disheveled look. Additionally, the patient's grooming is lacking as her blue-dyed

hair is unkempt and matted. The patient's facial expression at times appears tense and suspicious, evident in her gaze shifting from fear to hostility.

The patient can also be described as having unique characteristics such as coloring her hair blue, which is considered unconventional. Additionally, the patient has experienced significant weight loss, indicating a state of emaciation.

References

1. American Psychiatric Association, 2013. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5), Arlington: American Psychiatric Association.
2. Baer, L., ; Blais, M, 2010. Handbook of clinical rating scales and assessment in psychiatry and mental health, New York: Humana Press.
3. Fortinash, K., ; Holoday-Worret, P., 2012. Psychiatric mental health nursing, St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby.
4. Hunt, J., ; Eisenberg, D., 2010. Mental health problems and help-seeking behavior among college students. Journal of Adolescent Health, 46(1), pp.3-10.
5. Roberts, L., 2013. International handbook for psychiatry: A concise guide for medical residents and medical practitioners, Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Company.
6. Schultz, J., ; Videbeck, S., 2013. Lippincott’s manual of psychiatric nursing care plans, Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams.
7. Tasman, A., Kay, J., ; Ursano, R., 2013. The psychiatric interview: Evaluation and diagnosis, West Sussex: John Wiley ; Sons.