388: Week 8 - Anxiety Disorders

Question 1

What are the 8 domains of nursing interventions for treating anxiety disorders?

Answer 1

1. Assess patient’s anxiety
2. Explore impact on functioning
3. Assess coping methods
4. Establish therapeutic relationship
5. Teach Effective coping methods
6. Teach about medications
7. Focus interventions on specific symptoms
8. Focus on strengths

Question 2

When assessing a patient’s anxiety what information do you want to gather?

Answer 2

• Duration of anxiety
• Triggers of anxiety
• Patient understanding of the cause (even if you know what causes it, its beneficial for pt to verbalize/acknowledge it)
• Identify whether situations that cause anxiety are situation specific or generalized

Question 3

What does the nurse want to look for when assessing a coping methods in an ind with anxiety?

Answer 3

-alert for coping strategies of self-medication including alcohol and drug use -> this point is important to understand especially if pt is taking a benzodiazepine

Question 4

What are some effective coping strategies to teach pt’s with anxiety?

Answer 4

• Deep breathing
• Positive self-talk
• Promote exercise
• Decreased caffeine intake
• Promotion of sleep
• Decrease stressors and total stress in life

Question 5

What interventions have been recommended for the prevention and treatment of PTSD?

Answer 5

Prevention:
-Critical Incidence Stress Debriefing (evidence is inconclusive -> potential to increase risk for stress/anxiety-related disorders)

Treatment:

• Pharmacological -> antidepressants = TCA’s and SSRI’s; mood stabilizers = valproate & carbamazepine); Minipress (anti-hypertensive agent) - shown to help reduce recurrent nightmares
• Non-pharmacological -> CBT and prolonged exposure techniques

*Evidence shows that a combo therapy including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions are quite beneficial.