Chapter 20

Question 1

activities of daily living

Answer 1

The basic activities a person usually accomplishes during a normal day, such as eating, dressing, and bathing

Question 2

agitated delirium

Answer 2

A condition of disorientation, confusion, and possible hallucinations coupled with purposeless, restless physical activity

Question 3

altered mental status

Answer 3

A change in the way a person thinks and behaves that may signal disease in the central nervous system or elsewhere in the body

Question 4

behavior

Answer 4

How a person functions or acts in response to his or her environment

Question 5

behavioral crisis

Answer 5

The point at which a person’s reactions to events interfere with activities of daily living; this becomes a psychiatric emergency when it causes a major life interruption, such as attempted suicide

Question 6

depression

Answer 6

A persistent mood of sadness, despair, and discouragement; may be a symptom of many different mental and physical disorders, or it may be a disorder on its own

Question 7

functional disorder

Answer 7

A disorder in which there is no known physiologic reason for the abnormal functioning of an organ or organ system

Question 8

organic brain syndrome

Answer 8

Temporary or permanent dysfunction of the brain, caused by a disturbance in the physical or physiologic function of brain tissue

Question 9

psychiatric disorder

Answer 9

An illness with psychological or behavioral symptoms and /or impairment in functioning caused by a social, psychological, genetic, physical, chemical or biologic disturbance

Question 10

psychiatric emergency

Answer 10

An emergency in which abnormal behavior threatens a person’s own health and safety or the health and safety of another person, for example when a person becomes suicidal, homicidal, or has a psychotic episode

Question 11

psychosis

Answer 11

A mental disorder characterized by the loss of contact with reality