Altered Thought Processes

Question 1

Normal Cognitive changes

Answer 1

• increased reaction & response time
• individualized
• mild short term memory loss
• decline in problem solving
• long term memory usually remains intact

Question 2

Cognition

Answer 2

the ability to think
the ability to process and store information
the ability to solve problems

Question 3

What does cognition involve?

Answer 3

Cognition involves the mental processing of information. Memory and thought combine to store, retrieve and manipulate this information

Question 4

A cognitive Disorder

Answer 4

A problem or lack of one or more of the three elements.

Question 5

Conditions of a Cognitive Disorder

Answer 5

Delirium, Dementia, Amnesia/Amnestic disorder= forgetfullness

Question 6

Level of consciousness (LOC)

Answer 6

measures alertness

Question 7

Delirium

Answer 7

An acute change in a person’s level of cognition and level of cognition, LOC that occurs over a short period of time–hours to days

Question 8

Dementia

Answer 8

A progressive, irreversible decline in mental function. Not a part of normal aging, often not noticed at first. Decline in physical and cognitive function and personality changes.

Question 9

Progression of Dementia

Answer 9

slowly to very obvious

Question 10

Confusion

Answer 10

Acute change in mental status from baseline; disorientaion mixed with lucidiy

Question 11

Changes in LOC

Answer 11

can range from stupor to hyperacivity

Question 12

Disorganized thought/speech

Answer 12

unable to reason, disjointed, slurred speech

Question 13

Decreased attention span

Answer 13

have difficulty focusing

Question 14

imparied memory

Answer 14

cannot form, store, or retrieve information

Question 15

Fear

Answer 15

apprehensive, bewildered

Question 16

Anxiety

Answer 16

vague, uneasy feeling of discomfort or dread; source is non-specific or unknown

Question 17

paranoia

Answer 17

if persists over 1 week could be a symptom of schizophrenia

Question 18

sleep-wake distrubances

Answer 18

take brief naps day and night

Question 19

sundowning

Answer 19

sundowners syndrome; oriented during the day, confused at night

Question 20

illusions

Answer 20

inaccurate perception of sensory stimulation. Stimulus is a real object. Iv line is a snake, garbage can is a dog. Can be explained and clarified

Question 21

Delusions

Answer 21

a false belief held with conviction despite overwhelming evidence o the contrary. Belief of being poisoned–will not eat; delusion of persecution, delusions of grandeur.

Question 22

Agitation

Answer 22

increased mental and physical activity. Especially physical–usually non-purposeful activity like pacing

Question 23

hallucinations

Answer 23

false sensory stimulation. See or feel things (bugs/rats) that others do not see.

Question 24

what are the three most common forms of dementia

Answer 24

Dementia with lewy bodies, vascular dementia or multi-infarct dementia and alzheimers disease

Question 25

dementia with lewy bodies

Answer 25

2nd most common late onset dementia

Question 26

What is dementia with lewy bodies

Answer 26

abnormal protein levels within the nerves, develop cognitive changes and then develop musculoskeletal changes

Question 27

What are some signs and symptoms of dementia with lewy bodies

Answer 27

fluctuating confusion, impaired alertness and attention, visual hallucinations, increased muscle tone, gait disorders, falling, syncope, LOC. delusions

Question 28

Vascular Dementia Multi-Infarct or Ischemic Vascular Dementia

Answer 28

Affects 60-75 years old Affects more men than women Abrupt onset with multiple remissions Progressive step-wise decline in person's mental functioning.

Question 29

Vascular Dementia Multi-Infarct or Ischemic Vascular Dementia: physical signs/symptoms

Answer 29

Memory problems; forgetfulness; dizziness; leg or arm weakness; lack of concentration; moving with rapid shuffling steps; loss of bladder or bowel control.

Question 30

Vascular Dementia Multi-Infarct or Ischemic Vascular Dementia: behavioral signs/symptoms

Answer 30

slurred speech; language problems; abnormal behavior; wandering or getting lost in familiar surroundings; laughing or crying inappropriately; difficulty following instructions; problems handling money.

Question 31

Alzheimer's Disease

Answer 31

Can be late or early onset

Question 32

Late onset Alzheimer's Disease

Answer 32

- 95% of all cases - over age of 65 - Only diagnosis is an autopsy - many causative factors - Disease itself is not fatal but the secondary effects are

Question 33

Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease

Answer 33

Believed to be genetically linked 40-50 years of age 5% of all cases

Question 34

10 Warning Signs of Alzheimers

Answer 34

- Memory loss that disrupts daily life - challenges in planning or solving problems - difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure - confusion with time or place - trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships - new problems with words in speaking or writing - misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps - decreased or poor judgement - withdrawal from work or social activities - changes in mood and personality

Question 35

Anomia

Answer 35

Difficulty finding/remembering words or name of objets

Question 36

apraxia

Answer 36

inability to use the object appropriately Ex. getting dressed, eating utensils

Question 37

Agnosia

Answer 37

loss of sensory comprehension/recognize objects that are everyday Later on in disease: cannot recognize themselves/family

Question 38

Amnesia

Answer 38

loss of memory, cannot develop new

Question 39

aphasia

Answer 39

inability to speak/understand or loss of ability to speak

Question 40

receptive aphasia

Answer 40

unable to process what they hear

Question 41

expressive aphasia

Answer 41

cant express how they feel

Question 42

agraphia

Answer 42

inability to express themselves through writing

Question 43

alexia

Answer 43

inability to understand written language (can read it but cannot comprehend it)

Question 44

Activities of daily living (ADL's BATTED)

Answer 44

Bathing, Ambulating, Toileting, Transfer, Eating, Dressing