Psychiatric Assessment and Fundamentals Q 44
Nurse Seymonne is caring for a client with depression who has not responded to antidepressant medication. The nurse anticipates what treatment procedure may be prescribed?
A. Neuroleptic medication
B. Short term seclusion
C. Psychosurgery
D. Electroconvulsive therapy
Correct Answer: D. Electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy is an effective treatment for depression that has not responded to medication. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) uses an electric current to create a generalized cerebral seizure. Although it is primarily utilized to treat patients with severe depression, patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, catatonia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and bipolar disorder may also benefit.
Option A: Neuroleptics, also known as antipsychotic medications, are used to treat and manage symptoms of many psychiatric disorders. They fall into two classes: first-generation or “typical” antipsychotics and second-generation or “atypical” antipsychotics.”
Option B: Seclusion is the formal placing of a patient in a specially designated room for the short-term management of disturbed/violent behavior. Indications for seclusion include: to prevent imminent harm to others, namely staff, and other patients, if other means are inappropriate or ineffective.
Option C: Psychosurgery is a field of surgery which consists of stereotactic operations on the brain aimed at altering abnormal physiology by severing certain connections between the frontal lobe and the rest of the brain, including the cortex, the nuclei, or other brain pathways, which may appear to function normally or abnormally, in order to reduce mental and/or physical suffering in otherwise untreatable patients.