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Psychiatric / Mental Health
Equine-assisted activities and therapies partner professionals with horses to address the patient’s needs.
To help ensure military veterans get appropriate diagnosis and treatment, ask patients if they’ve ever served in the military.
Reproductive status, hormonal therapy, oral contraceptives, irregular menstrual cycles, and pregnancy complications may raise woman’s risk of cardiovascular disease.
Rapid withdrawal from antidepressant drugs can cause serious problems in acute-care patients. This article explains why acute-care nurses need to put antidepressant discontinuation syndrome on thier radar screen.
The patient thinks she knows what’s causing her chest pain. Her nurse knows she must rule out myocardial infarction.
Adult nurse practitioners (NPs) encounter patients with a wide range of challenging behaviors. Some of these behaviors can be especially hard to manage and may even preclude successful…
A new document created by ANA and other groups delineates emergency care principles for psychiatric patients.
Be sure you’re prepared to care for patients with this condition
A study of 701 adults with subacute or chronic back pain found that cognitive behavioral therapy reduced pain and disability compared to those who didn’t receive the intervention.…
Legislation under consideration in the U.S. House and Senate would require group health insurers to cover mental health care at the same level as physical health care. As…
The nurse’s note read, “not orientated to place and time due to dementia.” Several hours of general anesthesia for a knee replacement and then morphine via a patient-controlled…
Don’t assume depression is a normal finding in elderly patients.
WEB EXCLUSIVE! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.
Editor’s note: One of a series of articles on managing cancer-related symptoms from the Oncology Nursing Society. Dana Jennings, in his New York Times blog on his battle…
Editor’s note: One of a series of articles on managing cancer-related symptoms from the Oncology Nursing Society. Dyspnea is “a subjective experience of breathing discomfort that consists of…
On Sept. 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Brintellix (vortioxetine) to treat adults with major depressive disorder. Read more.
On Dec. 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic versions of Cymbalta (duloxetine delayed-release capsules). Read more.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Latuda (lurasidone HCL) tables for the treatment of adults with schizophrenia. Read more here.
On May 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers and healthcare professionals about a counterfeit version of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries’ Adderall 30 milligram tablets that…
The author reviews issues surrounding mandatory overtime.
Dedicated to John, who was loved by so many
“Something’s wrong. We have to fix it quickly!” All of our training and experiences as nurses, such as my almost 30 years as a hospital-based RN, lead us…
A wise person once said, “Grief is not a disease or pathology to be cured. Grief is the tangible evidence that we’ve cared and loved someone.” The author…
The more you know about menopause, the more you can help patients understand and cope with symptoms.
Gun violence: Will the 113th Congress take action?
One evening while making rounds in the geriatric psychiatry unit, a nurse manager heard a patient crying in a little girl’s voice and pleading for her mother and…
Discover the secrets to planning and implementing a successful continuing- education conference.
Routine alcohol abuse screening identifies patients who abuse alcohol and helps reduce alcohol-related health problems.
Don’t miss an opportunity for health promotion and improvement in disease management by failing to assess patients with chronic illness for depression.
Speaking of psychic experiences Beth Wechsler’s article “A word about patients’ psychic experiences: Listen” in the March issue deserves to be widely read and discussed. The extrasensory experiences…
Sherry, age 17, is admitted to a behavioral health residential facility by her adoptive parents. She has mild mental retardation and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Recently, she reported…
Read this nurse’s remarkable story of devotion and acceptance.
The OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors has approved policies aimed at creating greater consistency in the medical and psychosocial evaluation and informed consent processes for living kidney donors and…
An often-missed diagnosis, this condition may mimic certain types of dementia.
ICU stays can cause physical and cognitive problems for years after discharge. Find out how to improve patient outcomes.
This might come as a surprise, but postpartum depression (PPD) is the number-one complication of childbearing. Experts estimate it strikes at least one in 10 women, with approximately…
ANA’s position statement on thimerosol-containing vaccines emphasizes a precautionary approach.
Many people who take prescription opioids underestimate the abuse potential.
Rodney, age 47, was admitted to the hospital 2 days ago with rib and femur fractures and facial contusions. He appears well nourished and well groomed.
Rodney, age 47, was admitted to the hospital 2 days ago with rib and femur fractures and facial contusions. He appears well nourished and well groomed.
Built on therapeutic communication and relationship development, psychiatric nursing is the basis of all nursing. A core healthcare profession, psychiatric nursing provides primary mental-health care in the private…
Which of the following does not help address issues related to post-intensive care syndrome? a. Diaries kept jointly by family, ICU staff, and physicians b. Post-ICU clinics for…
“The War Within: Preventing Suicide in the U.S. Military,” a report released by the Rand Corporation, states U.S. military officials should improve their efforts to identify those at…
This affective teaching strategy improves students’ understanding of mental illness on a deeper personal level.
Are you an RN who has been out of the workforce? Your talents, experience and expertise are needed in all healthcare settings. While technology and treatments have changed,…
All kids can be moody and unpredictable. But for roughly 5% of children, behavioral changes reflect depression. Learn why depression holds added dangers for children – and how you…
More than a half million members of the military have become our newest veterans. Compared to veterans of previous conflicts, Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans as a group…
Children are people with small hearts and big emotions that often come from the people around them, particularly family members. As a pediatric nurse and mother of two…
Perhaps you’ve heard of a complementary therapy called Reiki, or maybe you’ve experienced it yourself. Reiki is one of the fastest-growing energy healing practices, used by millions of…
This nightly vexation afflicts nearly 10% of the elderly.
Without quick thinking and a call to the rapid response team, this reaction to atypical antipsychotics can kill.
People who mutilate themselves excel at hiding their injuries. Find out how to identify self-mutilators and nurture their trust.
Some causes of dementia can be reversed through proper identification, intervention, and treatment. Nurses play an essential role in improving the lives of many older adults by recognizing…
Nurses play a significant role in helping patients to get the sleep they need.
Awaken patients with sleep apnea to the danger of their condition.
The July 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine has a thoughtful essay, “Smoking and Mental Illness — Breaking the Link” that dispels myths that contribute…
What do you know about addiction to opioids? If you are like many clinicians you might have trouble sorting out the facts, which can affect your ability to…
Videos educate patients while meeting students’ learning needs. Editor’s note: This is an early release of an article for the May 2021 issue of American Nurse Journal. Even…
According to a study published by JAMA, older adults with hearing loss are more likely than peers with normal hearing to require hospitalization and suffer from periods of…
Rates of smoking, drinking, and drug use are significantly higher among those who have psychotic disorders than among those in the general population, according to a study published…
A systematic review published in Diabetes Care reports that that people taking antidepressants are at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, although it’s not certain whether the…
A study in Nicotine & Tobacco Research reports that population interventions (cigarette excise tax, smoke-free air policies) seem to reduce the incidence of suicide. Read more.
A study in Nursing Research found that 40% of patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) reported fatigue more than 3 days a week lasting more than one…
Grandmothers who care for their grandchildren fulltime need help for depression and family strains, according to researchers from the Case Western Reserve University’s Frances Payne Bolton School of…
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry has found that common methods of assessing mental or physical disorders may consistently underestimate the prevalence of mental disorders among middle-aged and…
A study in BMJ Open reports that men had a higher rate of hospital utilization, defined as ED visits or readmissions within 30 days of discharge, than women.…
Maternal depression is more common at 4 years following childbirth than at any other time in the first 12 months after childbirth, according to a study in BJOG:…
According to a study in Psychological Medicine, MRIs may help diagnose people with bipolar disorder. The researchers correctly differentiated bipolar patients from healthy individuals with 73% accuracy based…
A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine reports on an effective new delirium severity measure (CAM-S) based on the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), Read more and read…
According to a study in Psychoneuroendocrinology, a positive self-esteem can buffer adults older than 60 years against health threats. Researchers found that if an individual’s self-esteem decreased, cortisol…
Thoughts of suicide, sexual difficulties and emotional numbness as a result of anti-depressants may be more widespread than previously thought, according to a study of 1,829 adults in…
The total cancer incidence in adults with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder was 2.6 times higher than the general population, according to a study of 3,317 Medicaid adult beneficiaries…
Pursuing concrete, specific goals of benevolence, such as making someone smile or increasing recycling, instead of following similar but more abstract goals, such as making someone happy, is…
A monthly round-up of clinicial and practice new and alerts.
Medical illiteracy can kill A 6-year study of 3,260 patients ages 65 and older found that almost 40% of those considered medically illiterate died during the study. Only…
Preventing readmissions is an important quality focus. Here is how you can work with other team members to help reduce readmissions for patients who have diabetes.
Want to reduce physical and psychological stress? Emotional Freedom Techniques may be able to help.
Our editor-in-chief discusses the upcoming insurance requirement related to the Affordable Care Act and emphasizes the need for nurses to be knowledgeable about the requirements so they can…
Learn how to care for patients whose seizures reflect psychological disturbances.
Extreme mood and behavior swings, disrupted lives, reduced life expectancy, obstacles to getting help—these are among the effects of bipolar disorder. When you understand this condition, you can…
Examine the ethical and legal issues of patient privacy.
Bullying refers to repeated negative activity or aggression intended to harm or bother someone that the aggressor perceives as less powerful. In many cases, bullying victims are harassed…
A horse is a horse—and sometimes part of a clinical team, too
Equine-assisted activities and therapies partner professionals with horses to address the patient’s needs.
A powerful question: “Have you ever served in the military?”
To help ensure military veterans get appropriate diagnosis and treatment, ask patients if they’ve ever served in the military.
A woman’s reproductive health: Clues to future heart disease?
Reproductive status, hormonal therapy, oral contraceptives, irregular menstrual cycles, and pregnancy complications may raise woman’s risk of cardiovascular disease.
Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome: What every acute-care nurse should know
Rapid withdrawal from antidepressant drugs can cause serious problems in acute-care patients. This article explains why acute-care nurses need to put antidepressant discontinuation syndrome…
Anxiety attack or myocardial infarction?
The patient thinks she knows what’s causing her chest pain. Her nurse knows she must rule out myocardial infarction.
Better care for patients with borderline personality disorder
Adult nurse practitioners (NPs) encounter patients with a wide range of challenging behaviors. Some of these behaviors can be especially hard to manage and…
Care, not chaos
A new document created by ANA and other groups delineates emergency care principles for psychiatric patients.
Caring for patients in alcohol withdrawal
Be sure you’re prepared to care for patients with this condition
Cognitive behaviorial therapy
A study of 701 adults with subacute or chronic back pain found that cognitive behavioral therapy reduced pain and disability compared to those who…
Congress considers mental health parity legislation
Legislation under consideration in the U.S. House and Senate would require group health insurers to cover mental health care at the same level as…
Dementia: The quiet thief
The nurse’s note read, “not orientated to place and time due to dementia.” Several hours of general anesthesia for a knee replacement and then…
Detecting and screening for depression in older adults
Don’t assume depression is a normal finding in elderly patients.
Drugs Today – February 2009
WEB EXCLUSIVE! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
Drugs Today – November 2008
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.
Drugs Today – September 2008
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.
Evidence-based interventions for depression in patients with cancer
Editor’s note: One of a series of articles on managing cancer-related symptoms from the Oncology Nursing Society. Dana Jennings, in his New York Times…
Evidence-based interventions for dyspnea
Editor’s note: One of a series of articles on managing cancer-related symptoms from the Oncology Nursing Society. Dyspnea is “a subjective experience of breathing…
FDA approves Brintellix for major depression
On Sept. 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Brintellix (vortioxetine) to treat adults with major depressive disorder. Read more.
FDA approves first generic versions of Cymbalta
On Dec. 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic versions of Cymbalta (duloxetine delayed-release capsules). Read more.
FDA approves new drug for schizophrenia
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Latuda (lurasidone HCL) tables for the treatment of adults with schizophrenia. Read more here.
FDA warns against counterfeit Adderall
On May 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers and healthcare professionals about a counterfeit version of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries’ Adderall…
From our readers: Overtime is only fun in baseball: A somber look at mandatory overtime and nursing care
The author reviews issues surrounding mandatory overtime.
From our readers…Know your A, B, C, and D’s for patients with progressive disease
“Something’s wrong. We have to fix it quickly!” All of our training and experiences as nurses, such as my almost 30 years as a…
From our readers…The nature of grief
A wise person once said, “Grief is not a disease or pathology to be cured. Grief is the tangible evidence that we’ve cared and…
Guiding your patients through menopause
The more you know about menopause, the more you can help patients understand and cope with symptoms.
How dolls can help patients with dementia
One evening while making rounds in the geriatric psychiatry unit, a nurse manager heard a patient crying in a little girl’s voice and pleading…
How to put on a successful CE conference
Discover the secrets to planning and implementing a successful continuing- education conference.
How to screen patients for alcohol use disorders
Routine alcohol abuse screening identifies patients who abuse alcohol and helps reduce alcohol-related health problems.
Improving depression screening in patients with chronic illness
Don’t miss an opportunity for health promotion and improvement in disease management by failing to assess patients with chronic illness for depression.
Letters to the Editor – May 2009
Speaking of psychic experiences Beth Wechsler’s article “A word about patients’ psychic experiences: Listen” in the March issue deserves to be widely read and…
Moving toward a restraint-free environment
Sherry, age 17, is admitted to a behavioral health residential facility by her adoptive parents. She has mild mental retardation and attention deficit hyperactivity…
New policies for evaluating living kidney donors approved by OPTN/UNOS
The OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors has approved policies aimed at creating greater consistency in the medical and psychosocial evaluation and informed consent processes for…
Normal-pressure hydrocephalus: The “wet, wobbly, and wacky” triad
An often-missed diagnosis, this condition may mimic certain types of dementia.
Post-intensive care syndrome: What it is and how to help prevent it
ICU stays can cause physical and cognitive problems for years after discharge. Find out how to improve patient outcomes.
Postpartum depression: Don’t let patients suffer in silence
This might come as a surprise, but postpartum depression (PPD) is the number-one complication of childbearing. Experts estimate it strikes at least one in…
Precautionary approach guides ANA’s thimerosal policy
ANA’s position statement on thimerosol-containing vaccines emphasizes a precautionary approach.
Prescription opioids: A growing epidemic of abuse
Many people who take prescription opioids underestimate the abuse potential.
Psychiatric emergencies in med-surg patients: Are you prepared?
Rodney, age 47, was admitted to the hospital 2 days ago with rib and femur fractures and facial contusions. He appears well nourished and…
Psychiatric emergencies in med-surg patients: Are you prepared?
Rodney, age 47, was admitted to the hospital 2 days ago with rib and femur fractures and facial contusions. He appears well nourished and…
Psychiatric nurses are in demand
Built on therapeutic communication and relationship development, psychiatric nursing is the basis of all nursing. A core healthcare profession, psychiatric nursing provides primary mental-health…
Quiz time
Which of the following does not help address issues related to post-intensive care syndrome? a. Diaries kept jointly by family, ICU staff, and physicians…
Rand report calls for more action to prevent military suicide
“The War Within: Preventing Suicide in the U.S. Military,” a report released by the Rand Corporation, states U.S. military officials should improve their efforts…
Readers Theatre helps student nurses care for the mentally ill
This affective teaching strategy improves students’ understanding of mental illness on a deeper personal level.
Ready, set, go! How to return to the nursing workforce
Are you an RN who has been out of the workforce? Your talents, experience and expertise are needed in all healthcare settings. While technology…
Recognizing depression in children
All kids can be moody and unpredictable. But for roughly 5% of children, behavioral changes reflect depression. Learn why depression holds added dangers for children…
Recognizing posttraumatic stress disorder in military veterans
More than a half million members of the military have become our newest veterans. Compared to veterans of previous conflicts, Iraq and Afghanistan combat…
Recovery lessons from the Sandy Hook trauma
Children are people with small hearts and big emotions that often come from the people around them, particularly family members. As a pediatric nurse…
Reiki: Ancent healing art for today’s new healthcare vision
Perhaps you’ve heard of a complementary therapy called Reiki, or maybe you’ve experienced it yourself. Reiki is one of the fastest-growing energy healing practices,…
Reversing neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Without quick thinking and a call to the rapid response team, this reaction to atypical antipsychotics can kill.
Self-mutilation: The cutting truth
People who mutilate themselves excel at hiding their injuries. Find out how to identify self-mutilators and nurture their trust.
Seven reversible causes of dementia in older adults
Some causes of dementia can be reversed through proper identification, intervention, and treatment. Nurses play an essential role in improving the lives of many…
Smoking and mental illness
The July 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine has a thoughtful essay, “Smoking and Mental Illness — Breaking the Link” that…
Stigma and misconceptions related to addictive disease
What do you know about addiction to opioids? If you are like many clinicians you might have trouble sorting out the facts, which can…
Students support individuals with cognitive disabilities during COVID-19
Videos educate patients while meeting students’ learning needs. Editor’s note: This is an early release of an article for the May 2021 issue of…
Study: Older adults with hearing loss have more hospitalizations, poorer health
According to a study published by JAMA, older adults with hearing loss are more likely than peers with normal hearing to require hospitalization and…
Study: Alcohol, tobacco, drug use higher in those with psychotic disorders
Rates of smoking, drinking, and drug use are significantly higher among those who have psychotic disorders than among those in the general population, according…
Study: Antidepressants may pose risk for type 2 diabetes
A systematic review published in Diabetes Care reports that that people taking antidepressants are at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, although it’s…
Study: Efforts to reduce smoking may reduce suicide
A study in Nicotine & Tobacco Research reports that population interventions (cigarette excise tax, smoke-free air policies) seem to reduce the incidence of suicide.…
Study: Fatigue common in CHD
A study in Nursing Research found that 40% of patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) reported fatigue more than 3 days a week…
Study: Grandmothers raising grandchildren struggle with depression
Grandmothers who care for their grandchildren fulltime need help for depression and family strains, according to researchers from the Case Western Reserve University’s Frances…
Study: Incidence of mental disorders in mid-life, older adulthood may be underestimated
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry has found that common methods of assessing mental or physical disorders may consistently underestimate the prevalence of mental…
Study: Men more likely than women to return to hospital within 30 days of discharge
A study in BMJ Open reports that men had a higher rate of hospital utilization, defined as ED visits or readmissions within 30 days…
Study: More focus on maternal mental health needed
Maternal depression is more common at 4 years following childbirth than at any other time in the first 12 months after childbirth, according to…
Study: MRI may help diagnose bipolar disorder
According to a study in Psychological Medicine, MRIs may help diagnose people with bipolar disorder. The researchers correctly differentiated bipolar patients from healthy individuals…
Study: New delirium severity measure
A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine reports on an effective new delirium severity measure (CAM-S) based on the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM),…
Study: Positive self-esteem protects older adults from health problems
According to a study in Psychoneuroendocrinology, a positive self-esteem can buffer adults older than 60 years against health threats. Researchers found that if an…
Study: Psychological adverse effects of antidepressants
Thoughts of suicide, sexual difficulties and emotional numbness as a result of anti-depressants may be more widespread than previously thought, according to a study…
Study: Serious mental illness increases cancer risk
The total cancer incidence in adults with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder was 2.6 times higher than the general population, according to a study of…
Study: Specific benevolence brings happiness
Pursuing concrete, specific goals of benevolence, such as making someone smile or increasing recycling, instead of following similar but more abstract goals, such as…
Take Note – November 2007
Medical illiteracy can kill A 6-year study of 3,260 patients ages 65 and older found that almost 40% of those considered medically illiterate died…
Taking steps in the hospital to prevent diabetes-related readmissions
Preventing readmissions is an important quality focus. Here is how you can work with other team members to help reduce readmissions for patients who…
Tap your way to fast relief
Want to reduce physical and psychological stress? Emotional Freedom Techniques may be able to help.
The new health insurance marketplace
Our editor-in-chief discusses the upcoming insurance requirement related to the Affordable Care Act and emphasizes the need for nurses to be knowledgeable about the…
Understanding psychogenic nonepileptic seizures
Learn how to care for patients whose seizures reflect psychological disturbances.
What you need to know about bipolar disorder
Extreme mood and behavior swings, disrupted lives, reduced life expectancy, obstacles to getting help—these are among the effects of bipolar disorder. When you understand…
You can help stop the cycle of teen bullying
Bullying refers to repeated negative activity or aggression intended to harm or bother someone that the aggressor perceives as less powerful. In many cases,…