Nur2107 : Mental Health - Drug Induced Psychosis- Nursing Essay Writing Assessment Answer

Mental Health Assignment

Assignment Task

Experiencing a mental illness and the personal recovery can be a unique and

an isolating journey.

As a Mental Health Nurse (MHN) working in the acute adult mental health hospital setting, (use recent peer reviewed evidenced based literature to) critique and argue the recovery strategies that the Mental Health Nurse

(MHN) would implement with Ben who is a compulsory client under the

Victorian Mental Health Act (2014) while recovering from a drug induced

psychosis.

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Drug Induced Psychosis

Drug induced psychosis is the condition in which a person’s brain is highly disrupted, which affects the behavior, thoughts, emotions and perceptions. Psychosis also affects the person’s thoughts and speech and the patient also face difficulty in interpreting what’s going on around them. The patient also suffers from hallucinations and delusions. Thus, it is a kind of mental illness that requires recovery strategies to be applied, for treating drug induced psychosis. This kind of condition can be treated and person can make full recovery. Without proper treatment, the condition of the patient can be worsened and can cause great disruption in mental health development.

This essay aims to argue the recovery strategies that would be applicable with Ben who is a compulsory client under the Victorian Mental Health Act (2014) while recovering from a drug induced psychosis. As a Mental Health Nurse (MHN) working in the acute adult mental health hospital setting, it is very important to understand the problem of the patient and to apply proper recovery strategies.

Ben is the patient, who is suffering from mental illness due to psychosis. Drug induced psychosis can happen to anyone, but the most important thing to remember is that it can be treated. The main psychosis is the first episode psychosis, which means that a person has experienced the psychotic symptoms for the first time. When such condition happens for the first time, the person suffering from it may not understand that what is happening with him. The person may also feel distressed and very confused. Mental problems are also like the physical problems; the sooner they are treated, the better becomes the diagnosis (Cross, et al, 2014). If this condition is not treated for the longer time, then person’s life becomes more disturbed. The delay in the treatment can lead to slow and incomplete recovery.

Recovery Strategies

Personal Intervention

The first phase of the treatment involve interview of the patient with the mental health nurse. The nurse will get to know the patient in a better way. The further information about the patient can be obtained from the family and friends of the patient. To exclude the physical cause, blood tests and x-rays can be performed. The assessment period could be a confusing time and would require great deal of patience, tolerance and reassurance (Kidd, et al, 2015). The patients are in vulnerable conditions, thus they require more patience and tolerance towards them. It is very important to for a trustful relationship and understanding with the patients. Thus as a Mental Health Nurse it is very important to build trust with patient. The information obtained from friends, family and the patient can help in further treatment. This also provides the idea of dealing with the patient in the best way.

The drug induced psychosis patient’s needs more attention and care. This kind of psychosis can be evolved due to taking some drugs or soon after withdrawing them (Addington, et al, 2014). The person can only recover if drugs are completely takeout of the body. The re-use of the drug can lead in increasing the problem; the condition can get triggered by the use of drugs and alcohol (Moe, et al, 2013). The main drugs that lead to drug or substance induced psychosis are caused by heroin, cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, amphetamines, benzodiazepines.

Drug Free Period

When a person is involved in drugs, his brain is highly damaged due to the effect of the drugs. The drugs such cocaine, hallucinogens and cannabis can cause mental illness. Taking such drugs for long period of time creates psychotic symptoms. The drugs when taken over a long period, they start creating interruptions in the release and absorption of the brain chemicals such as serotonin or dopamine (Kane, et al, 2015). The continuous use of the drugs causes in the brain structure and functioning.

While intervention of Ben it is very important to understand the cause of psychosis that it is caused by the drugs or due to genetic or traumatic reasons. The diagnosis of the psychosis is only possible after the drug free period has passed. Thus, it is very important that Ben should be kept away from the drugs, so that diagnosis can be done in a better way. According to the Victoria’s Mental Health Act 2014, it is very important to involve the person in the assessment of their treatment (Kidd, et al, 2015). Thus, Ben should participate in the decision making process of assessment.

As, a mental health nurse it is very important to understand that patient’s rights, dignity, and autonomy must be protected at all level of treatment. Patient should be informed about the drug free period and importance of this period. Ben should understand that drug free period is very important for the proper diagnosis of his condition. Only after proper analysis, the correct treatment could be offered to him. Ben have all the rights to discuss all the treatment options, thus it is the duty of the nurse to help him in understanding various treatment options. This period also provide the chance to the doctors and nurses to observe the patient more closely. In some of the cases, though this slow approach could not work and immediate and rapid treatment would be required (Baker, et al, 2016).The drug free period can be worthless, if the patient takes drugs gain. The diagnosis of the Ben could be affected if he takes anymore drugs within this period.

Medication

Medication is another major recovery strategy, which is very important for the treatment of drug induced psychosis. Medication is the most crucial part of the recovery in psychosis. It is very important in the treatment. Along with other recovery strategies, this is also very important as it plays the fundamental role in the recovery from drug induced psychosis (DSM-5 American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Medication also helps in preventing the further episodes of psychosis. According to the principles of Victoria’s Meantl Health Act 2014, the holistic care and support should be provided to the patients of drug induced psychosis.

As, a mental health nurse, it is very crucial to help Ben in understanding the importance of medication. By forming a trustful relation with Ben, the importance of medication can be explained to him. Ben should understand that medication is very important for reducing the symptoms of psychosis and also in reducing distress and anxiety. The medication of anti-psychotic medicines is prescribed by the doctor. But, being a nurse, the quantity and time of medication should be kept accurate. While the process of medication it is important to keep close watch on the patient.

Ben should be monitored regularly; it will help in providing immediate care at the time of need. If the medication is causing any kind of side effects that being a nurse it is one’s duty to inform the doctor immediately. The monitoring during the period of early medication can save Ben from distressing side effects. Such side effects can lead Ben to withdraw medication and he may be unwilling to accept such medication. Medication is the center of recovery strategy, thus careful and cautious steps should be taken. It is also important for a mental health nurse to stay in contact with the family and friends of Ben, so that the information about any kind of earlier drug reactions could be known. This way such medication could be avoided, which could cause side effects for him.The medication cannot be completely helpful as the medication can cause reactions, due to which Ben may not be willing to continue with medication and this could make his situation worse.

Psychological Therapies and Counseling

It is very important for a psychotic patient to have someone, whom they can talk everything. Strong communication is also supported by Victoria Mental Health Act. Every person, who is in distress or depression require someone to talk to. Being a mental health nurse, such condition should also be understood about Ben. After creating bonds and trust with Ben, the nurse can provide him counseling about accepting his situation and not losing hope. The condition of drug induced psychosis leads person to depression and anxiety. The counseling sessions and psychological therapies can help Ben to come out of his distress.

The people, who are facing such problems and have lost the faith of their families, always want someone to understand their mental condition and experience. They want someone to provide reassurance that they will recover. During the counseling session and progression of the recovery phase, the person may question that why he became the victim of such acute condition? With the help of psychological therapies, nurse can help Ben to understand that it is not his fault and he has capability to recover from it. The stress management techniques such as exercise, yoga or social activities can be applied with Ben to release his stress and provide him comfort. It is very difficult to take out a person from distress and guilt (Murray, et al, 2013). Patients like Ben would require more attention in such therapies; otherwise psychological therapies will be of no use without proper assistance.

Practical and Psychosocial Assistance

In the treatment of drug induced psychosis, it is very important that Ben should get assistance and support in daily activities, such as going to work. The assistance could also be provided for getting financial help or accommodation. The recovery strategies basically based on finding the ways through which the recovery of the patient can be ensured. Thus, through practical and psychological assistance a mental health nurse can understand the needs of Ben, and what are the important factors involved in his recovery (Jones, et al, 2014).

Practical and Psychosocial Assistance should not only be focused on the recovery, but they should also focus on the goal that needs to be achieved through well being of Ben. A person’s will play a very important role in his or her recovery. Such treatment or the strategy should focus on the ultimate goal of Ben’s life; what do he wants to do in life and what are his passions. The goal focused approach could also be understood as the goal of getting good job, buying new house, making new friends or writing. With Practical and Psychosocial Assistance strategy, nurse could motivate Ben to focus on his goal and leave back his distress. Activity based therapies are very helpful in making this approach successful (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2014).

For patients like Ben, Practical psychological assistance could only work, if the patient himself is willing and motivated to change. People at workplace also, may not accept him completely. Thus this kind of assistance can only be successful with acceptance of others as well.

Career and Employment Support

Rehabilitation and vocational counseling are very important for the patients to promote their recovery and re-integration into the society. The young people and young adults are often involved in the process of finding job or employment, when the illness strikes them (Glick, et al, 2001). Thus Ben can also be supported in finding employment or reentering the workplace. This situation will induce confidence and positivity in the attitude of Ben, which will help him to recover from psychotic illness. Ben could be counseled in order to find out his interest area and what kind of employment support does he requires.

Role of Family Members in Recovery

Assisting a person to recover from the metal illness is the essential part of the treatment. An equally important and mainly neglected part of the treatment is to assist the family members of the patient to cop-up with situation. It has been noticed, that family members becomes the forgotten causalities of their relatives illness. There have been extensive evidences that prove that role of family is very important in ensuring continued well being of the patient (Moe, et al, 2013). Being a mental health nurse, the initiative must be taken to assist the family members of Ben.

Psychotic illness is the condition, where family has to deal with major problems and stress. The experiences and needs of the family members must be understood. Same as the patient, they might also need support to come out of traumatic condition of seeing their relative in distress and pain. When a son or daughter of a family is diagnosed with drug induced psychosis, the family members and parents had to go through plethora of emotions. The emotions and feelings could include guilt, anxiety, sadness, confusion and even anger. It has been seen that emotions of family members change dramatically during the course of treatment (Brent, et al, 2014). As being a mental health nurse, it is important to understand the feelings and emotions of family and to give them time to overcome their emotions. Also, clear, realistic and hopeful information should be provided to the patient’s family (Glick, et al, 2001). Thus, Ben’s family should be treated in the same way. The people in society, do not have clear opinion about drug induced psychosis and mental illness, thus it is the duty of the nurse to inform the family members with correct information of the illness. Thus family should understand the importance of psychological interventions and treatments. Sometimes the family members leave the patients alone due to shame and anger. In scuh case this kind of recovery strategy would not be successful. This also requires complete involvement of family