NLE Psychiatric Disorders — Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, and Trauma-Related DisordersRevision Notes
Revision notes for NLE Psychiatric Disorders Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, and Trauma-Related Disorders — designed for time-pressed reviewers. These notes skip the basics and focus on what Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) — Board of Nursing consistently tests, so you spend your revision hours on the content most likely to appear on exam day.
Exam context
For the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) — Board of Nursing tests Psychiatric Disorders under a "Core" label, with Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, and Trauma-Related Disorders in the 1st slot across 7 chapters. NLE candidates must clear the 75% weighted average with no sub-test below 60% cut on the 2026 paper, which draws about 50 Psychiatric Disorders questions. Date to watch: Bi-annual.
Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, and Trauma-Related Disorders - Revision Notes
This chapter covers one of the most commonly tested areas in the Philippine NLE Psychiatric Nursing (NCM 105/106) board exams. Anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD, and dissociative disorders are interconnected by the central experience of anxiety — a vague, subjective sense of dread in response to a perceived or unknown threat. As a nurse governed by RA 9173 (Philippine Nursing Act of 2002) and guided by the Mental Health Act (RA 11036), you are expected to provide humane, evidence-based, community-sensitive care to clients with these conditions. Maslow-based prioritization, NANDA nursing diagnoses, and the therapeutic use of self are your key clinical tools. This review consolidates all high-yield concepts for the NLE board examination.
Sections
Exam Tips
- If a question asks 'what is the FIRST nursing action during a panic attack?' — the answer is almost always: STAY WITH THE CLIENT and remain calm.
- If a question asks about the perceptual field — remember the inverse relationship: MORE anxiety = LESS perceptual field.
- Questions about defense mechanisms often describe a behavior — identify the mechanism by its definition, not its name alone.
- Remember Maslow: Safety needs come FIRST during panic. Physiologic stabilization before psychosocial interventions.
Key Points
- Anxiety is a VAGUE, SUBJECTIVE feeling of apprehension to an UNKNOWN or NONSPECIFIC threat — this distinguishes it from FEAR, which is a response to a KNOWN, IDENTIFIABLE threat.
- Anxiety exists on a continuum: Mild → Moderate → Severe → Panic. As anxiety INCREASES, the perceptual field NARROWS.
- MILD anxiety: Heightens awareness, improves learning and problem-solving — BENEFICIAL level.
- MODERATE anxiety: Narrowed perceptual field; client can still focus if directed; some physical symptoms begin.
- SEVERE anxiety: Greatly reduced perceptual field; scattered details; physical symptoms prominent (headache, palpitations, tremors, diaphoresis); cannot learn or problem-solve.
- PANIC: Most extreme level; loss of rational thought; disorganized behavior; terror; possible loss of control — THIS IS A SAFETY EMERGENCY.
- KEY NLE RULE: Do NOT attempt teaching with a SEVERELY anxious or PANICKING client. Wait until anxiety decreases to at least moderate level.
- Defense mechanisms (repression, denial, projection, displacement, sublimation) are UNCONSCIOUS ego strategies to manage anxiety. They become MALADAPTIVE when overused.
- NANDA nursing diagnoses for anxiety: 'Anxiety,' 'Fear,' 'Ineffective Coping,' 'Disturbed Sleep Pattern.'
Definitions
Term
Anxiety
Definition
A vague, subjective feeling of apprehension, uneasiness, or dread arising from an unknown or nonspecific source or threat.
Importance
Distinguishing anxiety from fear is a classic NLE question. Anxiety = unknown threat; Fear = known, identifiable threat.
Term
Perceptual Field
Definition
The range of stimuli a person can attend to and process at a given time. As anxiety increases, the perceptual field narrows.
Importance
Explains WHY you cannot teach a panicking client — they literally cannot take in new information.
Term
Defense Mechanisms
Definition
Unconscious psychological strategies used by the ego to protect the individual from anxiety and awareness of internal or external threats.
Importance
NLE may ask you to identify specific defense mechanisms (e.g., a client who blames others = PROJECTION; a client who channels anger into sports = SUBLIMATION).
Term
Panic Attack
Definition
An abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort that peaks within minutes, accompanied by physical and psychological symptoms such as palpitations, chest pain, dyspnea, dizziness, derealization, and fear of dying.
Importance
Physical symptoms mimic MI — expect NLE questions where the nurse must rule out cardiac causes or manage a client in the ER.
Section Title
Understanding Anxiety: Levels and Key Concepts
Common Mistakes
- Confusing ANXIETY (unknown threat) with FEAR (known threat) — these are distinct concepts on the NLE.
- Attempting to teach or reason with a client during SEVERE anxiety or PANIC — always reduce anxiety FIRST.
- Thinking ALL anxiety is pathological — MILD anxiety is actually BENEFICIAL for learning and performance.
- Forgetting that as anxiety RISES, the nurse must SIMPLIFY communication (shorter sentences, calmer tone, one direction at a time).
Exam Tips
- NLE question pattern: A client is described as always worried about everything for the past year — this is GAD, not panic disorder.
- When asked about nursing interventions for an anxious client, REDUCING STIMULATION and STAYING WITH THE CLIENT are almost always correct.
- CBT is the gold standard non-pharmacologic treatment for GAD — know this for theory questions.
- Buspirone = used for CHRONIC anxiety (GAD), NOT for acute panic attacks because it takes 2-4 weeks to work.
Key Points
- GAD is characterized by EXCESSIVE, UNCONTROLLABLE WORRY about multiple areas of life (work, health, family, finances) for AT LEAST 6 MONTHS, more days than not.
- Associated symptoms: restlessness or feeling keyed up, easy fatigability, difficulty concentrating, irritability, MUSCLE TENSION, and sleep disturbance.
- Client often RECOGNIZES the worry is excessive but CANNOT STOP IT — this is key to differentiating from normal worry.
- GAD causes significant distress and functional impairment.
- First-line pharmacologic treatment: SSRIs (e.g., sertraline, escitalopram). Buspirone is also used for chronic GAD.
- First-line non-pharmacologic treatment: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
- Nursing interventions: calm low-stimulation environment, short simple communication, relaxation techniques (deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery), help client identify triggers and coping strategies.
- NANDA diagnosis: 'Anxiety related to perceived threat as evidenced by excessive worry and muscle tension.'
Definitions
Term
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Definition
A chronic anxiety disorder characterized by persistent, excessive, and uncontrollable worry about multiple areas of life lasting at least 6 months, accompanied by physical and cognitive symptoms.
Importance
NLE distinguishes GAD from panic disorder (episodic) and phobia (specific object/situation). GAD is pervasive and chronic.
Term
Relaxation Techniques
Definition
Non-pharmacologic strategies to reduce physiologic and psychological arousal, including deep diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), guided imagery, and mindfulness.
Importance
Nurses are expected to TEACH and IMPLEMENT these techniques. PMR involves tensing then releasing muscle groups systematically.
Section Title
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Common Mistakes
- Confusing GAD (chronic, multiple worries, 6+ months) with Panic Disorder (episodic, unexpected attacks).
- Forgetting the TIME CRITERION — the worry must be present MORE DAYS THAN NOT for at least 6 MONTHS.
- Overlooking MUSCLE TENSION as a hallmark physical symptom of GAD.
Exam Tips
- NLE CLASSIC: 'A client is hyperventilating and says she feels like she is dying. What is the FIRST nursing action?' — Stay with the client, remain calm, guide slow breathing.
- The 'stay with the client' principle is rooted in Maslow's SAFETY AND SECURITY needs — your presence prevents harm.
- If asked about a client who avoids going to malls, churches, or markets for fear of having a panic attack — think AGORAPHOBIA.
- Remember: NO TEACHING during panic. Teaching resumes when anxiety drops to MILD or MODERATE level.
Key Points
- Panic disorder: RECURRENT, UNEXPECTED panic attacks + persistent concern about future attacks or their consequences, OR significant behavioral changes related to the attacks.
- Panic attacks peak within MINUTES and include: palpitations, chest pain, dyspnea, choking sensation, dizziness, paresthesias, derealization/depersonalization, fear of dying, fear of 'going crazy,' sweating, trembling.
- AGORAPHOBIA: Fear of being in situations where escape is difficult or help unavailable during a panic attack (e.g., crowds, public transportation, open spaces). Often complicates panic disorder.
- Physical symptoms of panic attacks MIMIC MI (myocardial infarction) — clients frequently present to the ER. ALWAYS rule out cardiac causes first.
- PRIORITY NURSING INTERVENTIONS DURING A PANIC ATTACK:
- 1. STAY WITH THE CLIENT — never leave a panicking client alone (safety priority)
- 2. REMAIN CALM — the nurse's calm demeanor is therapeutic (therapeutic use of self)
- 3. Move to a QUIET, LOW-STIMULATION ENVIRONMENT
- 4. Use CALM, REASSURING VOICE with SHORT, CLEAR DIRECTIONS
- 5. Guide SLOW, CONTROLLED BREATHING to counter hyperventilation
- 6. Do NOT teach, reason, or problem-solve during peak panic
- First-line medications: SSRIs (long-term); Benzodiazepines (acute, short-term relief).
- Behavioral therapy: Systematic desensitization, interoceptive exposure.
Definitions
Term
Panic Disorder
Definition
A disorder characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks plus persistent worry about future attacks or significant behavioral changes to avoid them.
Importance
Distinguished from a single panic attack by recurrence, unexpectedness, and the resulting worry/behavioral changes.
Term
Agoraphobia
Definition
Marked fear or anxiety about two or more of the following: using public transportation, being in open spaces, being in enclosed spaces, standing in line or being in a crowd, or being outside the home alone — in cases where escape might be difficult.
Importance
Agoraphobia can occur with or without panic disorder. It is the avoidance behavior that develops from fear of being unable to escape or get help during a panic attack.
Term
Hyperventilation
Definition
Rapid, shallow breathing that reduces CO2 levels, causing respiratory alkalosis and worsening panic symptoms (tingling, dizziness, chest tightness).
Importance
Teaching SLOW, CONTROLLED BREATHING is the key non-pharmacologic intervention during a panic attack — it corrects hyperventilation.
Section Title
Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia
Common Mistakes
- Leaving a panicking client alone to 'get help' — NEVER leave them unattended; call for assistance without leaving.
- Trying to EXPLAIN or TEACH during the peak of a panic attack — the client cannot process information at this level of anxiety.
- Forgetting that chest pain during a panic attack must have cardiac causes RULED OUT first — always assess physiologic causes.
- Confusing AGORAPHOBIA (fear of inability to escape) with SPECIFIC PHOBIA (fear of a specific object or situation).
Exam Tips
- NLE CLASSIC: 'What therapy is used for phobias?' = SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION.
- Remember the ORDER: RELAXATION FIRST, then gradual exposure. You cannot expose before the client has a coping tool.
- Social phobia + performance situations (e.g., public speaking) = beta-blockers (propranolol) can help manage physiologic symptoms.
- If the question describes 'gradual exposure to feared object while learning to relax' = systematic desensitization.
Key Points
- A PHOBIA is a persistent, irrational, excessive fear of a SPECIFIC object or situation that causes marked avoidance and functional impairment.
- THREE TYPES:
- 1. SPECIFIC PHOBIA: Fear of a specific object or situation (animals, heights, blood, injections, flying).
- 2. SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER (Social Phobia): Fear of scrutiny, embarrassment, or humiliation in social situations.
- 3. AGORAPHOBIA: Fear of situations from which escape is difficult (as covered under panic disorder).
- Treatment: BEHAVIORAL APPROACHES are the mainstay — specifically SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION.
- SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION: Gradual, step-by-step exposure to the feared stimulus PAIRED WITH RELAXATION techniques. Developed by Joseph Wolpe. Steps: (1) teach relaxation, (2) construct anxiety hierarchy, (3) gradual exposure from least to most feared.
- FLOODING (Implosion Therapy): Immediate, intense exposure to the most feared stimulus without gradual steps. More distressing but faster.
- Nursing role: SUPPORT the client through the exposure hierarchy. Do NOT force or rush confrontation with the feared stimulus.
- SSRIs and beta-blockers (for social phobia) may be used as adjuncts.
Definitions
Term
Systematic Desensitization
Definition
A behavioral therapy technique for phobias involving gradual, controlled exposure to the feared stimulus paired with relaxation responses, starting from the least anxiety-provoking scenario to the most feared, to extinguish the phobic response.
Importance
This is THE classic NLE answer for phobia treatment. Know the three steps: relaxation training → anxiety hierarchy → gradual exposure.
Term
Social Anxiety Disorder
Definition
Marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to scrutiny by others, fearing they will act in a way that will be humiliating or embarrassing.
Importance
Distinct from shyness — it causes significant impairment. Beta-blockers (propranolol) are used for performance-related social anxiety.
Section Title
Phobias and Treatment: Systematic Desensitization
Common Mistakes
- Confusing SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION (gradual exposure + relaxation) with FLOODING (immediate intense exposure) — they are opposite approaches.
- Thinking the nurse should FORCE the client to confront their fear immediately — always work at the CLIENT'S PACE.
- Forgetting that in BLOOD-INJECTION-INJURY phobia, the client may faint (vasovagal response) — a unique physiologic response not seen in other phobias.
Exam Tips
- NLE CLASSIC: 'A client with OCD performs handwashing rituals repeatedly. What is the BEST nursing intervention?' = Allow the client to complete the ritual and set gradual limits over time.
- The NLE may describe skin breakdown (redness, excoriation on hands) — recognize this as a PHYSICAL complication of OCD handwashing and address it under 'Impaired Skin Integrity.'
- ERP = gold standard therapy for OCD. SSRIs = first-line pharmacology for OCD.
- Remember: OCD is now classified SEPARATELY from anxiety disorders in DSM-5, but its mechanism is still anxiety-driven — this distinction may appear in NLE theory questions.
Key Points
- OCD = OBSESSIONS (intrusive thoughts/urges/images causing anxiety) + COMPULSIONS (repetitive behaviors/mental acts to REDUCE that anxiety).
- OBSESSIONS: recurrent, unwanted, intrusive thoughts/images/urges. Client recognizes them as their own but cannot control them. Common: contamination, harm, symmetry, forbidden thoughts.
- COMPULSIONS: Repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to neutralize the obsession's anxiety. Common: handwashing, checking, counting, arranging. Client usually KNOWS the rituals are excessive but cannot stop.
- Rituals are TIME-CONSUMING (>1 hour/day) and impair functioning.
- THE CENTRAL NURSING PRINCIPLE: THE RITUAL IS THE CLIENT'S MECHANISM TO CONTROL ANXIETY. Do NOT abruptly interrupt or stop the ritual early in treatment — this ESCALATES ANXIETY and breaks trust.
- Nursing management:
- 1. ALLOW TIME for the ritual (structured schedule).
- 2. Gradually SET LIMITS on time spent in rituals as the client improves.
- 3. PROTECT SKIN INTEGRITY if handwashing rituals cause excoriation or breakdown.
- 4. Convey ACCEPTANCE of the person while working to reduce ritual time.
- 5. Support EXPOSURE AND RESPONSE PREVENTION (ERP) therapy — the gold standard behavioral treatment.
- Pharmacology: SSRIs (fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine) are first-line. Higher doses may be needed than for depression.
- NANDA diagnoses: 'Anxiety,' 'Ineffective Coping,' 'Impaired Skin Integrity' (for handwashing rituals).
Definitions
Term
Obsession
Definition
Recurrent, persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, urges, or images that cause marked anxiety or distress. The person attempts to suppress or neutralize them but cannot.
Importance
NLE distinguishes obsessions (thoughts) from compulsions (behaviors). One may exist without the other, but they commonly co-occur.
Term
Compulsion
Definition
Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or rigid rules, aimed at reducing distress or preventing a feared event.
Importance
The compulsion TEMPORARILY reduces anxiety but reinforces the cycle. This is why abrupt interruption causes ACUTE anxiety escalation.
Term
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Definition
The gold standard behavioral treatment for OCD. The client is exposed to the anxiety-provoking stimulus (obsession trigger) while being prevented from performing the compulsive ritual, allowing anxiety to naturally decrease over time.
Importance
Know this as the primary psychotherapy for OCD. The nurse's role is to support the client through ERP without forcing or punishing.
Section Title
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Common Mistakes
- Abruptly STOPPING or INTERRUPTING the client's ritual — this is WRONG nursing action early in treatment; it escalates anxiety and damages the therapeutic relationship.
- Judging or showing disgust at rituals (e.g., excessive cleaning) — maintain ACCEPTANCE and NONJUDGMENTAL ATTITUDE.
- Forgetting SKIN INTEGRITY as a physical nursing concern in clients with handwashing compulsions.
- Confusing OCD (ego-dystonic — client knows it's irrational) with OCPD/Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (ego-syntonic — client sees the behavior as appropriate and desirable).
Exam Tips
- NLE CLASSIC SCENARIO: Survivor of Typhoon Yolanda presenting with nightmares, flashbacks, avoiding anything that reminds them of the storm, 6 months after the event = PTSD (>1 month).
- TRUST and SAFETY are the FIRST nursing priorities for PTSD — this is the correct NLE answer before any other psychosocial intervention.
- Suicide risk screening = ALWAYS for PTSD clients. Use simple, direct questions: 'Are you having thoughts of harming yourself?'
- EMDR and Trauma-Focused CBT are the evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD — know both names for NLE theory questions.
Key Points
- PTSD develops after exposure to actual or threatened DEATH, SERIOUS INJURY, or VIOLENCE (directly experienced, witnessed, or learned about).
- FOUR CORE SYMPTOM CLUSTERS:
- 1. INTRUSION: Flashbacks, nightmares, distressing memories, intense psychological distress at cues.
- 2. AVOIDANCE: Avoidance of trauma-related thoughts, feelings, people, places, activities.
- 3. NEGATIVE ALTERATIONS IN MOOD AND COGNITION: Persistent negative beliefs, guilt, blame, emotional numbing, detachment, inability to experience positive emotions.
- 4. HYPERAROUSAL AND REACTIVITY: Exaggerated startle response, hypervigilance, irritability, reckless behavior, sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating.
- DURATION CRITERION — CRITICAL FOR NLE:
- ACUTE STRESS DISORDER: 3 DAYS to 1 MONTH after trauma
- PTSD: Symptoms PERSIST FOR MORE THAN 1 MONTH
- Philippine context: PTSD is a major public health concern after typhoons (Yolanda/Hainan), earthquakes, Marawi siege. RA 11036 (Mental Health Act) mandates disaster mental health response.
- NURSING MANAGEMENT:
- 1. ESTABLISH TRUST AND SAFETY FIRST — foundational before any other intervention.
- 2. NONJUDGMENTAL, SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIP — allow client to share at their OWN PACE, never force disclosure.
- 3. Teach GROUNDING TECHNIQUES for flashbacks (5-4-3-2-1 sensory grounding).
- 4. Help re-establish ROUTINE and SOCIAL SUPPORT.
- 5. ASSESS FOR: Depression, Substance Use, and SUICIDE RISK — these frequently co-occur with PTSD.
- Pharmacology: SSRIs (sertraline, paroxetine) are first-line. Prazosin for nightmares.
- Psychotherapy: Trauma-Focused CBT; Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
- NANDA diagnoses: 'Post-Trauma Syndrome,' 'Disturbed Sleep Pattern,' 'Risk for Self-Directed Violence,' 'Ineffective Coping.'
Definitions
Term
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Definition
A trauma- and stressor-related disorder characterized by intrusion symptoms, avoidance, negative alterations in mood/cognition, and hyperarousal, lasting MORE THAN 1 MONTH after exposure to a traumatic event.
Importance
The 1-month duration criterion is a frequent NLE question distinguishing PTSD from Acute Stress Disorder.
Term
Flashback
Definition
A dissociative reaction in which the client feels or acts as if the traumatic event is recurring in the present moment, ranging from brief episodes to complete loss of awareness of the current environment.
Importance
During a flashback, the client is disoriented and potentially unsafe. Priority: SAFETY, grounding techniques, calm reassurance of present reality.
Term
Hypervigilance
Definition
A state of being excessively alert and sensitive to potential threats in the environment, commonly seen in PTSD as a result of the nervous system remaining in a chronic stress response.
Importance
Manifestation of the hyperarousal cluster of PTSD. It explains why PTSD clients may be startled by loud noises — relevant in the Philippine post-disaster context.
Term
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Definition
A psychotherapy approach for PTSD where the client processes traumatic memories while performing bilateral sensory stimulation (typically guided eye movements), facilitating adaptive processing of traumatic experiences.
Importance
May appear in NLE as a therapeutic approach for PTSD. It is evidence-based and recognized by WHO.
Section Title
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Acute Stress Disorder
Common Mistakes
- Confusing ACUTE STRESS DISORDER (3 days to 1 month) with PTSD (more than 1 month) — the TIME FRAME is the NLE key.
- FORCING the client to recall trauma details prematurely — this is RE-TRAUMATIZING. Always establish trust and safety FIRST.
- Forgetting to ASSESS FOR SUICIDE RISK in all PTSD clients — PTSD has high comorbidity with suicidal ideation.
- Thinking PTSD only follows combat — in the Philippine context, it follows typhoons, earthquakes, sexual violence, and interpersonal trauma.
Exam Tips
- For ALL dissociative disorders, the NLE answer for FIRST priority = SAFETY.
- NLE CLASSIC: 'A client says she feels like she is watching herself from outside her body' = DEPERSONALIZATION.
- DID is associated with severe, repeated childhood trauma — a background history of abuse in the scenario is a diagnostic clue.
- Dissociative Fugue involves travel — 'A client is found in another province and cannot remember who they are' = Dissociative Amnesia with Fugue.
Key Points
- Dissociative disorders involve DISRUPTION in the normally integrated functions of CONSCIOUSNESS, MEMORY, IDENTITY, or PERCEPTION, usually as a DEFENSE AGAINST OVERWHELMING TRAUMA.
- THREE MAJOR TYPES:
- 1. DISSOCIATIVE AMNESIA: Inability to recall important autobiographical information, typically of a traumatic nature, beyond ordinary forgetfulness. May include DISSOCIATIVE FUGUE — sudden, unexplained travel from home with amnesia for identity.
- 2. DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER (DID): Presence of TWO OR MORE distinct personality states (alters) with GAPS IN MEMORY between them. Associated with severe, repeated childhood trauma.
- 3. DEPERSONALIZATION/DEREALIZATION DISORDER: Persistent feelings of DETACHMENT from one's own body (depersonalization) or surroundings (derealization). Client feels like an outside observer.
- Nursing care PRIORITIES:
- 1. SAFETY IS THE TOP PRIORITY — dissociative clients are at high risk for SELF-HARM and self-neglect.
- 2. CALM, SECURE, STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT.
- 3. BUILD TRUST gradually — establish a therapeutic alliance before exploring trauma.
- 4. Do NOT flood the client with information about their trauma before a therapeutic alliance is established.
- 5. Help client RECOGNIZE AND COPE WITH STRESSORS and triggers.
- 6. In DID: Learn the names/traits of alters, maintain consistent boundaries across all alter states.
- NANDA diagnoses: 'Disturbed Personal Identity,' 'Risk for Self-Directed Violence,' 'Impaired Memory,' 'Anxiety.'
Definitions
Term
Dissociation
Definition
A disruption in the normally integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, behavior, and sense of self. It is a psychological defense mechanism against overwhelming stress or trauma.
Importance
Understanding dissociation as a DEFENSE MECHANISM against trauma helps explain the nursing approach: provide safety and trust before exploring trauma.
Term
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
Definition
A disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states (alters), recurrent gaps in recall of everyday events or traumatic experiences, and significant distress or impairment. Formerly called Multiple Personality Disorder.
Importance
NLE may present a scenario of a client who 'becomes a different person' with gaps in memory — recognize this as DID. The nurse maintains therapeutic relationships with ALL alters.
Term
Depersonalization
Definition
Persistent experiences of feeling detached, estranged, or outside of one's own mental processes or body (e.g., feeling like an automaton, as if in a dream, or observing oneself from outside).
Importance
Distinguish from psychosis: in depersonalization, REALITY TESTING IS INTACT — the client knows the feeling is not real, unlike in psychosis.
Section Title
Dissociative Disorders
Common Mistakes
- Forcing discussion of traumatic memories BEFORE establishing a therapeutic alliance — this is harmful and re-traumatizing.
- Forgetting that SAFETY is the PRIORITY in dissociative disorders — risk of self-harm is HIGH.
- Confusing DEPERSONALIZATION (feeling detached from SELF) with DEREALIZATION (feeling detached from SURROUNDINGS).
- Treating DID alters as 'fake' or refusing to acknowledge them — the nurse works WITH the client's experience, maintaining consistent and safe boundaries.
Exam Tips
- SSRI + MAOI = SEROTONIN SYNDROME. This is a priority patient safety NLE question.
- NLE CLASSIC: 'A client on sertraline says it is not working after 1 week.' Correct response: 'SSRIs take 2–4 weeks to work; continue taking as prescribed.'
- Benzodiazepine overdose = FLUMAZENIL. Opioid overdose = NALOXONE. Do not confuse these antidotes.
- Benzodiazepine withdrawal = SEIZURE risk — always TAPER, never abrupt discontinuation.
- Fall risk and sedation = key benzodiazepine concerns especially for elderly Filipino patients in community settings (RA 9173 scope of community nursing).
Key Points
- SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS (SSRIs) — FIRST-LINE PHARMACOLOGY:
- Examples: Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Paroxetine, Escitalopram, Fluvoxamine.
- Used for: GAD, panic disorder, social phobia, OCD, PTSD — BROAD spectrum anxiety treatment.
- Mechanism: Block reuptake of serotonin in the synaptic cleft, increasing serotonin availability.
- KEY TEACHING POINTS FOR SSRIs:
- 1. FULL THERAPEUTIC EFFECT TAKES 2–4 WEEKS (up to 6 weeks). Tell client: 'Do not stop just because you don't feel better right away.'
- 2. DO NOT STOP ABRUPTLY — tapering required to prevent DISCONTINUATION SYNDROME (dizziness, flu-like symptoms, irritability, 'brain zaps').
- 3. Common early side effects: nausea, headache, insomnia or drowsiness, SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION (frequent cause of nonadherence — ask about this).
- 4. Monitor for INCREASED SUICIDAL IDEATION in adolescents and young adults during the FIRST FEW WEEKS (Black Box Warning — energy returns before mood lifts).
- 5. SEROTONIN SYNDROME risk — when combined with other serotonergic drugs: MAOIs, triptans, tramadol, St. John's Wort. Signs: hyperthermia, agitation, tremor, hyperreflexia, CLONUS, diaphoresis. NEVER combine SSRI with MAOI — observe WASHOUT PERIOD.
- BENZODIAZEPINES — SHORT-TERM ACUTE ANXIETY:
- Examples: Lorazepam, Diazepam, Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Chlordiazepoxide.
- Mechanism: Enhance the effect of GABA (inhibitory neurotransmitter) → CNS depression → reduces anxiety.
- KEY TEACHING POINTS FOR BENZODIAZEPINES:
- 1. RAPID ONSET — useful for ACUTE anxiety and panic attacks.
- 2. SHORT-TERM USE ONLY — HIGH RISK of TOLERANCE, DEPENDENCE, and WITHDRAWAL with prolonged use.
- 3. CNS DEPRESSION — sedation, impaired coordination. CAUTION: driving, machinery, FALL RISK IN ELDERLY.
- 4. AVOID ALCOHOL and other CNS depressants — ADDITIVE, POTENTIALLY FATAL RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION.
- 5. NEVER STOP ABRUPTLY — withdrawal can cause: rebound anxiety, tremors, SEIZURES (life-threatening).
- 6. TAPER GRADUALLY under medical supervision.
- 7. ANTIDOTE for benzodiazepine overdose = FLUMAZENIL.
- BUSPIRONE:
- Non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic for CHRONIC GAD.
- NO dependence, NO CNS depression, NO additive effect with alcohol.
- TAKES 2–4 WEEKS to work — NOT for acute panic attacks.
- NANDA diagnoses related to pharmacology: 'Risk for Injury,' 'Deficient Knowledge,' 'Noncompliance.'
Definitions
Term
Serotonin Syndrome
Definition
A potentially life-threatening drug reaction resulting from excess serotonergic activity, typically from combining serotonergic drugs (e.g., SSRIs + MAOIs). Characterized by the triad of: mental status changes (agitation), autonomic instability (hyperthermia, diaphoresis, tachycardia), and neuromuscular abnormalities (tremor, hyperreflexia, clonus).
Importance
A critical safety concern — NEVER combine SSRIs with MAOIs. A washout period of at least 14 days is required between them.
Term
Discontinuation Syndrome
Definition
A cluster of symptoms (dizziness, flu-like symptoms, irritability, sensory disturbances/'brain zaps,' anxiety) occurring when SSRIs are stopped abruptly rather than tapered.
Importance
Teach clients NEVER to stop SSRIs suddenly. This is why ADHERENCE COUNSELING is a key nursing responsibility.
Term
Flumazenil
Definition
A benzodiazepine receptor antagonist used as an antidote to reverse the sedative and respiratory depressant effects of benzodiazepine overdose.
Importance
Classic NLE pharmacology question: 'What is the antidote for benzodiazepine overdose?' = FLUMAZENIL.
Term
Buspirone
Definition
A non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic that acts as a partial agonist at serotonin (5-HT1A) receptors. Used for chronic GAD. Does not cause dependence, sedation, or additive CNS depression with alcohol. Takes 2–4 weeks for effect.
Importance
NLE distinguishes buspirone from benzodiazepines — buspirone has NO DEPENDENCE POTENTIAL and is SAFE for long-term use, but it CANNOT treat acute panic.
Section Title
Pharmacology: SSRIs and Benzodiazepines
Common Mistakes
- Telling a client the SSRI should work in 2–3 days — SSRIs take 2–4 WEEKS for full therapeutic effect.
- Forgetting the BLACK BOX WARNING: SSRIs can INCREASE SUICIDAL IDEATION in adolescents and young adults during the first weeks of treatment.
- Allowing a client on benzodiazepines to stop the medication abruptly — WITHDRAWAL SEIZURES can be FATAL.
- Thinking benzodiazepines are safe for long-term use — they are SHORT-TERM ONLY due to dependence risk.
- Giving buspirone to a client having an acute panic attack — it will not work; it takes weeks.
- Forgetting FLUMAZENIL as the antidote for benzodiazepine overdose.
Exam Tips
- NLE theory questions may ask about client rights under RA 11036 — memorize: humane treatment, informed consent, no discrimination, community-based care.
- When asked about the nurse's role in patient teaching for SSRIs — always include: 2–4 weeks onset, no abrupt discontinuation, monitor for suicidal ideation.
- Philippine community nursing context: barangay health centers and LGU health teams now have mandated mental health roles under RA 11036.
- HOPELINE (02-804-HOPE) is the DOH-affiliated crisis hotline — relevant for discharge planning and community referral questions.
Key Points
- Client and family education is a core nursing responsibility under RA 9173 (Philippine Nursing Act of 2002) and is guided by the Mental Health Act (RA 11036).
- RA 11036 (Mental Health Act): Guarantees every Filipino's right to mental health services, informed consent, privacy and confidentiality, humane treatment, community-based care, and freedom from discrimination.
- Reduce STIGMA — a major barrier to mental health care-seeking in the Philippines. Normalize help-seeking behavior within cultural context.
- KEY PATIENT TEACHING POINTS:
- 1. Nature of the disorder — anxiety disorders are MEDICAL CONDITIONS, not personal weakness ('kahinaan ng loob').
- 2. SSRI: Takes 2–4 weeks to work; do not stop abruptly; report suicidal thoughts immediately.
- 3. BENZODIAZEPINE: Short-term use only; avoid alcohol; do not stop abruptly; do not drive when sedated.
- 4. Practice relaxation techniques DAILY, not only during anxiety episodes.
- 5. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and recreational drugs — these worsen anxiety.
- 6. SEEK HELP immediately if: symptoms worsen, thoughts of self-harm appear, or cannot function at work/home.
- 7. Connect clients to community mental health services — available through local government units under DOH guidelines and RA 11036.
- MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN THE PHILIPPINES:
- National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), Mandaluyong
- DOH Tele-mental health services
- LGU-based community mental health teams (mandated by RA 11036)
- Collaborative care in barangay health centers
- Crisis hotlines: HOPELINE (02-804-HOPE)
Definitions
Term
Republic Act 11036 (Mental Health Act of 2018)
Definition
The Philippine law that mandates the promotion of mental health, the protection of rights of persons with psychiatric conditions, and the establishment of community-based mental health facilities integrated into the existing health system.
Importance
The NLE may ask about client rights under RA 11036. Key rights: humane treatment, informed consent, no discrimination, community-based care, integration into DOH services.
Term
Informed Consent in Mental Health
Definition
The process of ensuring that a client with a psychiatric disorder is given adequate information about their diagnosis, treatment options, risks, and alternatives, and voluntarily agrees to treatment. Clients retain this right even with a psychiatric diagnosis.
Importance
Under RA 11036, clients with mental health conditions retain the RIGHT TO INFORMED CONSENT. Nurses must facilitate and document this process per RA 9173 scope of practice.
Section Title
Patient and Family Teaching and Philippine Legal Context
Common Mistakes
- Dismissing the cultural belief that anxiety is 'lambing' or 'nagpapanggap' — nurses must address stigma with psychoeducation, not reinforcement.
- Failing to teach about the GRADUAL TAPERING required for both SSRIs and benzodiazepines.
- Not assessing for SUICIDE RISK at every mental health nursing encounter.
- Forgetting that community-based mental health care is a RIGHT under RA 11036 — the nurse can advocate for referral to LGU mental health services.
Connections
- ANXIETY LEVELS link to ALL anxiety disorders — understanding mild/moderate/severe/panic determines which nursing interventions and teaching strategies are appropriate for EACH condition.
- DEFENSE MECHANISMS are the unconscious foundation of both anxiety disorders and dissociative disorders — the nurse must understand how the psyche defends itself to understand client behaviors without judgment.
- THERAPEUTIC NURSE-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP is the FOUNDATION of all psychiatric nursing care — trust, safety, nonjudgmental attitude, and therapeutic use of self appear in EVERY disorder in this chapter.
- MASLOW'S HIERARCHY applies throughout: SAFETY (panic, PTSD, dissociative disorders) → SECURITY → LOVE/BELONGING (social anxiety, PTSD social withdrawal) → ESTEEM (OCD, phobias) → SELF-ACTUALIZATION.
- SSRIs are the PHARMACOLOGIC THREAD connecting GAD, panic disorder, social phobia, OCD, and PTSD — one drug class, multiple indications, same patient teaching principles.
- TRAUMA is the common etiologic factor for PTSD, Acute Stress Disorder, and Dissociative Disorders — the nurse always ASSESSES FOR TRAUMA HISTORY in psychiatric assessment (NCM 106 health history).
- SUICIDE RISK assessment is MANDATORY in PTSD, dissociative disorders, and severe anxiety — this connects to the NCM nursing process (Assessment → Diagnosis: Risk for Self-Directed Violence).
- RA 11036 (Mental Health Act) and RA 9173 (Nursing Act) form the LEGAL FRAMEWORK for all psychiatric nursing interventions — client rights, informed consent, scope of practice, and community referral.
- BENZODIAZEPINE WITHDRAWAL SEIZURES connect this chapter to the Neurologic Nursing content (seizure management, anticonvulsants) — a cross-chapter NLE connection.
- SEROTONIN SYNDROME connects pharmacology across chapters — any client on multiple serotonergic agents (not just psychiatric clients) is at risk, including post-operative patients on tramadol.
Exam Strategy
For the NLE Psychiatric Nursing section, approach anxiety-related questions using this mental framework: FIRST, identify the ANXIETY LEVEL (mild/moderate/severe/panic) because this determines your intervention. SECOND, identify the SPECIFIC DISORDER by its key features: GAD = chronic worry 6+ months; Panic Disorder = unexpected episodic attacks; Phobia = specific object/situation; OCD = obsessions + compulsions + intact insight; PTSD = >1 month post-trauma with 4 clusters; Dissociative = memory/identity/consciousness disruption. THIRD, apply MASLOW PRIORITIZATION — Safety always comes first (never leave a panicking client, always assess suicide risk). FOURTH, for pharmacology questions, know THREE things about each drug class: (1) mechanism/indication, (2) key patient teaching point, (3) critical safety concern. SSRI = 2–4 week onset/no abrupt stop/serotonin syndrome. Benzodiazepine = short-term/no abrupt stop = seizure/flumazenil antidote. Buspirone = no dependence/not for acute attacks. FIFTH, always connect to Philippine context: RA 11036 rights, community mental health resources, and disaster mental health (typhoon/earthquake survivors with PTSD). Watch for NEGATIVE OPTION questions ('Which intervention is INCORRECT?') — for these, wrong interventions include: teaching during panic, abruptly stopping a ritual, forcing trauma disclosure, and stopping medications abruptly. The most common NLE traps are: (1) acting before assessing, (2) trying to reason with a panicking client, (3) confusing acute stress disorder with PTSD time frames, and (4) not knowing that flumazenil reverses benzodiazepines.
Quick Review Questions
A nurse is caring for a client experiencing a panic attack. The client is hyperventilating, trembling, and crying 'I feel like I'm dying!' What is the PRIORITY nursing intervention?
During a panic attack, the PRIORITY is SAFETY and ANXIETY REDUCTION. Never leave a panicking client alone (risk of injury from disorganized behavior). The nurse's calm presence is therapeutic (therapeutic use of self). Guiding slow breathing corrects hyperventilation, which worsens panic symptoms. Teaching or problem-solving cannot occur during panic because the perceptual field is severely narrowed.
A client diagnosed with OCD performs handwashing rituals up to 50 times per day. A new nurse attempts to lock the bathroom door to stop the ritual. What is wrong with this intervention?
The correct approach is to ALLOW THE RITUAL while gradually setting limits as the client improves through ERP therapy and pharmacologic treatment. Early in treatment, the nurse should provide a structured schedule that includes time for rituals. Abrupt interruption causes acute anxiety escalation and is NOT therapeutic. The correct nursing diagnosis here would include 'Impaired Skin Integrity' if excoriation is present.
A survivor of an earthquake presents to the community health center 2 weeks after the disaster with nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, and avoidance of anything earthquake-related. What is the CORRECT diagnosis, and what should the nurse assess for first?
The time frame determines the diagnosis: Acute Stress Disorder = 3 days to 1 month; PTSD = more than 1 month. Both diagnoses carry high risk for suicide and substance use comorbidity. The first nursing priority is TRUST AND SAFETY — do not force trauma disclosure. This scenario reflects the Philippine disaster mental health context supported by RA 11036.
A client prescribed sertraline for panic disorder calls the clinic after 1 week saying the drug 'is not working.' What is the BEST nursing response?
This is a classic NLE pharmacology question. The delayed onset of SSRIs is a major patient teaching point. The nurse should validate the client's frustration, explain the pharmacologic mechanism, reinforce adherence, and remind the client to report any worsening symptoms or suicidal ideation during the first weeks. Abrupt discontinuation causes discontinuation syndrome.
A client is found to have taken an overdose of diazepam. The physician orders the appropriate antidote. What medication should the nurse administer?
Flumazenil competitively blocks benzodiazepine receptor sites, reversing CNS depression, sedation, and respiratory depression. Note: The nurse must monitor for re-sedation because flumazenil has a shorter half-life than most benzodiazepines. Do not confuse with NALOXONE (opioid antidote) or PHYSOSTIGMINE (anticholinergic antidote).
What is the DIFFERENCE between anxiety and fear? Give the NLE-relevant clinical significance.
This distinction is tested directly in the NLE. A client who cannot identify what they are afraid of, or whose worry seems out of proportion to any specific cause, is experiencing ANXIETY. A client who is afraid of a specific dog that bit them before is experiencing FEAR. Clinically, this distinction guides the nursing diagnosis: 'Anxiety' vs. 'Fear' (NANDA).
A nurse is preparing discharge teaching for a client prescribed lorazepam for anxiety. Which instruction is MOST IMPORTANT regarding safety?
Abrupt benzodiazepine withdrawal causing seizures is the most critical safety concern and is HIGH-YIELD NLE content. The additive CNS depression with alcohol (potentially fatal respiratory depression) is equally important. The nurse should also educate about fall risk, especially for elderly patients.
What is the TREATMENT OF CHOICE for specific phobias, and what are its THREE STEPS?
Systematic desensitization works through counter-conditioning — replacing the anxiety response with a relaxation response. The client is never forced to confront the most feared stimulus immediately (that would be FLOODING). The nurse's role is to SUPPORT the client at their pace through the hierarchy, never rushing or forcing exposure.
A client on paroxetine is prescribed tramadol for pain. The nurse identifies a critical drug interaction. What is the concern and what are its signs?
Signs of serotonin syndrome: agitation, hyperthermia, diaphoresis, tremor, HYPERREFLEXIA, CLONUS (rhythmic muscle contractions), tachycardia, and autonomic instability. The nurse must withhold the tramadol, notify the physician, and monitor the client. Other combinations to avoid: SSRI + MAOI (most dangerous), SSRI + triptans, SSRI + St. John's Wort.
A client reports persistent feelings of 'watching herself from the outside' and feeling like the world is not real. Reality testing is intact. What is the LIKELY diagnosis and the PRIORITY nursing action?
KEY DISTINCTION: Reality testing is INTACT in depersonalization/derealization (unlike psychosis). The client KNOWS the feelings are not real but cannot control them. Dissociative disorders carry HIGH RISK for self-harm. Safety is always the FIRST priority (Maslow's hierarchy). Then build a therapeutic alliance before exploring traumatic history.
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