Kiarra Bayaton

4/10/14
ISM 6
th

Geriatric Mental Health Foundation. Caring For the Alzheimers Disease Patient
Geriatric Mental Health Foundation. "GMHF: Geriatric Mental Health
Foundation." GMHF: Geriatric Mental Health Foundation. N.p., 2003. Web. 10 Apr. 2014
Alzheimers disease is the leading cause to dementia
This disease also affect the family as well as the patient
Caregivers are often referred to as the second patient of the disease because of the
enormous responsibilities they carry
As the disease progresses, the more dependent the patient becomes towards the caregiver
Depression, agitation, wandering and sleep issues are some of the common behavioral
and mood changes that are included in the disease
Conflicts within the family are more likely to happen but not uncommon as to some
members of the family are more understanding of the disease while others are in denial
As a caregiver (the family), feelings such as frustration, anger, fear, and sadness as well
as self consciousness are bound to happen.
The stress from taking care of a loved one that suffers from Alzheimers leads them to
stress in other areas of their life.
This stress leads to poor physical and mental health as well as a higher use of psychiatric
medications
Children or other family members that are not a part of the primary care giving of the
patient may also experience psychological effects
A feeling of neglect beings to occur because of the fact that they may feel that their needs
are now second
Children especially may become confused, afraid, jealous, even embarrassed by the
patient
An approach to Alzheimers disease is similar to the approach of grievances : Denial,
Over involvement, anger, guilt, and acceptance
Incorporating mobility within the patients such as using a stationary bike is suggested
because it decreases agitation as well as improve sleeping deprivation issues
Putting the patient apart of group therapy creates a sense of belonging and validation
Visual aid such as placing pictures all over the room creates less agitation due to the
familiarity they start to associate these things with. (or people)


Connolly, Moria and Kelly, Ciara Lifestyle and physical health in schizophrenia
Kelly, Cononlly, Ciara, Moira. "Advances in Psychiatric Treatment." Lifestyle and
Physical Health in Schizophrenia. The Royal College of Psychiatrists, n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
Kiarra Bayaton
4/10/14
ISM 6
th

Patients that suffer from schizophrenia have a higher risk of medical illness compared to
the general population
Studies have shown that patients that suffer from schizophrenia also have a higher risk of
premature death
Weight gain is one of the consequences from schizophrenia because of the antipsychotics
Lifestyle of the patients determine their duration
Women that suffer from schizophrenia are more likely to become overweight
People that suffer from schizophrenia have a tendency to make poor dietary choices
Patients that suffer from schizophrenia have tendencies to also participate in less physical
activity
Smoking is one of the leading cause of the disease
Smoking cigarettes leads to an increase of the metabolism of psychotropic medication
Smokers usually acquire more antipsychotic medication versus the non-smokers
When attempts to quit smoking, patients tend to believe that it is hopeless to quit
They believe that if they quit it will continue on to aggravate the mental state
Patients are more likely to be obese from schizophrenia compared to other patients wit
mental illnesses
Weight gain from schizophrenics introduce or further on health problems such as
hypertension, type II diabetes
It can also lead to non-adherence to treatment
Obese patients are more likely to discontinue their medications due to the growing
concerns of their weight gains
Therefore this leads to a patient that is less willing to comply with their treatment
Diabetes correlates with schizophrenia
Hypergylcaemia is a complication that tags along with antipsychotic medications
This contributes to the morbidity in schizophrenia

Kenny, Tim Bipolar Disorder
Kenny, Tim, MD. "Patient.co.uk - Trusted Medical Information and
Support." Patient.co.uk. N.p., 24 Jan. 2012. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
Defined as: serious, chronic condition where you have periods of depression and periods
of mania or hypomania
The duration of each extreme varies from several weeks at a time to even longer
Mood swings are very rapid
People who have bipolar disorder have gaps where your mood is to be considered
normal
Duration of mood swings can last from minutes or hours
Kiarra Bayaton
4/10/14
ISM 6
th

Some bipolar disorder patients may experience something called a mixed bipolar episode
This is defined as a period where one may have mixed symptoms between depressive to
manic and they quickly alternate among each other
This illness begins to develop around the ages 17-29 and continues on for the remainder
of life
This illness develops equally amongst male and female
An exact cause is still yet to be found
Genetics, stress as well as a chemical imbalance is linked to people with bipolar disorder
Mania is the term that is associated with the period of bipolar disorder where one
becomes highly or severely irritable
Some symptoms of mania include losing touch with reality
Often when experiencing an episode of mania, one does not even realize that it is
happening
When pointed out, an increase of behavioral changes (such as agitation) begins
If left untreated this may cause damage to relationships, job, career and finances
Hypomania is another episode that is linked to bipolar disorder
The difference between true mania and hyper mania is that the symptoms are not as
extreme or severe
People with hypomania are able to function much more normally than people with true
mania
On the exterior others just find you extremely energetic
A similar symptom that lies in between the two is the impulse to make risky and or
dangerous decisions
Depression is another period associated with bipolar disorder
True depression (which is not the same as the downs we experience) have symptoms such
as a low mood each day for at least two weeks as well as other symptoms
These can become severe to the point of interfering with everyday activities
Bipolar disorder is commonly underdiagnosed with people seeing doctors for depression
In order to increase chances for a doctor to make right diagnosis is for your doctor to ask
you to complete a mood questionare