iv. Pathologic gambling c. Typically associated with other disorders d. This group of disorders is rare. i. Only 4% of arsonists are diagnosed with pyromania. e. In-hospital treatment relies on cognitive and behavioral interventions. 8. Personality disorders a. Inflexible and maladaptive patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking the environment and one’s self i. Cause significant functional impairment or subjective distress ii. Ways of thinking become dysfunctional or cause distress to other people. b. True personality disorders are rare. i. Another psychiatric illness is likely to be present at the same time. ii. These patients tend to do poorly during treatment. c. EMS providers have difficulty influencing personality disorders over the long term. i. Be calm and professional in your patient interactions. IX. Medications for Psychiatric Disorders and Behavioral Emergencies A. Patients with psychiatric problems may be taking any of several types of psychotropic drugs. 1. Drugs that affect mood, thought, or behavior 2. During your assessment, determine: a. Which medications have been prescribed for the patient b. Whether they are taken 3. Psychotropic drugs are among the most widely prescribed medications in the United States. a. Most target the autonomic nervous system. i. Either inhibit or enhance the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous systems B. Psychiatric medication 1. Antidepressants a. Prescribed to combat the symptoms of depressive illness b. The main types are: i. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors ii. Tricyclic antidepressants iii. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors c. The mechanism of action lies within their ability to alter levels of neurotransmitters in the autonomic nervous system. d. Fluoxetine: The most commonly prescribed antidepressant in the United States. i. A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) (a) Primarily used to treat major depressive episodes (b) Also useful in anxiety disorders (c) Side effects are minimal and may include: (1) Symptomatic bradycardia with fluoxetine (2) Headaches (3) Dizziness
iv. Pathologic gambling c. Typically associated with other disorders d. This group of disorders is rare. i. Only 4% of arsonists are diagnosed with pyromania. e. In-hospital treatment relies on cognitive and behavioral interventions. 8. Personality disorders a. Inflexible and maladaptive patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking the environment and one’s self i. Cause significant functional impairment or subjective distress ii. Ways of thinking become dysfunctional or cause distress to other people. b. True personality disorders are rare. i. Another psychiatric illness is likely to be present at the same time. ii. These patients tend to do poorly during treatment. c. EMS providers have difficulty influencing personality disorders over the long term. i. Be calm and professional in your patient interactions. IX. Medications for Psychiatric Disorders and Behavioral Emergencies A. Patients with psychiatric problems may be taking any of several types of psychotropic drugs. 1. Drugs that affect mood, thought, or behavior 2. During your assessment, determine: a. Which medications have been prescribed for the patient b. Whether they are taken 3. Psychotropic drugs are among the most widely prescribed medications in the United States. a. Most target the autonomic nervous system. i. Either inhibit or enhance the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous systems B. Psychiatric medication 1. Antidepressants a. Prescribed to combat the symptoms of depressive illness b. The main types are: i. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors ii. Tricyclic antidepressants iii. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors c. The mechanism of action lies within their ability to alter levels of neurotransmitters in the autonomic nervous system. d. Fluoxetine: The most commonly prescribed antidepressant in the United States. i. A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) (a) Primarily used to treat major depressive episodes (b) Also useful in anxiety disorders (c) Side effects are minimal and may include: (1) Symptomatic bradycardia with fluoxetine (2) Headaches (3) Dizziness
Ch28%20Psychiatric%20Emergencies.docx