Mental Health

Question: Psychological Factors causing mental illness.
Note: The exact cause of mental illness is not known ( idiopathic) however through research, 
many of the mental conditions are caused by a combination of biological, psychological and 
environmental factors.

Psychological factors include:
• Severe psychological trauma as a child. It could be emotional as a result of physical 
or sexual abuse.
• Post traumatic stress disorder developed as a result of a tragic event that has 
happened in your life. It could be war..
• An important early loss in one´s life say that of parents.
• Neglect from family, friends, or even society.
• Poor ability to relate with others.
• Bullying
• Anxiety
• Domestic violence predisposes one (the battered) to developing a low self esteem.
• Rejection from family, friends, and society.
• Significant self destructive thoughts, patterns and perceptions about oneself.
• Sexual abuse.

                               
  FUNCTIONAL HEALTH PATTERNS
 ASSESSMENT TOOL

Nursing Practicum_____                           Student_________________________

Date________

Patient's Initials____ Male____ Female_____ Age______

Medical Diagnosis_____________________________________________________

Reason for seeking health care___________________________________________

1. HEALTH PERCEPTION­HEALTH MANAGEMENT

Past medical history:

         Illnesses:_________________________________________________

        Surgery:___________________________________________________

    History of chronic disease__________________________________________

   Immunization History: ____ Tetanus______ Pneumonia_____ Influenza_____ 
MMR______

                           ____ Polio ______ Hepatitis B

   Use of Tobacco:____ None ­Quit(date_____<1ppd____1­2ppd___ >2pks/day ___Pks/yr

history__

   _____smokeless tobacco)____pipe_____cigar

Alcohol: Amount/type___________________________                 Date of last

drink__________________

Frequency of use ____________________________

Other drugs: Amount/Type :______________________Freq. Of Use
:________________________

Medication (prescription/Non­prescription)

                                                     

Name    Dose Frequency of Use Last Dose

Allergies_________________________________________________NKA_____________

Perception of health:______good____ fair________poor

Health Management Habits: Exercise on a regular basis? ___Yes___No

                               Follow prescribed regimen? ___Yes __No

Safety:____Special Equipment ___precautions:____Siderails___Restraints

   ___question for following: use of seat belt, car seats for kids, breasts/testicular self 
examination,

safe working conditions.______________________________________________________

Home Health in last semester safe environment in home i.e.: smoke detectors, access to 
home

(stairs), throw rugs/carpets, cleanliness, health issues observed 
:__________________________
 LEVELS OF ANXIETY

 Level  Physiology Cognitive  Emotion Behaviour Nursing 

Response Implications
Minimal   Decreased Day dream,  Little  No talking, no  ­
(apathy) pulse,  transcendenta emotional  interaction.
respiration,  l, medication,  activity, 
blood  early sleep  emotionally 
pressure, no  stages  flat.
muscle  imagining.
tension, 
relaxation, 
pupil 
constriction.
Mild Minimal  Takes in  Safety,  Automatic  Help the 
muscle  many stimuli,  comfort,  visual habits,  patient 
tension,  more than  pleasure. non –  recognize it.
relaxed facial  usual,  competitive 
expression,  observant,  game, solitary  Help describe 
minimal  curious,  activities,  thoughts, 
interaction  butterflies in  voice calm  feelings 
between  stomach. with  actions.
mind/body,  interactions,  Help analyse 
more alert,  questions. formulate, 
sees, hears,  meaning.
grasps more.
Moderate Increased  Ability to use  Emotional  Receptive  Allow 
muscle  learning  discomfort,  questioning  verbalization
tension,  process. challenges,  learning,  walking
beginning to  fear/ anger,  selfish  Crying
feel out of  need to  behaviour  Voice donates 
control. handle,  meets own  concern/intere
situation at  needs, assists  st.
hand. others to meet 
their needs, 
competitive 
activities, 
withdraw, 
attack, 
compromise.
severe Restlessness,  Focussed  Awe, threat,  Alternate  Remain 
sleeplessness,  perception  terror,  with  available
pounding  field one  fear/anger  draw/attack,  Allow 
heart,  detail only,  feeling of  personal  verbalization.
 perspiration  cannot learn,  impending  space  Simple 
stomach  may or may  doom. extended,  directions.
discomfort,  not open field  depression  Do not reason 
N/V,  when directed  somatization,  with them.
headache,  , distorted  verbal  Assess their 
vertigo,  time sense,  activity,  major 
dilated pupils,  problem  speeding vs  concern.
taut, facial  solving  blocking, 
expression,  difficulties,  purposeless 
altered pain  dissociating,  activity, 
perception,  selective  distorted 
appetite  enhancement. thinking.
changes.
Panic Facial  Detail is  Terror, horror,  Unable to  Take control 
expression of  blown out of  rage. communicate,  as necessary 
terror,  proportion ­  hyperactive,  to prevent 
grimacing,  cannot open  random  harm to self / 
poor motor  perceptual  uncontrolled  others.
coordination  field even  attack, 
minimal  when  primitive 
response to  directed, Ego  crying, 
pain, noise. boundaries  curling up, 
are weak, can  biting, 
no longer  flailing, voice 
distinguish  loud high 
dangerous /  pitched, rapid 
harmless  speech.
stimuli.

Group Two
 Zzimula Patrick
 Loise Njuguna
 Cindy Mukolwe
 Jackie Ogwal
 Zeno Masereka
 Michael Lulinda
 Joseph Kalibbala
 Brenda Laker Atim