Nursing Diagnoses in Psychiatric Nursing Care Plans and Psychotropic Medications

(^400) Ages 10 to 12. Ages 6 to 9.^ ing themselves. They are interested in the physical aspects media reports. They become frightened if they feel a threat to themselves or to their loved ones. They are concerned with safety issues and require a great deal of personal reas-surance that they will be protected. Regressive behaviors, such as loss of bladder or bowel control, thumb sucking, and temper tantrums, are not uncommon. Changes in eat-ing and sleeping patterns may also occur.sonally. Feelings of anger, guilt, and depression are com-that death is fifiask questions about how the death will affect them per-tailed explanation of why or how the person died, although the concept of death is often associated with old age or with accidents. They may believe that death is contagious and of dying and the filoss by death. Death is often personifisymptoms, and clinging behaviors.a “bogey man” or a monster—someone who takes people away or someone whom they can avoid if they try hard enough. It is diffiaggressive behaviors, withdrawal, school phobias, somatic Normal grief reactions at this age include regressive and avoid association with individuals who have experienced a ● nality of death. They are able to understand a more de-^ SPECIAL TOPICS IN PSYCHIATRICChildren at this age begin to understand the Preadolescent children are able to understand nal and eventually affects everyone, includ- cult for them to perceive their own death. nal disposition of the body. They may ed in the form of
2 2506_Ch24_390-405.indd 0400 506 Ch 24 390 - 405 .indThey understand death to be universal and inevitable; however, Adolescentsattitude of immortality. Although they understand that their and defiSome teens exhibit acting-out behaviors, such as aggression activities in an effort to avoid dealing with the pain of the loss. may withdraw into themselves or attempt to go about usual with the death of a loved one. They may or may not cry. They they have diffiown death is inevitable, the concept is so far-reaching as to be Adolescents are usually able to view death on an adult level. imperceptible.also grieving. In general, individuals of this age group have an ers react by trying to take care of their loved ones who are Some adolescents may show regressive behaviors whereas oth-feelings with peers than with their parents or other adults. d 0400 a withdrawal into the self. They will require reassurance of mon. Peer relationships and school performance may be their own safety and self-worth.disrupted. There may be a preoccupation with the loss and ance. It is often easier for adolescents to discuss their culty tolerating the intense feelings associated 1 10/1/10 9:38:48 AM 0 / 1 / 10 9 : 38 : 48 AM