NURS6670 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Role II

Week 8 Discussion

Treatment
of Neurocognitive Disorders

Neurocognitive
disorders (NCD) such as delirium, dementia, and amnestic disorders are more
prevalent in older adults. As the population ages and as life expectancy in the
United States continues to increase, the incidence of these disorders will
continue to increase. Cognitive functioning such as memory, language,
orientation, judgment, and problem solving are affected in clients with NCDs.
Caring for someone with a neurocognitive disorder is not only challenging for
the clinician, but also stressful for the family. The PMHNP needs to consider
not only the client but also the “family as client.” Collaboration with primary
care providers and specialty providers is essential. Anticipatory guidance also
becomes extremely important.

In this
Discussion, you will integrate several sources of knowledge specific to NCDs as
you discuss evidenced-based therapies used to treat these disorders.

Learning
Objectives

Students
will:

• Analyze diagnostic criteria for
neurocognitive disorders

• Analyze evidence-based psychotherapy
and psychopharmacologic treatment for neurocognitive disorders

• Evaluate benefits and risks of
neurocognitive therapies

• Compare differential diagnostic
features of neurocognitive disorders

Note: For
this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will
be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on
the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create
Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click submit,
you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and cannot post anonymously. Please
check your post carefully before clicking Submit!

To prepare
for this Discussion:

• By Day 5 of Week 7, your Instructor
will have assigned you a neurocognitive disorder, which will be the focus for
your initial post for this Discussion.

• Review the Learning Resources.

By Day 3

Post:

• Explain the diagnostic criteria for
your assigned neurocognitive disorder.

• Explain the evidenced-based
psychotherapy and psychopharmacologic treatment for your assigned
neurocognitive disorder.

• Identify the risks of different
types of therapy and explain how the benefits of the therapy that might be achieved
might outweigh the risks.

• Support your rationale with
references to the Learning Resources or other academic resource.

By Day 6

Respond to
at least two of your colleagues by comparing the differential diagnostic
features of the disorder you were assigned to the diagnostic features of the
disorder your colleagues were assigned.