Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: An Update

Abstract

It is a great privilege to be the guest editor of Nursing Clinics of North America’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing updated issue. Since the first issue was published in 2003, there has been a plethora of scientific evidence from neurobiological research, technological advances, neuroimaging studies, and pharmacotherapies that target complex brain regions, neural pathways, neuroendocrine processes, and gender and genetic underpinnings that contribute to various psychiatric disorders. There has also been an explosion of evidence-based psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic approaches that address the needs of clients presenting with psychiatric and coexisting medical conditions. Combining this evidence emphasizes the significance of person-centered and holistic treatment and recovery-based models that instill hope, resilience, and strength and facilitate family involvement and community integration. As more and more clients with psychiatric disorders seek treatment in vast health care settings, including primary care, it imperative for nurses in all settings to assess and address the complex needs of this population. The foremost strength of this issue is its expansive emphasis and synthesis of empirical data into psychiatric mental health nursing practice. Psychiatric nurses and nonpsychiatric nurses will find this updated issue refreshing and useful in their assessment, diagnosis, and implementation of person-centered mental health care. The initial section focuses on technological advances and the art of psychiatric mental health nursing and legal aspects of psychiatric nursing when caring for the client with a psychiatric disorder. The following sections provide updates on the treatment of mood disorders, acute psychosis, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, substance-use disorders, eating disorders, and borderline personality disorder. Followed by sections focusing on the care of adolescents and families in crisis, geriatric psychiatric emergencies, suicide, psychosocial recovery and rehabilitation, and adverse drug reactions, along with a new article on trauma survivors. Each article integrated evidence-based and recovery and person-centered approaches, including pharmacotherapy and psychotherapeutic