Mental Health Rank-Booster Day
Hey, future AIIMS Nursing Officers! Day 189 at logyanlo.in is your complete Psychiatric (Mental Health) Nursing masterclass for AIIMS NORCET 2025, RRB Staff Nurse, JIPMER, SGPGI & DSSSB. We're covering the 4 most repeated topics: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD), Lithium Therapy, and Schizophrenia. These appear in every shift – master them and lock 15–20 marks! Let’s dominate 2025!
Why Mental Health Nursing Is Exam Gold
Mental health = guaranteed high weightage:
- 15–20 % questions in AIIMS NORCET & RRB exams
- Depression SIGECAPS, lithium toxicity & schizophrenia symptoms are favourite scenarios
- Bipolar mania & Bleuler’s 4A’s appear in both theory + case-based sections
- Drug monitoring & mood disorders are repeated every year
logyanlo.in gives you only the high-yield, rank-making points!
Key Topics in Psychiatric Nursing
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) / Depression
Quick Fact
SIGECAPS mnemonic is the most tested for depression diagnosis.
Complete Coverage
Neurotransmitter Imbalance
↓ Serotonin, ↓ Norepinephrine, ↓ Dopamine → anhedonia, low mood, psychomotor retardation
Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-5)
5 or more symptoms for ≥2 weeks, including depressed mood or anhedonia
SIGECAPS Mnemonic
- Sleep disturbance (insomnia/hypersomnia)
- Interest loss (anhedonia)
- Guilt/worthlessness
- Energy loss (fatigue)
- Concentration difficulty
- Appetite/weight changes
- Psychomotor agitation/retardation
- Suicidal ideation
Physical Signs
Omega sign (frown-like forehead wrinkles), psychomotor slowing
Grief vs MDD
Grief: preserved self-esteem, waves of sadness; MDD: constant low mood, worthlessness
Complications
Suicide risk, chronic depression, substance abuse
Exam Pearl
SIGECAPS = 8 symptoms (depressed mood makes 9 for diagnosis).
Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD)
Quick Fact
Bipolar I requires at least one full manic episode.
Complete Coverage
Bipolar disorder features alternating manic and depressive episodes.
Manic Episode Signs
Elevated/irritable mood, decreased sleep need, grandiosity, talkativeness, flight of ideas, distractibility, risky behaviour (DIG FAST mnemonic)
Depressive Episode
Same as MDD (SIGECAPS)
Types
- Bipolar I: full mania + depression
- Bipolar II: hypomania + major depression
Risk Factors
Family history, stress, substance abuse
Complications
Suicide (high in mixed episodes), financial/legal problems
Exam Pearl
Mania = ≥1 week elevated mood + ≥3 DIG FAST symptoms.
Lithium Therapy (Mood Stabilizer)
Quick Fact
Lithium therapeutic range: 0.6–1.2 mEq/L.
Complete Coverage
Lithium is first-line mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder.
Mechanism
Modulates neurotransmitters, reduces manic episodes
Therapeutic Range
Maintenance: 0.6–0.8 mEq/L; Acute mania: 0.8–1.2 mEq/L
Early Toxicity (>1.5)
Nausea, vomiting, coarse tremor, confusion
Severe Toxicity (>2.0)
Arrhythmias, seizures, coma, death
Nursing Considerations
Maintain consistent sodium intake, adequate hydration (hyponatremia ↑ toxicity)
Monitor levels every 3–6 months, renal/thyroid function
Exam Pearl
Tremor + nausea = early lithium toxicity.
Schizophrenia
Quick Fact
Bleuler’s 4A’s are fundamental symptoms of schizophrenia.
Complete Coverage
Schizophrenia is chronic psychotic disorder with positive & negative symptoms.
Bleuler’s 4A’s
- Affective blunting (flat affect)
- Associative looseness (thought disorder)
- Ambivalence
- Autism (social withdrawal)
Positive Symptoms
Hallucinations (auditory most common), delusions (persecutory, grandiose)
Negative Symptoms
Anhedonia, alogia, avolition, asociality
Hallucination Types
Auditory (voices), visual, tactile, olfactory, gustatory
Delusion Types
Persecutory, reference, grandiose, erotomanic, somatic
Exam Pearl
Auditory hallucinations = most common in schizophrenia.
Mini FAQ: Mental Health 2025 Hacks
Q: Depression mnemonic? → SIGECAPS
Q: Lithium therapeutic range? → 0.6–1.2 mEq/L
Q: Bleuler’s 4A’s? → Affective blunting, Associative looseness, Ambivalence, Autism
Q: Bipolar I requirement? → At least one full manic episode
Q: Most common hallucination in schizophrenia? → Auditory
Why logyanlo.in?
Your 2025 mental health rank partner with free PYQs, diagram quizzes & Telegram community!
Conclusion: Your Mental Health Marks Are Locked!
Day 189 just gave you the complete psychiatric package. Keep practising daily on our Daily Question Bank and watch your name in the merit list!
Call to Action
Share this post with your batchmates & Telegram groups – let's make 2025 ours!
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