Delirium and Brief Psychotic Disorder

Mental health is a dreadful societal concern that has progressively proven a problem to
counter. The global issue results from social isolation, trauma, unemployment, or poverty. Health
care systems should be strengthened to improve efficiency in mental health care delivery.
Delirium and brief psychotic disorder are two of the most common mental health disorders.
Delirium, often fatal, is an acute disorder affecting the attention and cognition of the elderly.
Individuals who have mental illness typically fail to ascertain environmental awareness. With
brief psychotic disorder, the condition is denoted as a sudden onset of psychotic behavior
complimented with complete remission. The disorder is progressively characterized by
symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech. Therefore, with proper
assessment, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) can identify the disorder
affecting geriatric patients and avail the necessary treatment.
Delirium

Delirium is a common acute syndrome affecting numerous older adults in our
communities. The mental health disorder is characterized by a rapid onset of symptoms that
typically fluctuate with an adjusted level of consciousness. Common instigators of delirium
include environmental alteration, alcohol toxicity, or infection reactions. Any individual
portraying symptoms of the disorder should swiftly seek medical attention. According to Martins
and Fernandes, delirium is a commonly under-recognized and misdiagnosed disorder (2012).
That is due to the disorder’s fluctuating nature, the reduced formal cognitive assessment by
health practitioners, and the disorder’s correlation with dementia. Thus, health PMHNPs dealing
with the elderly must be well-educated about the timely diagnosis of the mental condition. The
institutionalization of patients with delirium requires PMHNPs to be sufficiently equipped to

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provide optimal care management to patients and their families. Overall, a common difference
between delirium and brief psychotic disorder is that hallucinations in delirium are visual, while
patients with the psychotic disorder portray auditory hallucinations.
Brief Psychotic Disorder

The brief psychotic disorder was one common condition reported during the emergence
of the coronavirus pandemic. The virus initiated a plethora of divergent conditions that required
immediate addressing. Enforced health security measures such as lockdowns and isolation led to
increased mental health conditions. The disorder is characterized by an onset of psychosis lasting
for less than a month (Zulkifli et al., 2020). The disorder is typically initiated by stressful life
events with the affected individual returning to their initial premorbid state. The vulnerability of
the elderly during the coronavirus also increased the need for immediate attention. Simple
activities such as spending time and engaging with the elderly significantly impact their mental
health. The PMHNPs make an essential difference in aiding those with mental health issues
through roles such as diagnosis, identifying risk factors, and overseeing psychiatric evaluations
(Sedenu & Mathew, 2021). Overall, professionally trained nurse practitioners can provide a high
level of care to patients and make positive health advances in addressing mental healthcare.

Conclusion

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners are a predominant group of impactful
individuals in the healthcare profession. With the increase in mental issues in our communities,
health practitioners must be equipped with the necessary tools to address the problem. Mental
disorders such as delirium and brief psychotic disorders are a common menace. The disorders
affect the concise functioning of the brain. The elderly have been the most affected in society,

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resulting in the senior group of patients. Besides providing medical treatment, health
practitioners should be trained to connect with geriatric patients. Thus, I believe that mental
health disparities can be adequately reduced by increasing personal intervention strategies.

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References

Martins, S., & Fernandes, L. (2012). Delirium in elderly people: a review. Frontiers in
neurology, 3, 101. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2012.00101/full
Sedenu, Ms Ibha, and Ms Neena Mathew. “REVIEW OF THE ARTICLE ON “CARING FOR
OLDER ADULTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS DURING THE
PANDEMIC” AND ROLE OF A PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER IN A
COMMUNITY.” https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Neena-Mathew-
5/publication/358943111_REVIEW_OF_THE_ARTICLE_ON_CARING_FOR_OLDER
ADULTS_WITH_MENTAL_HEALTH_DISORDERS_DURING_THE_PANDEMIC
AND_ROLE_OF_A_PSYCHIATRIC_NURSE_PRACTITIONER_IN_A_COMMUNIT
Y/links/625e33f39be52845a90eaae5/REVIEW-OF-THE-ARTICLE-ON-CARING-FOR-
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PANDEMIC-AND-ROLE-OF-A-PSYCHIATRIC-NURSE-PRACTITIONER-IN-A-
COMMUNITY.pdf
Zulkifli, N. A., Sivapatham, S., & Guan, N. C. (2020). Brief psychotic disorder in relation to
coronavirus, COVID-19 outbreaks: a case report. Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 29(1),
67-72. http://www.mjpsychiatry.org/index.php/mjp/article/view/534