Nursing Care Plan For Depressive Disorder

Depressive disorder is define as mood disorder which characterized by symptoms that persist over minimum 2-week period. The Nursing Care Plan for depressive disorder will address the problem according the criteria of disorder, like;  anhedonia, insomnia or hypersomnia, depressed mood, fatique or energy lost, significant change in weight, feeling of worthlessness or guilty, diminished concentration or indecisiveness, increase or decreased psychomotor activity, recurrent death or suicidal thought.

The common symptoms of depressive disorder are apathy, sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, guilty, sleep disturbance, anger, etc. Sometimes followed by other symptoms like; thoughst of death, fatique, decreased libido, psychomotor agitation, dependency, passiveness, spontanious crying without apparent cause.

Before giving nursing care plan for patient with depressive disorder, there are things should asses, including;

1. History of onset of symptoms.
2. The presence of non-mood psychiatric disorder.
3. Interpersonal and coping abilities.
4. Level of stressor.
5. Presence and or level of suicidal ideation.
6. Presence of comorbid subtance, alcohol and medication.
7. Patient resources and social support systems.
8. Physical examination to rule out possibility of the presence of medical ilness.

Key Nursing Interventions for Depressed Patients;

1. Accept patients where they are and focus on their strengths.
2. Reinforce decision making by patients.
3. Never reinforce hallucinations or delusions.
4. Respond to anger theraupeutically.
5. Spend time with withdrawn patients.
6. Make decision for patients that they are not ready to make for them self.
7. Involve patients in activities in which they can experience success.

Read More