[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/) › Mental health and psychiatric nursing # Mental health and psychiatric nursing The therapeutic relationship, suicide risk, de-escalation, care by disorder group, psychotropic medicines and Colombia's Law 1616 of 2013. 35 pages ## Safe practice - [**Agitation and aggression: early warning signs, verbal de-escalation and the team response** Spot the early signs, keep distance and a way out, let one calm person talk, offer choices and…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/agitation-and-aggression-early-warning-signs-verbal-de-escalation-and-the-team-r/) - [**Antidepressants: the delayed effect, early suicide risk, serotonin syndrome and the MAOI diet** Antidepressants take weeks to work; the nurse watches mood and suicide risk early, spots…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/antidepressants-the-delayed-effect-early-suicide-risk-serotonin-syndrome-and-the/) - [**Antipsychotics: extrapyramidal effects and the AIMS, NMS, metabolic monitoring and clozapine safety** The nurse watches antipsychotics for abnormal movements, fever with rigidity, weight and sugar…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/antipsychotics-extrapyramidal-effects-and-the-aims-nms-metabolic-monitoring-and/) - [**Anxiety and panic: levels of anxiety and the nursing response at each level** Judge the level of anxiety, from mild to panic, and match it: talk and coping at low levels…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/anxiety-and-panic-levels-of-anxiety-and-the-nursing-response-at-each-level/) - [**Anxiolytics and sleep medicines: sedation, falls, dependence and withdrawal** Benzodiazepines and sleep medicines calm quickly but sedate, cause falls and dependence; the…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/anxiolytics-and-sleep-medicines-sedation-falls-dependence-and-withdrawal/) - [**Caring for a person in mania: safety, limits, low stimulation, food, fluids and sleep** Lower the stimulation, set the same firm, calm limits across the team, keep the person fed…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/caring-for-a-person-in-mania-safety-limits-low-stimulation-food-fluids-and-sleep/) - [**Caring for a person with dementia: communication, behaviours, wandering, safety and caregiver support** Speak simply and with respect, look for the cause behind distress, keep routines and a safe…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/caring-for-a-person-with-dementia-communication-behaviours-wandering-safety-and/) - [**Caring for a person with depression: safety, self-care, activity and hope** Keep the person safe, help with food, sleep, bowels and hygiene step by step, stay present even…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/caring-for-a-person-with-depression-safety-self-care-activity-and-hope/) - [**Caring for a person with psychosis: hallucinations, delusions, trust and early relapse signs** Build trust, do not argue with delusions or treat voices as real, ask about command…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/caring-for-a-person-with-psychosis-hallucinations-delusions-trust-and-early-rela/) - [**Child and adolescent mental-health nursing: approach, family, school and ADHD medicine monitoring** The nurse builds trust at the child's level, works with family and school, uses behavioural…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/child-and-adolescent-mental-health-nursing-approach-family-school-and-adhd-medic/) - [**Community mental health: primary care, home follow-up, rehabilitation, recovery and stigma** Community mental-health nursing follows people close to home: early detection, home visits…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/community-mental-health-primary-care-home-follow-up-rehabilitation-recovery-and/) - [**Crisis intervention: the phases and the nurse's role** A crisis is a short period when usual coping fails; the nurse assesses safety and resources and…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/crisis-intervention-the-phases-and-the-nurse-s-role/) - [**Eating disorders: medical monitoring, supervised meals and the refeeding risk** Watch vital signs, weight, electrolytes and heart rhythm, supervise meals and the hour after…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/eating-disorders-medical-monitoring-supervised-meals-and-the-refeeding-risk/) - [**Lithium and other mood stabilisers: blood levels, toxicity signs, fluids and laboratory checks** Lithium works only in a narrow blood range: the nurse checks levels, fluids and salt, spots…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/lithium-and-other-mood-stabilisers-blood-levels-toxicity-signs-fluids-and-labora/) - [**Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders: rituals, routines and nursing support** Explore hidden distress with tact, keep a steady routine, support the agreed treatment, help the…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/obsessive-compulsive-and-related-disorders-rituals-routines-and-nursing-support/) - [**Personality disorders: consistent limits, self-harm, splitting and team consistency** Keep the person safe, set clear limits that the whole team applies the same way, respond to…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/personality-disorders-consistent-limits-self-harm-splitting-and-team-consistency/) - [**Psychoeducation and nurse-led groups: families, relaxation, assertiveness and social skills** The nurse teaches the person and family about the condition, treatment and warning signs, and…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/psychoeducation-and-nurse-led-groups-families-relaxation-assertiveness-and-socia/) - [**Psychotropic medicines: what the nurse assesses, monitors and teaches (no doses)** Before and after each psychotropic medicine, the nurse asks how the person feels, looks for side…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/psychotropic-medicines-what-the-nurse-assesses-monitors-and-teaches/) - [**Somatic symptom, functional and dissociative disorders: the nursing approach** Believe that the symptoms are real, keep one steady care team, focus on function and coping…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/somatic-symptom-functional-and-dissociative-disorders-the-nursing-approach/) - [**Substance use from the nursing side: screening, intoxication, harm reduction and recovery** Screen everyone without judging, recognise intoxication and overdose, protect the airway, offer…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/substance-use-from-the-nursing-side-screening-intoxication-harm-reduction-and-re/) - [**Suicide risk: screening, a safety plan, observation levels and a safe environment** Ask directly about suicide, assess the plan and the means, make the setting safe, agree a…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/suicide-risk-screening-a-safety-plan-observation-levels-and-a-safe-environment/) - [**The nurse–patient therapeutic relationship: phases, boundaries, self-awareness and transference** A therapeutic relationship has a purpose, goes through orientation, working and termination…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/the-nurse-patient-therapeutic-relationship-phases-boundaries-self-awareness-and/) - [**The therapeutic milieu: the ward as treatment, its structure, rules and safety** The therapeutic milieu is a safe, welcoming and structured ward where routines, groups, people…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/the-therapeutic-milieu-the-ward-as-treatment-its-structure-rules-and-safety/) - [**Trauma-informed care and nursing for PTSD and acute stress** Care for every person as if they may carry trauma: explain, ask before touching, offer choices…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/trauma-informed-care-and-nursing-for-ptsd-and-acute-stress/) ## Assessment - [**Alcohol withdrawal: CIWA-Ar monitoring, seizure and delirium precautions and thiamine before glucose** Know when withdrawal starts, score it regularly with the CIWA-Ar, keep seizure and fall…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/alcohol-withdrawal-ciwa-ar-monitoring-seizure-and-delirium-precautions-and-thiam/) - [**Delirium: screening (CAM), prevention and nursing care** Watch daily for sudden changes in attention, thinking and alertness, screen with a validated…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/delirium-screening-prevention-and-nursing-care/) - [**Mental-health nursing assessment: history, the mental status from the nursing side and risk screening** The nurse observes and asks about mood, thought, behaviour and risk, takes a psychosocial…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/mental-health-nursing-assessment-history-the-mental-status-from-the-nursing-side/) - [**Opioid withdrawal and overdose risk: COWS monitoring, naloxone and safe discharge** Rate withdrawal with the COWS, keep the person hydrated and calm, know how to respond to an…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/opioid-withdrawal-and-overdose-risk-cows-monitoring-naloxone-and-safe-discharge/) ## Law - [**Colombia's mental-health and substance-use policies: from Res. 4886 de 2018 and Res. 089 de 2019 to Decreto 729 de 2025 and Res. 2100 de 2025, with Ley 1566 de 2012** Colombia's mental-health policy is now Decreto 729 de 2025 and its substance-use policy Res](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/colombia-s-mental-health-and-substance-use-policies-from-res-4886-de-2018-and-re/) - [**Ley 1616 de 2013: the Colombian mental-health law from the nursing side** Ley 1616 de 2013 makes mental health a right and a priority, lists patients' rights and…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/ley-1616-de-2013-the-colombian-mental-health-law-from-the-nursing-side/) ## Procedure - [**Electroconvulsive therapy: preparation, recovery and memory effects** ECT is given under general anaesthesia; the nurse teaches, checks consent and fasting, prepares…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/electroconvulsive-therapy-preparation-recovery-and-memory-effects/) - [**Seclusion and mechanical restraint in psychiatry: a last resort, monitoring and debriefing** Seclusion and restraint are emergency measures of last resort: used only for immediate danger…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/seclusion-and-mechanical-restraint-in-psychiatry-a-last-resort-monitoring-and-de/) ## Fundamental - [**Psychiatric and mental-health nursing: roles, settings, levels of care and the nursing process** Mental-health nurses use the nursing process, the therapeutic relationship and a safe…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/psychiatric-and-mental-health-nursing-roles-settings-levels-of-care-and-the-nurs/) - [**Psychosocial care for victims of Colombia's armed conflict (Ley 1448 de 2011, PAPSIVI)** Victims of the armed conflict have a right to psychosocial and health rehabilitation; nurses…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/psychosocial-care-for-victims-of-colombia-s-armed-conflict/) - [**Rights in mental-health care: consent, capacity, involuntary care and the least restrictive option** People in mental-health care keep their rights: information, consent, confidentiality, dignity…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/rights-in-mental-health-care-consent-capacity-involuntary-care-and-the-least-res/) ## A to Z - [A](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/a/) - [B](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/b/) - [C](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/c/) - [D](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/d/) - [E](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/e/) - [F](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/f/) - [G](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/g/) - [H](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/h/) - [I](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/i/) - [J](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/j/) - [K](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/k/) - [L](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/l/) - [M](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/m/) - [N](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/n/) - [O](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/o/) - [P](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/p/) - [Q](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/q/) - [R](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/r/) - [S](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/s/) - [T](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/t/) - [U](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/u/) - [V](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/v/) - [W](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/w/) - [Y](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/y/) [← Nursing: fundamentals and procedures](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/) Educational content for students; it does not replace your institution's protocols, supervised clinical training or a prescriber's order. Dose-calculation examples use made-up numbers: they are educational, not a clinical order. Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/nursing/areas/mental-health/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/nursing/areas/mental-health/