Author Question: A patient diagnosed with major depression tells a nurse, My cousin talked about sleep deprivation ... (Read 94 times)

CQXA · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

A patient diagnosed with major depression tells a nurse, My cousin talked about sleep deprivation therapy as a treatment for depression. Can you tell me about it? Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?

a. Your cousin is right; sleep deprivation is a successful, scientifically based emerging therapy. I can suggest several health care providers who work with the therapy..
b. That therapy modality is not widely used at this time. It appears that the effects are not permanent, and there needs to be more scientific research done to prove its value..
c. Sleep deprivation therapy appears useful only when a patient is taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) type of antidepressant in conjunction with the therapy..
d. Yes, the literature shows that this is a very promising therapy for a majority of patients with depression, and many clinical research studies are now under way to investigate this further..

Question 2

Which goal should be given the highest priority?

a. Reduction of anxiety
b. Alleviation of depression
c. Enhancement of self-esteem
d. Protection from self-destructive impulses

spencer.martell · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B
Although up to 60 of depressed patients respond to sleep deprivation therapy immediately, many become depressed again when they resume sleeping even as little as 2 hours per night. Few randomized trials have been conducted in this area, so it is not widely used in clinical practice.

Answer to Question 2

D
Patient safety is always of paramount concern. After safety for the patient has been established, other goals of treatment can be effectively addressed.