Behavioral health

[Vishwamitr]

I have been a registered nurse for almost 2 decades; psychiatry has been me forte. Over the years, varies terminologies have been used for the field of Psychiatry, especially when referring to the nursing unit specializing in Psychiatry. Nothing irks me more than it being termed "behavioral health" May be I am reading into it, but for me it embodies a negative connotation as if the patients had a behavioral issue. Someone please help me understand this term.

[pixiestudent2]

This bothers me too...

[smoup]

I think of it more as an adjunct. Some psychiatric patients have a mental illness with no behavioral health (acting out) symptoms, such as those with certain types of depression, whereas those with dementia have a psychiatric illness that includes usually includes behavioral health symptoms. Some places are equipped to handle those with behavioral health issues, while others are not.

[elkpark]

I dislike it, too. We went from "psychiatry" and "psychiatric" to "mental health," which was okay with me, to "behavioral health," which I hate because it sounds to me like "they" are trying to remove the last connections to the brain and people's thoughts and emotions (it's all just "behavior").

[Jules A, MSN]

I prefer psychiatry but mental health was ok. Behavioral health, imo, is yet another attempt at being politically correct regardless of if it makes any sense or not. I agree it sounds as if it is behavior problems which sometimes it is but not always and if the behavior problems are the direct result of a mental illness...

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

I think of it more as an adjunct. Some psychiatric patients have a mental illness with no behavioral health (acting out) symptoms, such as those with certain types of depression, whereas those with dementia have a psychiatric illness that includes usually includes behavioral health symptoms. Some places are equipped to handle those with behavioral health issues, while others are not.

If you look at the legal criteria for psychiatric illness you will find that dementia and Alzheimer's are considered to be medical not psychiatric , any psychiatric symptoms are considered co-morbidities. I have been out of psych for a few years so haven't thoroughly perused the DSMV to see if that is changed.

Hppy

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

It's only the current buzzword... shake it off.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

It's only the current buzzword... shake it off.

True nomenclature changes all the time mostly for the sake of political correctness Many years ago the term mentally retarded was not considered offensive, later it was changed to mentally challenged, the developmentally disabled and today the correct nomenclature is physically or intellectually disabled. I just roll with the titles and don't give it that much thought.

Hppy

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I dislike the term "behavioral health". It makes it sound as though all mentally ill people do (bad) things on purpose.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

"Behavioral Health" is right up there with ""Sleep Hygiene".

I can hardly wait to see what the next trend brings.

[elkpark]

"Behavioral Health" is right up there with ""Sleep Hygiene".

I can hardly wait to see what the next trend brings.

(Actually, I've always liked "sleep hygiene" -- it sounds quaint and scientific at the same time to me. :))

(Which also reminds me that "mental hygiene" was another term for psychiatry that had its day ...)

[brownbook]

It's only the current buzzword... shake it off.

What been there done that said.

The term doesn't bother me....but there are several current buzzwords, politically correct words, that to my old ears and brain sound odd, wrong. I try to shrug it off as just something I'm not used to but you young'uns will grow up with and think are perfectly good normal terminology.