Looking for subject to write my Dissertation on

FutureRNMichael · Jan 14, 2005

I'll throw a few ideas out but I apologize if they are not 'deep' enough to write 10,000 words about. Just some interesting things I've found while in Psych.

Dual Diagnosis, How one issue affects the other, how you would approach treating such a patient, what area would you focus on first or would you focus on both first..etc

Undiagnosed childhood disorders being mis-diagnosed later in life. Strong aspergers tendency as a child/teen later diagnosed as OCD.

Mainly, what have your favorite topics/case studys in mental health been thus far? Find one you really love and write about it!

sam.r · Jan 14, 2005

Thanks for your help as I am glad of any suggestions. Although I am halfway through my second year I have drawn the short straw a few times and had EMI placements which have mainly dealt with late stage dementias. My interest is really in acute mental health so dual diagnosis will really be worth me looking into, and as you can see from this message I should have no problem making 10,000 words the way I waffle on. Cheers Sam.R :rolleyes:

MissPiggy · Jan 15, 2005

I am currently half way through my second year as a mental health/psychiatric student nurse, and am beginning to panic about the 10,000 word dissertation I have to complete next year in order to qualify, so any ideas from others who have been in this position would be great. Don't want the work you've done just some ideas to be able to help me with what type of subjects I should be looking at.
Sorry had to edit this because my spelling is crap.

I am doing my Master's thesis on suicide survivors i.e. family members/friends of suicide victims. Also thought about the correlation between artistic ability and mental illness/genius level IQs and mental illness.

Hope it helps.

peaceful · Jan 16, 2005

I am fascinated by homelessness and connection to MI/Dual diagnosis issues. Also another topic is elderly and homelessness. The elderly have unique issues that slip through the cracks of the system and are not addressed. Please, please tell me how your program is? Is it really hard? Are you doing online? Would love to hear the details! Thanks.

I am currently half way through my second year as a mental health/psychiatric student nurse, and am beginning to panic about the 10,000 word dissertation I have to complete next year in order to qualify, so any ideas from others who have been in this position would be great. Don't want the work you've done just some ideas to be able to help me with what type of subjects I should be looking at.
Sorry had to edit this because my spelling is crap.

MissPiggy · Jan 17, 2005

I am fascinated by homelessness and connection to MI/Dual diagnosis issues. Also another topic is elderly and homelessness. The elderly have unique issues that slip through the cracks of the system and are not addressed. Please, please tell me how your program is? Is it really hard? Are you doing online? Would love to hear the details! Thanks.

I have been going to the local university, so have not been doing anything online; I have found it pretty difficult - lots of work, but then I have also been working full-time as well. Have been in school part time since 1998 and have yet to go two more semesters, but it will turn out to have been worth it - have been so disillusioned about nursing that I am willing to do anything to get out of it, but that is a long story too. Anyway, I believe that the secret is to just hang in there until it is done. Good luck and much success to you.

Blackcat99 · Jan 17, 2005

How about the pros and cons in regards to forcing psych meds on people? I have read so many different opinions on this subject. :)

FutureRNMichael · Jan 18, 2005

I am doing my Master's thesis on suicide survivors i.e. family members/friends of suicide victims. Also thought about the correlation between artistic ability and mental illness/genius level IQs and mental illness.
Hope it helps.

Wow... Deep stuff. Please do post your final copy, if you don't mind sharing with all of us!

DelightRN · Jan 19, 2005

Are you looking at adult psychiatric issues? You could try something about medication compliance. There are several drugs out there that are given parenterally and are slow release (slow being over weeks or months) due to noncompliance with oral medications... I'd imagine there are tons of ethical issues you could glean from that. Do adult psychiatric patients have the right to refuse care, hospitalization, medications?

There are always interesting family dynamics involved with psychiatric patients (at least in my experience, but I work with kids).

You could also do something about a specific illness or syndrome, if one interests you more than the others. Such as whether socialization should be encouraged among autistic people, or those with autistic features, who are generally situation and people avoidant... if patients should be forced to adhere to a behavioral or medication regimen as part of their treatment plan... I guess it all comes down to consent. That's what I'm most interested in. That seems to be a very gray area in adult psych/behavioral nursing.

You could also do a functional analysis (if you have willing, consentable subjects) about behaviors and their consequences.

I'd love to hear what you decide to do.

sam.r · Jan 21, 2005

Taking into account my experience to date I am thinking of looking at dual diagnosis in the elderly, concentrating on the possible connection between dementia and depression in the elderly.

renerian, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2005

ARe you doing a research dissertation or a paper? I am trying to clarify.......it can take several years to do if it is a true dissertation.

renerian

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2005

My friend found a tool for determining whether a dementia patient (who cannot communicate effectively) needs pain meds or is acting out. I can see where this could be expanded to other non-verbal patients or other psych patients. You could cover the ethics of such a tool as well as the efficacy. It was sorta like the glascow coma scale: points are added up to put the patient in the range of "mostly likely acting out" vs. "most likely needing pain meds". Would this help nurses or interfere with nursing?