Nursing Education Site
Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing Diagnoses & Care Plans
Mental health and psychiatric conditions such as major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, and substance use disorders are heavily tested on NCLEX and central to safe, holistic nursing care.
This page brings together our mental health and psychiatric nursing diagnoses and care plans so you can quickly find focused assessments, therapeutic interventions, and rationales for common mood, psychotic, and anxiety‑related disorders.
Start with the list of individual mental health and psychiatric care plans below (mood disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety, personality disorders, and crisis/suicide risk).
Open each care plan to review: brief disorder overview, key symptoms, safety risks, mental‑status assessment, nursing interventions with rationales, and expected outcomes.
Use these care plans as a study guide for NCLEX psych questions and as a quick reference when caring for patients in mental health, med‑surg, emergency, or primary care settings.
You can group your posts into Mood Disorders, Psychotic Disorders, Anxiety & Related Disorders, and Crisis, Safety, & Other Psychiatric Conditions.
Major Depression – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
Dysthymia / Persistent Depressive Disorder – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
Bipolar Disorder – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
Postpartum Depression – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
Schizophrenia – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
Schizoaffective Disorder – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
Acute Psychosis – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
Generalized Anxiety Disorder – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
Panic Disorder – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
PTSD / Trauma‑Related Disorder – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
Risk for Suicide – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
Risk for Self‑Harm / Self‑Mutilation – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
Ineffective Coping – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
Substance Use Disorder – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
Personality Disorders – Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) is a complex mental health condition characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others. As a psychiatric nurse, understanding the nuances of ASPD and developing appropriate nursing diagnoses is crucial for providing effective care. This comprehensive guide will explore the key aspects of ASPD, … See Nursing Diagnoses
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that significantly impacts an individual’s perception of reality, thought processes, and behavior. This article will explore the aspects of schizophrenia, its symptoms, and the nursing process, with a focus on nursing diagnoses and care plans. Understanding Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is characterized by a range of symptoms that can be … See Nursing Diagnoses