Mental Health Theories: Patient Behavior and Nursing Strategies

This essay delves into the significance of mental health theories as guiding frameworks for understanding and managing various health conditions, with a specific focus on behavioral theories. The paper primarily examines two key theories: the transtheoretical model and the theory of planned action. The theory of planned action, developed by Icek Ajzen, focuses on an individual's intention to engage in a behavior, influenced by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. The transtheoretical model, also known as the stages of change model, outlines the stages individuals go through when adopting new behaviors, which is useful for nurses when implementing behavior change interventions. The paper compares these two theories, highlighting their similarities in addressing patient behavior and their differences in approach, with the theory of planned action focusing on intention and the transtheoretical model focusing on decision-making. The essay underscores the importance of understanding these theories for developing effective management strategies, especially in mental health nursing, where they inform interventions tailored to specific stages of behavior change. The paper also discusses how the theory of planned action can be used to address factors affecting an individual's intent to enroll in a drug recovery program while the transtheoretical model is useful in helping the nurse address the hurdles that are likely to emerge during the drug reviver process.

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH THEORIES
Mental Health Theories
Name
Institution

MENTAL HEALTH THEORIES
Mental health theories are important because they act as directional pathways in
understanding the pathogenesis and management of various health conditions. There are
different types of mental health theories but the focus in the current paper is on behavioral
theories: the transtheoretical model and the theory of planned action. The different theories
aim to provide insight into patient behavior and inform healthcare workers on the approach
that they should take to address a particular phenomenon that can be in the form of behavior,
disease, or therapy. Thereby, while focusing on patients, the current paper seeks to discuss
two theories as an attempt to understand patient behavior as a basis for mental health nursing.
The theory of planned behavior was initially termed as the theory of reasoned action
that aimed at creating an understanding of an individual’s goal to pursue a particular behavior
during a certain time and in a certain environment (LaMorte, 2019). The theory was
developed by Icek Ajzen and aims to give insight into all plausible behaviors that individuals
are able to exercise self-control by examining the underlying factors. The defining
component of this theory is the intention of engaging in a certain behavior, and these
intentions are deemed to be influenced by an individual’s attitude toward the anticipated
outcomes of the behavior and subjectively perceived risk and rewards of the outcome. Also,
the theory stipulates that other factors like subjective norms, social norms, and perceived
power influence intent, as shown in figure 1 below. However, these factors are not the
absolute as other factors like personal attributes are not included.
Figure 1: Components of the theory of planned action (LaMorte, 2019).

MENTAL HEALTH THEORIES
The transtheoretical theory, on the other hand, seeks to explain the experiences of
individuals who decide to pursue a certain action. The defining component of this theory is
the ultimate decision. Prochaska and DiClemente coined the theory towards the end of the
20th century, and it highlights the various stages that an individual goes through, as shown in
figure 2 below. However, the theory does not indicate the timeframe for each stage.
Understanding these different stages is imperative in developing interventions relevant and
feasible for each stage.
Figure 2: Components of the theory of planned action (LaMorte, 2019).
The two theories are similar in that they are behavioral theories that target the patient.
Hence, the two theories help to understand an individual’s resolve and willingness to engage
in a particular behavior. However, what differs is the approach to the desired behavior in that
whereas the theory of planned theory looks at the intention, the transtheoretical theory
focuses on decision-making. Thereby, the latter can be perceived to be an aftermath of the
former.
The transtheoretical theory is useful for nurses during the implementation of behavior
change interventions as it outlines the implementation in a stepwise manner. Hence, it is

MENTAL HEALTH THEORIES
important for the nurse to identify the necessary tips that steer the transition to the attainment
of desired positive behavior at each. The approach nurses take at each stage is directed by the
events that are specific to each stage. Hence, during the pre-contemplation stage, for example,
the nurse should create awareness and adequate justification for individuals to understand the
need for change. It is only after identifying the need for change that individuals perceive the
essence for the change; otherwise, nurses should seek to understand the barriers for positive
pre-contemplation to guide in devising strategies and modifying the approach through which
individuals would acknowledge the need for change. The theory of planned action shows
nurses that they should develop a compelling intent that prompts individuals to make the
ultimate decision to engage in healthy behavior (Pehlivan & Güner, 2016). Hence, in the case
of drug recovery, a nurse can use the theory of planned action to address the influential
factors bound to affect an individual’s intent to enroll in a drug recovery program while the
transtheoretical model is ideal in helping the nurse address the hurdles that are likely to
emerge during the drug reviver process
It is evident that as theories of behavior change, both theories help to understand the
underlying factors that form the basis for developing strategies that govern change in
behavior. It is necessary to understand these factors as they act as the means to the
development of relevant and effective management strategies through which an individual
can crack and embrace the need for change in the right direction. Whereas the theory of
planned action shows the different factors that influence intent, the transtheoretical theory
goes further to show how this intent can be enhanced to sustainable action.

MENTAL HEALTH THEORIES
References
LaMorte, W. W. (2019). Behavioral Change Models. Retrieved from
http://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-
Modules/SB/BehavioralChangeTheories/BehavioralChangeTheories6.html.
Pehlivan, T., & Güner, P. (2016). The Use of Theories in Psychiatric Nursing-II. Journal of
Psychiatric Nursing, 7(2), 100-104.