NUR 355 Exam 2 Questions and Answers| New Update with 100% Correct Answers
Abreaction Process used for clients with DID in which they must mentally re-experience the
abuse that caused their illness
What is the goal of therapy for the pt with DID? Optimize the client's function and potential.
Achievement of integration is desirable- blending of all the personalities into one.
What is the primary treatment in dissociative amnesia? Psychotherapy
How do most cases of dissociative amnesia resolve? Spontaneously when pt is removed
from the stressful situation
When is medication effective in treating somatic symptom disorders? When it is being used
to treat underlying depression or anxiety.
Treatment options for somatic symptom disorders (4) Individual psychotherapy
Group psychotherapy
CBT and psychoeducation
Pscyhopharmacology
Nursing care for the client with a dissociative disorder is aimed at what? Restoring normal
thought processes; help pt determine strategies for coping with stress that don't involve
dissociating from the environment.
Interventions for pt with somatic symptom disorder Help pt find strategies to cope with
stress that don't involve physical symptoms.
Identify gains that physical symptoms are providing.
Provide support and encouragement.
Explore feelings and fears.
,Secondary gain in somatic symptom disorders sick person learns they become the
prominent focus of attention because of the illness
What are 3 psychological interventions that have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing
suicidal behavior? DBT, CBT, CAMS
This mental illness is responsible for lengthier hospitalizations, greater chaos in family life, huge
costs to pt and government, more fears, threat to life and happiness. Schizophrenia
Causes of schizophrenia Relatively unknown
Schizophrenia causes disturbances in _________, __________, and ____________. This
contributes to the severe deterioration of social and occupational functioning. Thought
processes, perception, affect.
4 phases of development in schizophrenia Premorbid phase, prodromal phase, active
psychotic phase (schizophrenia), residual phase.
What characterizes phase I: premorbid phase? Premorbid signs occur before there is clear
evidence of illness and may include distinctive personality traits or behaviors such as being very
shy and withdrawn, having poor peer relationships, doing poorly in school, and demonstrating
antisocial behavior.
What characterizes phase II: prodromal phase? Average length in this phase is 2-5 years.
Individual begins to show signs of significant deterioration in function; 50% have depressive
symptoms, social withdrawal is common, signs of cognitive impairment begin to emerge, some
develop obsessive-compulsive behavior
,What characterizes phase III: active psychotic phase? Psychotic symptoms are prominent.
Schizophrenia is a chronic illness characterized by acute episodes where symptoms are more
pronounced.
What characterizes phase IV: residual phase? Follows the active phase- symptoms that were
seen in the active phase are either absent or no longer prominent.
What is the scientific consensus when it comes to explaining how schizophrenia comes to be?
What is this model called? Schizophrenia occurs when multiple inherited gene abnormalities
combine with nongenetic factors (i.e. viral infections, birth injuries, environmental stressors,
prenatal malnutrition) which alters the structures of the brain, affecting the brain's
neurotransmitter systems and/or injuring hte brain directly. Called the diathesis-stress model of
schizophrenia.
Is there a genetic component to schizophrenia? Yes, schizophrenia occurs at an increased
rate in relatives of individuals with the mental illness.
What is the dopamine hypothesis? Suggests schizophrenia is caused by an excess of
dopamine- dependent neuronal activity in the brain.
What role is serotonin hypothesized to play in schizophrenia? What medication supports this
idea? Excess of serotonin has been hypothesized to be responsible for both positive and
negative symptoms of shizophrenia. Clozapine supports this idea- functions as an antagonist of
serotonin receptors.
What are the first antipsychotic drugs referred to as? What is their mechanism of action? What
are two examples? Conventional or first-gen antipsychotics. Block activity of dopamine
receptors, limiting activity of dopamine and reducing some symptoms.
What agents increase the activity of dopamine in the brain and bring on schizophrenia in
biologically susceptible people? (3 examples) Cocaine, levodopa, methylphenidate (Ritalin)
, How do second-gen (unconventional) antipsychotics work? Block serotonin and dopamine
It is possible that what causes the severe disruption in communication pathways in the brain
seen in individuals with schizophrenia? What is the most common finding? Brain structure
abnormalities; ventricular enlargement is most consistent finding.
True or false. Psychological and environmental factors such as prenatal stressors, psychological
stressors, and environmental stressors are thought to play a role in schizophrenia. True.
What is the "something" that may be responsible for the development of some schizophrenias?
What causes it? Effect of autoimmune antibodies in the brain following infection from a
neurotoxic virus.
What are positive symptoms in schizophrenia? Examples? Positive symptoms tend to reflect
an alteration or distortion of normal mental functions. Examples: delusions, paranoia, magical
thinking, word salad, echolalia, hallucinations, echopraxia
Delusions false personal beliefs inconsistent with the person's intelligence or cultural
background.
Delusion of persecution individuals feels threatened and believes other intend harm or
persecution towards him/her
Delusion of grandeur individual has exaggerated feeling of importance i.e. I am God
Delusion of reference Events within environment are referred by psychotic person to
himself or herself i.e. someone is trying to get a message to me through this magazine article
OR thinking other people in the room laughing must be laughing at him
Abreaction Process used for clients with DID in which they must mentally re-experience the
abuse that caused their illness
What is the goal of therapy for the pt with DID? Optimize the client's function and potential.
Achievement of integration is desirable- blending of all the personalities into one.
What is the primary treatment in dissociative amnesia? Psychotherapy
How do most cases of dissociative amnesia resolve? Spontaneously when pt is removed
from the stressful situation
When is medication effective in treating somatic symptom disorders? When it is being used
to treat underlying depression or anxiety.
Treatment options for somatic symptom disorders (4) Individual psychotherapy
Group psychotherapy
CBT and psychoeducation
Pscyhopharmacology
Nursing care for the client with a dissociative disorder is aimed at what? Restoring normal
thought processes; help pt determine strategies for coping with stress that don't involve
dissociating from the environment.
Interventions for pt with somatic symptom disorder Help pt find strategies to cope with
stress that don't involve physical symptoms.
Identify gains that physical symptoms are providing.
Provide support and encouragement.
Explore feelings and fears.
,Secondary gain in somatic symptom disorders sick person learns they become the
prominent focus of attention because of the illness
What are 3 psychological interventions that have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing
suicidal behavior? DBT, CBT, CAMS
This mental illness is responsible for lengthier hospitalizations, greater chaos in family life, huge
costs to pt and government, more fears, threat to life and happiness. Schizophrenia
Causes of schizophrenia Relatively unknown
Schizophrenia causes disturbances in _________, __________, and ____________. This
contributes to the severe deterioration of social and occupational functioning. Thought
processes, perception, affect.
4 phases of development in schizophrenia Premorbid phase, prodromal phase, active
psychotic phase (schizophrenia), residual phase.
What characterizes phase I: premorbid phase? Premorbid signs occur before there is clear
evidence of illness and may include distinctive personality traits or behaviors such as being very
shy and withdrawn, having poor peer relationships, doing poorly in school, and demonstrating
antisocial behavior.
What characterizes phase II: prodromal phase? Average length in this phase is 2-5 years.
Individual begins to show signs of significant deterioration in function; 50% have depressive
symptoms, social withdrawal is common, signs of cognitive impairment begin to emerge, some
develop obsessive-compulsive behavior
,What characterizes phase III: active psychotic phase? Psychotic symptoms are prominent.
Schizophrenia is a chronic illness characterized by acute episodes where symptoms are more
pronounced.
What characterizes phase IV: residual phase? Follows the active phase- symptoms that were
seen in the active phase are either absent or no longer prominent.
What is the scientific consensus when it comes to explaining how schizophrenia comes to be?
What is this model called? Schizophrenia occurs when multiple inherited gene abnormalities
combine with nongenetic factors (i.e. viral infections, birth injuries, environmental stressors,
prenatal malnutrition) which alters the structures of the brain, affecting the brain's
neurotransmitter systems and/or injuring hte brain directly. Called the diathesis-stress model of
schizophrenia.
Is there a genetic component to schizophrenia? Yes, schizophrenia occurs at an increased
rate in relatives of individuals with the mental illness.
What is the dopamine hypothesis? Suggests schizophrenia is caused by an excess of
dopamine- dependent neuronal activity in the brain.
What role is serotonin hypothesized to play in schizophrenia? What medication supports this
idea? Excess of serotonin has been hypothesized to be responsible for both positive and
negative symptoms of shizophrenia. Clozapine supports this idea- functions as an antagonist of
serotonin receptors.
What are the first antipsychotic drugs referred to as? What is their mechanism of action? What
are two examples? Conventional or first-gen antipsychotics. Block activity of dopamine
receptors, limiting activity of dopamine and reducing some symptoms.
What agents increase the activity of dopamine in the brain and bring on schizophrenia in
biologically susceptible people? (3 examples) Cocaine, levodopa, methylphenidate (Ritalin)
, How do second-gen (unconventional) antipsychotics work? Block serotonin and dopamine
It is possible that what causes the severe disruption in communication pathways in the brain
seen in individuals with schizophrenia? What is the most common finding? Brain structure
abnormalities; ventricular enlargement is most consistent finding.
True or false. Psychological and environmental factors such as prenatal stressors, psychological
stressors, and environmental stressors are thought to play a role in schizophrenia. True.
What is the "something" that may be responsible for the development of some schizophrenias?
What causes it? Effect of autoimmune antibodies in the brain following infection from a
neurotoxic virus.
What are positive symptoms in schizophrenia? Examples? Positive symptoms tend to reflect
an alteration or distortion of normal mental functions. Examples: delusions, paranoia, magical
thinking, word salad, echolalia, hallucinations, echopraxia
Delusions false personal beliefs inconsistent with the person's intelligence or cultural
background.
Delusion of persecution individuals feels threatened and believes other intend harm or
persecution towards him/her
Delusion of grandeur individual has exaggerated feeling of importance i.e. I am God
Delusion of reference Events within environment are referred by psychotic person to
himself or herself i.e. someone is trying to get a message to me through this magazine article
OR thinking other people in the room laughing must be laughing at him
