, SET 1
1. A patient is admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit after significant weight loss
and persistent restriction of food intake. The patient is below the minimally normal
weight expected for their height but continues to state that they feel overweight
and refuses to maintain an appropriate body weight. The patient expresses an
intense fear of gaining weight and demonstrates behaviors intended to prevent
weight gain despite being medically underweight. Which condition best describes
this patient's presentation?
Correct Answer: Anorexia nervosa
Rationale: Anorexia nervosa is characterized by restriction of energy intake that
results in a significantly low body weight, accompanied by an intense fear of gaining
weight or becoming overweight. Patients often have a distorted perception of their
body size and may believe they are overweight despite being dangerously
underweight. The disorder is chronic and may wax and wane, requiring long-term
monitoring and treatment to address both nutritional and psychological factors.
2. A patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa has experienced repeated episodes of
severe dietary restriction over several years. The patient has periods of worsening
symptoms followed by partial improvement but continues to struggle with
maintaining a healthy weight and body image. The treatment team explains that
recovery may require ongoing nutritional, psychological, and medical support
because the disorder can recur. Which statement best describes the expected
course of anorexia nervosa?
Correct Answer: Anorexia nervosa is a chronic illness that waxes and wanes
and may require long-term treatment.
,Rationale: Anorexia nervosa is commonly a chronic psychiatric disorder with
symptoms that can fluctuate over time. Periods of improvement may be followed by
relapse, particularly when psychological stressors or disordered eating behaviors
return. Long-term treatment may include nutritional rehabilitation, psychotherapy,
medical monitoring, and continued assessment for complications associated with low
body weight.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient who has been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa
and wants to determine which subtype best describes the patient's eating
behaviors. The patient reports consistently restricting caloric intake and denies
episodes of binge eating or compensatory purging behaviors. Which two
recognized subtypes of anorexia nervosa should the nurse understand when
assessing this patient?
Correct Answer: Restricting type and binge-eating/purging type
Rationale: Anorexia nervosa is classified into restricting type and binge-
eating/purging type. The restricting type involves weight loss primarily through
dieting, fasting, or excessive exercise without recurrent binge-eating or purging
episodes. The binge-eating/purging type involves episodes of binge eating or
inappropriate compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting or misuse of
laxatives.
4. A 19-year-old patient is admitted after losing a substantial amount of weight
through severe caloric restriction. The patient continues to exercise excessively,
expresses an intense fear of gaining weight, and insists that their body is too large
despite being significantly underweight. The patient also minimizes the seriousness
of the condition and becomes defensive when the nurse discusses nutritional
rehabilitation. Which group of characteristics is most consistent with anorexia
nervosa?
, Correct Answer: Extreme weight loss, intense fear of weight gain, denial of the
problem, distorted body image, and significantly restricted caloric intake resulting
in a low BMI
Rationale: Anorexia nervosa is characterized by significant weight loss and persistent
restriction of caloric intake that leads to a markedly low body weight. Patients
commonly experience distorted body image and an intense fear of gaining weight
even when they are medically underweight. Strong denial or minimization of the
disorder is also common and can make treatment engagement difficult.
5. A young adult patient with anorexia nervosa reports feeling uncomfortable with
any weight above a specific number and spends considerable time evaluating body
size and appearance. The patient demonstrates perfectionistic and competitive
behaviors and has a strong need for control over food and exercise. The nurse
recognizes that these psychological and personality characteristics are frequently
associated with anorexia nervosa. Which characteristic is most consistent with this
disorder?
Correct Answer: Perfectionistic and competitive personality tendencies
Rationale: Patients with anorexia nervosa may demonstrate perfectionistic, highly
controlled, and competitive personality characteristics. Restricting food can become a
way for the patient to obtain a sense of control when other areas of life feel
uncertain. These personality patterns can reinforce rigid eating behaviors and make
flexibility around food and weight particularly difficult.
6. A patient with severe anorexia nervosa is admitted for medical stabilization after
prolonged food restriction. During assessment, the nurse observes a very low body
weight, amenorrhea, yellowish skin, fine lanugo hair, cold extremities, peripheral
edema, and generalized muscle weakness. The patient also demonstrates
1. A patient is admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit after significant weight loss
and persistent restriction of food intake. The patient is below the minimally normal
weight expected for their height but continues to state that they feel overweight
and refuses to maintain an appropriate body weight. The patient expresses an
intense fear of gaining weight and demonstrates behaviors intended to prevent
weight gain despite being medically underweight. Which condition best describes
this patient's presentation?
Correct Answer: Anorexia nervosa
Rationale: Anorexia nervosa is characterized by restriction of energy intake that
results in a significantly low body weight, accompanied by an intense fear of gaining
weight or becoming overweight. Patients often have a distorted perception of their
body size and may believe they are overweight despite being dangerously
underweight. The disorder is chronic and may wax and wane, requiring long-term
monitoring and treatment to address both nutritional and psychological factors.
2. A patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa has experienced repeated episodes of
severe dietary restriction over several years. The patient has periods of worsening
symptoms followed by partial improvement but continues to struggle with
maintaining a healthy weight and body image. The treatment team explains that
recovery may require ongoing nutritional, psychological, and medical support
because the disorder can recur. Which statement best describes the expected
course of anorexia nervosa?
Correct Answer: Anorexia nervosa is a chronic illness that waxes and wanes
and may require long-term treatment.
,Rationale: Anorexia nervosa is commonly a chronic psychiatric disorder with
symptoms that can fluctuate over time. Periods of improvement may be followed by
relapse, particularly when psychological stressors or disordered eating behaviors
return. Long-term treatment may include nutritional rehabilitation, psychotherapy,
medical monitoring, and continued assessment for complications associated with low
body weight.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient who has been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa
and wants to determine which subtype best describes the patient's eating
behaviors. The patient reports consistently restricting caloric intake and denies
episodes of binge eating or compensatory purging behaviors. Which two
recognized subtypes of anorexia nervosa should the nurse understand when
assessing this patient?
Correct Answer: Restricting type and binge-eating/purging type
Rationale: Anorexia nervosa is classified into restricting type and binge-
eating/purging type. The restricting type involves weight loss primarily through
dieting, fasting, or excessive exercise without recurrent binge-eating or purging
episodes. The binge-eating/purging type involves episodes of binge eating or
inappropriate compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting or misuse of
laxatives.
4. A 19-year-old patient is admitted after losing a substantial amount of weight
through severe caloric restriction. The patient continues to exercise excessively,
expresses an intense fear of gaining weight, and insists that their body is too large
despite being significantly underweight. The patient also minimizes the seriousness
of the condition and becomes defensive when the nurse discusses nutritional
rehabilitation. Which group of characteristics is most consistent with anorexia
nervosa?
, Correct Answer: Extreme weight loss, intense fear of weight gain, denial of the
problem, distorted body image, and significantly restricted caloric intake resulting
in a low BMI
Rationale: Anorexia nervosa is characterized by significant weight loss and persistent
restriction of caloric intake that leads to a markedly low body weight. Patients
commonly experience distorted body image and an intense fear of gaining weight
even when they are medically underweight. Strong denial or minimization of the
disorder is also common and can make treatment engagement difficult.
5. A young adult patient with anorexia nervosa reports feeling uncomfortable with
any weight above a specific number and spends considerable time evaluating body
size and appearance. The patient demonstrates perfectionistic and competitive
behaviors and has a strong need for control over food and exercise. The nurse
recognizes that these psychological and personality characteristics are frequently
associated with anorexia nervosa. Which characteristic is most consistent with this
disorder?
Correct Answer: Perfectionistic and competitive personality tendencies
Rationale: Patients with anorexia nervosa may demonstrate perfectionistic, highly
controlled, and competitive personality characteristics. Restricting food can become a
way for the patient to obtain a sense of control when other areas of life feel
uncertain. These personality patterns can reinforce rigid eating behaviors and make
flexibility around food and weight particularly difficult.
6. A patient with severe anorexia nervosa is admitted for medical stabilization after
prolonged food restriction. During assessment, the nurse observes a very low body
weight, amenorrhea, yellowish skin, fine lanugo hair, cold extremities, peripheral
edema, and generalized muscle weakness. The patient also demonstrates
