NU 160 - Mental Health Exam 2 Galen
college
1. Which statement best defines anxiety according to foundational mental health nursing
concepts?
A) A temporary feeling of happiness or contentment that resolves spontaneously
B) A feeling of uneasiness, uncertainty, helplessness, and tension, sometimes with a sense of
doom
C) A permanent personality trait that cannot be modified or treated
D) The complete absence of any emotional response to environmental stressors
Correct Answer: A feeling of uneasiness, uncertainty, helplessness, and tension, sometimes with
a sense of doom
Rationale: Anxiety is defined as a feeling of uneasiness, uncertainty, helplessness, and tension,
often accompanied by a sense of doom. It is a normal response to stress but can become
pathological when it interferes with daily functioning. Options A, C, and D either mischaracterize
anxiety, suggest it is unchangeable, or describe the absence of emotion, none of which align
with the accepted definition.
2. According to psychoanalytic theory, which part of the psyche functions mostly in the
unconscious and represents internalized societal rules and moral standards?
A) Id
B) Ego
C) Superego
D) Libido
,Correct Answer: Superego
Rationale: The superego in psychoanalytic theory functions mostly in the unconscious and
represents internalized societal rules, moral standards, and ideals. The id operates on the
pleasure principle and seeks immediate gratification, the ego mediates between the id and
reality, and libido refers to psychic energy or sexual drive.
3. A student feels nauseated before every major examination. This is an example of which type
of anxiety?
A) Anxiety trait
B) Anxiety state
C) Signal anxiety
D) Panic anxiety
Correct Answer: Signal anxiety
Rationale: Signal anxiety is a learned response to an anticipated event, such as feeling
nauseated before an exam. Anxiety trait is a learned personality component where one reacts
anxiously even in low-stress situations. Anxiety state occurs when coping abilities are
overwhelmed. Panic involves total loss of control and severe physiological symptoms.
4. A client with a family history of breast cancer repeatedly "forgets" mammogram
appointments. Which defense mechanism is primarily being used?
A) Denial
B) Suppression
C) Repression
D) Displacement
Correct Answer: Suppression
,Rationale: Suppression involves the conscious removal of conflict from awareness, as seen when
the client "forgets" appointments to avoid confronting the fear of breast cancer. Denial involves
refusal to acknowledge reality, repression is unconscious forgetting, and displacement redirects
emotions to a safer target.
5. Which therapeutic approach uses controlled eye movements to help reprocess traumatic
memories, commonly used in patients with PTSD?
A) Phototherapy
B) Massage therapy
C) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
D) Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Correct Answer: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Rationale: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) uses controlled eye
movements to help reprocess traumatic memories, particularly effective for PTSD. Phototherapy
uses bright light for depression, massage manipulates muscle tissue, and CBT focuses on
changing thought patterns.
6. A patient with major depressive disorder is prescribed a medication that requires dietary
restriction of tyramine-rich foods. Which class of medication does this describe?
A) SSRI
B) SNRI
C) MAOI
D) TCA
Correct Answer: MAOI
, Rationale: Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) require dietary restriction of tyramine-rich
foods to prevent hypertensive crisis. SSRIs and SNRIs do not have this dietary restriction, and
TCAs have significant anticholinergic side effects but no tyramine restriction.
7. A patient with bipolar disorder in the manic phase exhibits poor judgment regarding spending
and is at risk for financial ruin. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate to manage this
behavior?
A) Allow the patient unlimited access to funds to promote autonomy
B) Remove credit cards and limit access to money with staff assistance
C) Encourage the patient to make all financial decisions independently
D) Ignore the spending behavior to avoid confrontation
Correct Answer: Remove credit cards and limit access to money with staff assistance
Rationale: During the manic phase, patients have impaired judgment and impulsivity, making
financial protection essential. Removing credit cards and limiting money access prevents
harmful consequences. Allowing unlimited access (A) or encouraging independent decisions (C)
is unsafe, and ignoring the behavior (D) neglects patient safety.
8. A patient who recently survived a devastating natural disaster is experiencing emotional
numbness, detachment from feelings, and vivid flashbacks. The nurse recognizes these
symptoms as consistent with which disorder?
A) Generalized anxiety disorder
B) Acute stress disorder
C) Post-traumatic stress disorder
D) Panic disorder
Correct Answer: Post-traumatic stress disorder
college
1. Which statement best defines anxiety according to foundational mental health nursing
concepts?
A) A temporary feeling of happiness or contentment that resolves spontaneously
B) A feeling of uneasiness, uncertainty, helplessness, and tension, sometimes with a sense of
doom
C) A permanent personality trait that cannot be modified or treated
D) The complete absence of any emotional response to environmental stressors
Correct Answer: A feeling of uneasiness, uncertainty, helplessness, and tension, sometimes with
a sense of doom
Rationale: Anxiety is defined as a feeling of uneasiness, uncertainty, helplessness, and tension,
often accompanied by a sense of doom. It is a normal response to stress but can become
pathological when it interferes with daily functioning. Options A, C, and D either mischaracterize
anxiety, suggest it is unchangeable, or describe the absence of emotion, none of which align
with the accepted definition.
2. According to psychoanalytic theory, which part of the psyche functions mostly in the
unconscious and represents internalized societal rules and moral standards?
A) Id
B) Ego
C) Superego
D) Libido
,Correct Answer: Superego
Rationale: The superego in psychoanalytic theory functions mostly in the unconscious and
represents internalized societal rules, moral standards, and ideals. The id operates on the
pleasure principle and seeks immediate gratification, the ego mediates between the id and
reality, and libido refers to psychic energy or sexual drive.
3. A student feels nauseated before every major examination. This is an example of which type
of anxiety?
A) Anxiety trait
B) Anxiety state
C) Signal anxiety
D) Panic anxiety
Correct Answer: Signal anxiety
Rationale: Signal anxiety is a learned response to an anticipated event, such as feeling
nauseated before an exam. Anxiety trait is a learned personality component where one reacts
anxiously even in low-stress situations. Anxiety state occurs when coping abilities are
overwhelmed. Panic involves total loss of control and severe physiological symptoms.
4. A client with a family history of breast cancer repeatedly "forgets" mammogram
appointments. Which defense mechanism is primarily being used?
A) Denial
B) Suppression
C) Repression
D) Displacement
Correct Answer: Suppression
,Rationale: Suppression involves the conscious removal of conflict from awareness, as seen when
the client "forgets" appointments to avoid confronting the fear of breast cancer. Denial involves
refusal to acknowledge reality, repression is unconscious forgetting, and displacement redirects
emotions to a safer target.
5. Which therapeutic approach uses controlled eye movements to help reprocess traumatic
memories, commonly used in patients with PTSD?
A) Phototherapy
B) Massage therapy
C) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
D) Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Correct Answer: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Rationale: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) uses controlled eye
movements to help reprocess traumatic memories, particularly effective for PTSD. Phototherapy
uses bright light for depression, massage manipulates muscle tissue, and CBT focuses on
changing thought patterns.
6. A patient with major depressive disorder is prescribed a medication that requires dietary
restriction of tyramine-rich foods. Which class of medication does this describe?
A) SSRI
B) SNRI
C) MAOI
D) TCA
Correct Answer: MAOI
, Rationale: Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) require dietary restriction of tyramine-rich
foods to prevent hypertensive crisis. SSRIs and SNRIs do not have this dietary restriction, and
TCAs have significant anticholinergic side effects but no tyramine restriction.
7. A patient with bipolar disorder in the manic phase exhibits poor judgment regarding spending
and is at risk for financial ruin. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate to manage this
behavior?
A) Allow the patient unlimited access to funds to promote autonomy
B) Remove credit cards and limit access to money with staff assistance
C) Encourage the patient to make all financial decisions independently
D) Ignore the spending behavior to avoid confrontation
Correct Answer: Remove credit cards and limit access to money with staff assistance
Rationale: During the manic phase, patients have impaired judgment and impulsivity, making
financial protection essential. Removing credit cards and limiting money access prevents
harmful consequences. Allowing unlimited access (A) or encouraging independent decisions (C)
is unsafe, and ignoring the behavior (D) neglects patient safety.
8. A patient who recently survived a devastating natural disaster is experiencing emotional
numbness, detachment from feelings, and vivid flashbacks. The nurse recognizes these
symptoms as consistent with which disorder?
A) Generalized anxiety disorder
B) Acute stress disorder
C) Post-traumatic stress disorder
D) Panic disorder
Correct Answer: Post-traumatic stress disorder
