NSG 526 Exam 2 with Accurate Questions & Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) and Full Deep Expert
Rationales | Latest (2026/2027) Updated Version {JUST
RELEASED}
Question 1
Which one of the following is the focus of interpersonal therapy?
A. Anxiety management
B. Belief systems
C. Faulty cognitions
D. Social interaction
Correct Answer: D
Expert Rationale: The correct answer is D because interpersonal therapy (IPT) focuses
on social interaction. IPT is based on the assumption that psychiatric disorders are
influenced by interpersonal interactions and the social context. The goal of IPT is to
reduce or eliminate psychiatric symptoms (particularly depression) by improving
interpersonal functioning and satisfaction with social relationships. It does not focus
primarily on anxiety management, belief systems, or faulty cognitions—those are more
characteristic of cognitive and behavioral therapies.
Test-Taking Tip: Interpersonal therapy = interpersonal relationships = social
interaction. Remember that IPT was developed by Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack
Sullivan and focuses on four problem areas: grief, role disputes, role transitions, and
interpersonal deficits.
Question 2
A patient tells the psychiatric advanced practice nurse she is going to try
supplementing her selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor with St. John's wort.
,Which action should the psychiatric advanced practice nurse take first?
A. Assess the patient for depression and risk for suicide.
B. Suggest that aromatherapy may produce even better results.
C. Advise her of the danger of serotonin syndrome.
D. Document the patient's statement in the medical record.
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: The correct answer is A because the psychiatric advanced practice
nurse should first assess the patient for depression and risk for suicide. Before
addressing the supplement issue, the nurse must ensure the patient's safety and
evaluate her current mental status. St. John's wort combined with an SSRI can cause
serotonin syndrome, but the priority first action is always assessment of the patient's
depression and suicide risk. This is consistent with the nursing process—assessment
comes first.
Test-Taking Tip: When a question asks "which action should the nurse take first,"
always think assessment before intervention. Safety is the priority, and assessing
depression and suicide risk is the first step.
Question 3
Which of the following is not a technique used in cognitive therapy?
A. Reattribution
B. Role-playing
C. Abreaction
D. Developing alternatives
Correct Answer: C
Expert Rationale: The correct answer is C because abreaction is not a technique used in
cognitive therapy. Abreaction is a psychoanalytic technique that involves the release of
repressed emotions through reliving a traumatic experience. Cognitive therapy
,techniques include reattribution (challenging attributions), role-playing (practicing new
behaviors), and developing alternatives (generating alternative interpretations).
Abreaction belongs to psychodynamic/psychoanalytic therapy, not cognitive therapy.
Test-Taking Tip: Cognitive therapy focuses on changing thoughts and beliefs—
reattribution, role-playing, and developing alternatives are all cognitive techniques.
Abreaction is emotional release, which is psychodynamic.
Question 4
The psychiatric advanced practice nurse is developing the care plan for an 8-year-
old child with intermittent explosive disorder. Based on Piaget, which of the
following goals would be appropriate? The child will:
A. connect consequences of his behavior with the behavior itself.
B. generalize the consequences of his anger and aggression to different situations.
C. identify situations in which he is likely to feel abandoned.
D. understand that others have different perspectives than his own.
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: The correct answer is A because according to Piaget, an 8-year-old
child is in the concrete operational stage (ages 7-12 years). In this stage, children
develop the ability to think logically about concrete events and understand reversibility
and conservation. A developmentally appropriate goal for an 8-year-old with
intermittent explosive disorder would be to connect consequences of his behavior with
the behavior itself—this is concrete, logical thinking about cause and effect.
Generalizing consequences to different situations (B) requires abstract thinking beyond
this stage. Identifying feelings of abandonment (C) is too abstract and emotionally
complex. Understanding others' perspectives (D) is also beyond concrete operational
abilities.
Test-Taking Tip: Piaget's concrete operational stage (7-12 years) = logical thinking
about concrete events, cause and effect, reversibility, and conservation. Match goals to
, the child's developmental stage.
Question 5
In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, it is often helpful to view people as separate
from their problems and behaviors. This empowers them to make changes in their
thought patterns and behaviors. Which type of therapy would utilize this
approach?
A. Psychoanalysis
B. Narrative Therapy
C. Strategic Therapy
D. Psychodynamic therapy
Correct Answer: B
Expert Rationale: The correct answer is B because narrative therapy is a type of CBT
that views people as separate from their problems and destructive behaviors. This
approach allows clients to get some distance from the difficulty they face, which helps
them see how the problem might actually be helping or protecting them, more than it is
hurting them. This externalization of the problem is a hallmark of narrative therapy.
Psychoanalysis, strategic therapy, and psychodynamic therapy do not use this specific
approach.
Test-Taking Tip: Narrative therapy = "the person is not the problem; the problem is
the problem." Externalizing the problem helps clients separate themselves from their
difficulties.
Question 6
Characteristics of cognitive-behavioral therapy include: (Select all that apply.)
A. Not time limited
B. Active
Answers (Verified Answers) and Full Deep Expert
Rationales | Latest (2026/2027) Updated Version {JUST
RELEASED}
Question 1
Which one of the following is the focus of interpersonal therapy?
A. Anxiety management
B. Belief systems
C. Faulty cognitions
D. Social interaction
Correct Answer: D
Expert Rationale: The correct answer is D because interpersonal therapy (IPT) focuses
on social interaction. IPT is based on the assumption that psychiatric disorders are
influenced by interpersonal interactions and the social context. The goal of IPT is to
reduce or eliminate psychiatric symptoms (particularly depression) by improving
interpersonal functioning and satisfaction with social relationships. It does not focus
primarily on anxiety management, belief systems, or faulty cognitions—those are more
characteristic of cognitive and behavioral therapies.
Test-Taking Tip: Interpersonal therapy = interpersonal relationships = social
interaction. Remember that IPT was developed by Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack
Sullivan and focuses on four problem areas: grief, role disputes, role transitions, and
interpersonal deficits.
Question 2
A patient tells the psychiatric advanced practice nurse she is going to try
supplementing her selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor with St. John's wort.
,Which action should the psychiatric advanced practice nurse take first?
A. Assess the patient for depression and risk for suicide.
B. Suggest that aromatherapy may produce even better results.
C. Advise her of the danger of serotonin syndrome.
D. Document the patient's statement in the medical record.
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: The correct answer is A because the psychiatric advanced practice
nurse should first assess the patient for depression and risk for suicide. Before
addressing the supplement issue, the nurse must ensure the patient's safety and
evaluate her current mental status. St. John's wort combined with an SSRI can cause
serotonin syndrome, but the priority first action is always assessment of the patient's
depression and suicide risk. This is consistent with the nursing process—assessment
comes first.
Test-Taking Tip: When a question asks "which action should the nurse take first,"
always think assessment before intervention. Safety is the priority, and assessing
depression and suicide risk is the first step.
Question 3
Which of the following is not a technique used in cognitive therapy?
A. Reattribution
B. Role-playing
C. Abreaction
D. Developing alternatives
Correct Answer: C
Expert Rationale: The correct answer is C because abreaction is not a technique used in
cognitive therapy. Abreaction is a psychoanalytic technique that involves the release of
repressed emotions through reliving a traumatic experience. Cognitive therapy
,techniques include reattribution (challenging attributions), role-playing (practicing new
behaviors), and developing alternatives (generating alternative interpretations).
Abreaction belongs to psychodynamic/psychoanalytic therapy, not cognitive therapy.
Test-Taking Tip: Cognitive therapy focuses on changing thoughts and beliefs—
reattribution, role-playing, and developing alternatives are all cognitive techniques.
Abreaction is emotional release, which is psychodynamic.
Question 4
The psychiatric advanced practice nurse is developing the care plan for an 8-year-
old child with intermittent explosive disorder. Based on Piaget, which of the
following goals would be appropriate? The child will:
A. connect consequences of his behavior with the behavior itself.
B. generalize the consequences of his anger and aggression to different situations.
C. identify situations in which he is likely to feel abandoned.
D. understand that others have different perspectives than his own.
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: The correct answer is A because according to Piaget, an 8-year-old
child is in the concrete operational stage (ages 7-12 years). In this stage, children
develop the ability to think logically about concrete events and understand reversibility
and conservation. A developmentally appropriate goal for an 8-year-old with
intermittent explosive disorder would be to connect consequences of his behavior with
the behavior itself—this is concrete, logical thinking about cause and effect.
Generalizing consequences to different situations (B) requires abstract thinking beyond
this stage. Identifying feelings of abandonment (C) is too abstract and emotionally
complex. Understanding others' perspectives (D) is also beyond concrete operational
abilities.
Test-Taking Tip: Piaget's concrete operational stage (7-12 years) = logical thinking
about concrete events, cause and effect, reversibility, and conservation. Match goals to
, the child's developmental stage.
Question 5
In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, it is often helpful to view people as separate
from their problems and behaviors. This empowers them to make changes in their
thought patterns and behaviors. Which type of therapy would utilize this
approach?
A. Psychoanalysis
B. Narrative Therapy
C. Strategic Therapy
D. Psychodynamic therapy
Correct Answer: B
Expert Rationale: The correct answer is B because narrative therapy is a type of CBT
that views people as separate from their problems and destructive behaviors. This
approach allows clients to get some distance from the difficulty they face, which helps
them see how the problem might actually be helping or protecting them, more than it is
hurting them. This externalization of the problem is a hallmark of narrative therapy.
Psychoanalysis, strategic therapy, and psychodynamic therapy do not use this specific
approach.
Test-Taking Tip: Narrative therapy = "the person is not the problem; the problem is
the problem." Externalizing the problem helps clients separate themselves from their
difficulties.
Question 6
Characteristics of cognitive-behavioral therapy include: (Select all that apply.)
A. Not time limited
B. Active
