Ch. 7 Mental Status | Questions with 100% Verified
Answers | Latest Update 2026/2027
Question: 1. When is the mental status portion of the neurologic system
examination performed?
a. During the history-taking process
b. Immediately after the vital signs are taken
c. During the time when questions related to memory are
asked
d. Constantly, throughout the entire interaction with a patient
e. During assessment of cranial nerves and deep tendon
reflexes
Answer: D
A mental status evaluation should be continually evaluated throughout the patient
encounter. Assessing and validating clues to determine the individual's ability to interact
with the
environment is a priority of the mental status evaluation.
Question: Which condition is considered progressive rather than
reversible?
a. Delirium
b. Dementia
c. Depression
d. Anxiety
Answer: ANS: B
Dementia is considered progressive and irreversible. Delirium has the potential for
reversal. Depression and anxiety are reversible.
Question: The Glasgow Coma Scale is used to:
a. determine the cause of decreased consciousness.
b. diagnose disorders that alter level of consciousness.
c. quantify consciousness.
d. predict response to stimulant medications.
Answer: ANS: C
The Glasgow Coma Scale is used when a patient has an altered level of consciousness
and is used to quantify consciousness.
Question: Flight of ideas or loosening of associations is associated with:
a. aphasia.
b. dysphonia.
c. multiple sclerosis.
d. psychiatric disorders.
Answer: ANS: D
Flight of ideas, loosening of associations, word salads, neologisms, clang associations,
echolalia, and utterances of unusual sounds are all associated with psychiatric disorders.
, Question: 2. Which statement is true regarding mental status changes in
older adults?
a. There is usually a decline in general intelligence in older
adults.
b. Vocabulary and inventories of information show a marked
decrease in older adults.
c. Remote memory decline frequently causes problems in
processing information.
d. Recent memory is usually more efficient than remote
memory.
e. There is an increased risk of delirium with acute illness or
metabolic derangement.
Answer: E
Acute illness or metabolic derangement of older adults places such a stress on the
declining metabolism and synthesis of neurotransmitters that adaptation is inadequate,
and delirium results. None of the other statements are true.
Question: 3. A 69-year-old truck driver presents with a sudden loss of
the ability to understand spoken language. This indicates a
lesion in the:
a. temporal lobe.
b. Broca area.
c. frontal cortex.
d. precentral gyrus.
e. occipital lobe.
Answer: A
The temporal lobe, specifically in the Wernicke speech area, is responsible for the
comprehension of spoken and written language.
Question: 4. Slumped posture and a lack of facial expression may
indicate depression or:
a. anxiety.
b. Parkinson disease.
c. loss of abstract reasoning.
d. attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
e. hyperthyroidism.
Answer: B
A slumped posture and lack of facial expression may be clues to more than depression;
they also are a defining characteristic of the neurologic disorder known as Parkinson
disease.
Question: 5. The ability for abstract thinking normally develops:
a. in utero.
b. during infancy.
c. during early childhood.
d. during adolescence.
e. during adulthood.
Answer: D
Abstract thinking is an intellectual maturation that develops during adolescence.
Answers | Latest Update 2026/2027
Question: 1. When is the mental status portion of the neurologic system
examination performed?
a. During the history-taking process
b. Immediately after the vital signs are taken
c. During the time when questions related to memory are
asked
d. Constantly, throughout the entire interaction with a patient
e. During assessment of cranial nerves and deep tendon
reflexes
Answer: D
A mental status evaluation should be continually evaluated throughout the patient
encounter. Assessing and validating clues to determine the individual's ability to interact
with the
environment is a priority of the mental status evaluation.
Question: Which condition is considered progressive rather than
reversible?
a. Delirium
b. Dementia
c. Depression
d. Anxiety
Answer: ANS: B
Dementia is considered progressive and irreversible. Delirium has the potential for
reversal. Depression and anxiety are reversible.
Question: The Glasgow Coma Scale is used to:
a. determine the cause of decreased consciousness.
b. diagnose disorders that alter level of consciousness.
c. quantify consciousness.
d. predict response to stimulant medications.
Answer: ANS: C
The Glasgow Coma Scale is used when a patient has an altered level of consciousness
and is used to quantify consciousness.
Question: Flight of ideas or loosening of associations is associated with:
a. aphasia.
b. dysphonia.
c. multiple sclerosis.
d. psychiatric disorders.
Answer: ANS: D
Flight of ideas, loosening of associations, word salads, neologisms, clang associations,
echolalia, and utterances of unusual sounds are all associated with psychiatric disorders.
, Question: 2. Which statement is true regarding mental status changes in
older adults?
a. There is usually a decline in general intelligence in older
adults.
b. Vocabulary and inventories of information show a marked
decrease in older adults.
c. Remote memory decline frequently causes problems in
processing information.
d. Recent memory is usually more efficient than remote
memory.
e. There is an increased risk of delirium with acute illness or
metabolic derangement.
Answer: E
Acute illness or metabolic derangement of older adults places such a stress on the
declining metabolism and synthesis of neurotransmitters that adaptation is inadequate,
and delirium results. None of the other statements are true.
Question: 3. A 69-year-old truck driver presents with a sudden loss of
the ability to understand spoken language. This indicates a
lesion in the:
a. temporal lobe.
b. Broca area.
c. frontal cortex.
d. precentral gyrus.
e. occipital lobe.
Answer: A
The temporal lobe, specifically in the Wernicke speech area, is responsible for the
comprehension of spoken and written language.
Question: 4. Slumped posture and a lack of facial expression may
indicate depression or:
a. anxiety.
b. Parkinson disease.
c. loss of abstract reasoning.
d. attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
e. hyperthyroidism.
Answer: B
A slumped posture and lack of facial expression may be clues to more than depression;
they also are a defining characteristic of the neurologic disorder known as Parkinson
disease.
Question: 5. The ability for abstract thinking normally develops:
a. in utero.
b. during infancy.
c. during early childhood.
d. during adolescence.
e. during adulthood.
Answer: D
Abstract thinking is an intellectual maturation that develops during adolescence.
